No. 3.
Report of Brig. Gen. W. S. Walker, C. S.
Army, commanding Third Military District.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that at
daylight on the 9th instant I attacked the armed steamboat George Washington,
in Coosaw River, with two guns of the Nelson Light Artillery, Captain Lamkin
commanding, and four from the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, under Lieut. H. M.
Stuart. Six companies of the Forty-eighth North Carolina, Col. R. C. Hill, and
five companies cavalry, Col. B. H. Rutledge commanding, and two pieces light
artillery, drawn by mules, under Capt. W. L. Campbell, Company I, Eleventh
Regiment Infantry, were ordered to the neighborhood of Port Royal Ferry and
Chisolm's Island as a support.
After a few
discharges the steamer was set on fire by a shell and burned to the water's
edge. The enemy raised the white flag and our cannonade ceased. They availed
themselves of the cessation of our fire to escape to the shore.
Capt. Stephen
Elliott visited the wreck and found her armed with two 24-pounder brass
howitzers and a 20-pounder James rifle gun. Two men of the crew were found
mortally wounded and 1 dead. The wounded reported that 1 was burned up with the
wreck, and among those who escaped several were wounded.
A detachment of
Captain Cooper's battery, three Parrott guns, and Capt. Stephen Elliott's
battery, two guns, had been sent to intercept a gunboat moving toward Port
Royal Ferry. She passed the ferry, however, before the batteries arrived. The
Parrott guns were then used in shelling the pickets on the opposite shore, and
exhibited great range and accuracy of fire.
Upon the night of
the 10th two pieces of heavy artillery and nine of light, supported by three
companies of infantry and three companies of cavalry, the whole under command
of Capt. Stephen Elliott, were sent to Chisolm's Island with boats for the
purpose of raising the guns of the burnt steamer. It was found that the enemy
had raised one gun, a 24-pounder howitzer. Captain Elliott, with a section of
the Beaufort Artillery, raised and brought to shore one brass 24-pounder
howitzer, several Enfield rifles, and some portions of the vessel's equipments.
With the means at his disposal he found it impracticable to raise the
20-pounder James gun. The enemy shelled the wreck from the opposite shore,
making it dangerous to work.
There were no
casualties in either affair on our side.
I take pleasure in
stating that the artillery practice was excellent, and the whole command showed
great promptitude and alacrity throughout the enterprise.
Capt. Stephen
Elliott exhibited his characteristic coolness and skill as an artillery
officer. Lieut. E. H. Barnwell, Capt. John H. Screven, and Lieut. George L.
Washington, of my staff, were zealous in the discharge of their duties, and
rendered efficient service.
I inclose the report
of Capt. Stephen Elliott.
Chief of Staff, &c.
