Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, April 9, 1863

April 9.

Everything was going on quietly until we heard heavy cannonading in the direction of the Ferry before sunrise this morning. The George Washington, an old steamboat converted into a semi-gunboat, was cruising in the river and got aground last evening. The rebels had ample time to send for artillery during the night and they blew her up. The explosion threw her men into the water and marsh, from which they were brought out by our pickets and the Chaplain. I judge that not more than a dozen were killed or wounded. They were sent to the Hospital in Beaufort. I would like to have the care of them, but we have no accommodations here. One of them told the Adjutant's wife that he was glad to have me take care of him for he had often seen me in Worcester. Another was a handsome Providence boy, who was terribly broken to pieces, but who will recover.¹

_______________

¹ See 1 Records of the Rebellion, XIV. 280–283, 891.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 387

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, April 11, 1863—Evening

April 11, Evening.

All astir tonight. Rebel demonstrations at the Ferry. We have a gunboat above and one below, and part of a regular battery in front, ready to dispute any attack or attempt to take the guns from the George Washington.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 387

Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 1. — Report of Brig. Gen. Rufus Saxton, U.S. Army, commanding District of Beaufort, S.C.

No. 1.

Report of Brig. Gen. Rufus Saxton, U.S. Army, commanding District of Beaufort, S.C.

BEAUFORT, S.C., April 9, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report the total loss of the steamer George Washington this morning opposite the Brick yard under the following circumstances:

On yesterday she started in company with the U.S. gunboat Hale for Whale Branch, where the latter boat was ordered to take her station. The Hale ran aground at the Brick-yard, while the Washington went on her way to the ferry. Finding that the Hale did not succeed in getting off she returned to her assistance. The two vessels anchored opposite the Brick-yard until 4 o'clock this morning, when the Hale started for her station. The Washington, instead of starting as she should have done, remained at her anchorage until daylight this morning, when the rebels opened fire upon her from a light battery of six rifle guns, which they had brought there during the night. The battery was about 1¼ miles from the boat. One shot struck the rudder of the boat and another, a shell, set the magazine and boat on fire, exploding directly in the magazine. The vessel is completely destroyed.

As far as I can ascertain but 2 lives were lost; 6 men were wounded, 4 of them slightly. The rest all escaped.

It is my opinion that the conduct of the officers in command of the two boats is deserving of the severest censure—that of the Hale for starting off before daylight without giving notice to the officer in command of the Washington, and of the latter for laying all night within gun-shot of the rebels' lines, giving them ample time to bring their light battery from the railroad station.

From all that I can learn the enemy is in considerable force in our immediate vicinity, and an attack may be expected at any moment.

Colonel Elwell has applied to Captain Moore for the steamer Darlington, which I had just repaired, now the Washington is lost. This vessel is absolutely essential until the present emergency is over. She can only use wood, and is totally unfit to go to sea, and would be useless should she reach Charleston. I respectfully request that I may be allowed to retain her.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. SAXTON,        

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Col. CHARLES G. HALPINE,
        Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 280-1

Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 2. — Report of Col. Joseph R. Hawley, Seventh Connecticut Infantry.

No. 2.

Report of Col. Joseph R. Hawley, Seventh Connecticut Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,        

Hilton Head, S.C., April 10, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report certain facts concerning the loss of the armed steamer George Washington.

I most respectfully declined obeying the peremptory order of General Saxton to send the Washington to Beaufort before she had completed the task assigned her by yourself, as I supposed, in protecting Captain Graef's operations. General Saxton, on board the Flora, went to Seabrook's and commanded the Washington to follow him to Beaufort, and Lieutenant Blanding felt obliged to obey.

On the 8th the E. B. Hale and Washington started to go around Port Royal Island on a reconnaissance, conducted by Captain Briggs, Third Rhode Island Artillery. Before reaching the ferry the Hale got aground. At night she got off, and about 4.30 a.m. of the 9th started, without the knowledge of the officers of the Washington. The latter started about 5 or 5.30 a.m. to follow her, and had proceeded a mile or two when a turn in the channel revealed a rebel light battery directly astern, perhaps a mile distant, which instantly opened fire. The Washington had only a howitzer astern, and could not turn to reply. The second shot exploded the magazine, which was in the afterpart of the vessel, unshipped the rudder, broke the steering gear, ripping up the deck, tumbling the howitzer into the hold, and destroying all the ammunition for the James rifle forward. The vessel took fire and began to fill rapidly. The master backed her toward the marsh on our side. Captain Briggs ordered a white flag raised—against the protests of the master, Campbell, who continued his attempt to escape. They put the wounded on the marsh and all scrambled off. The rebels, seeing this, resumed their fire, of course, and with great accuracy, though it is not known that any were struck while crossing the wide marsh. The wounded lying on the bank were captured by a boat party of rebels.

The E. B. Hale, somewhere near Broad River, was informed by some one (she having heard the firing, it is said) and went back and sent or received a flag of truce and took the wounded. The Washington burned to the water's edge.

The total loss is 14, all, it is supposed, from the explosion. Two were killed instantly; 2 seriously (probably fatally) wounded, 8 slightly, and 2 missing. Some of the men were hours scrambling through the marsh. No officers were hurt.

No unusual movements of the enemy have been perceived. All is quiet.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOS. R. HAWLEY,

Colonel Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, Commanding Post.

Brig. Gen. T. SEYMOUR,
Chief of Staff, Department of the South.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 281-2

Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 3. — Report of Brig. Gen. W. S. Walker, C. S. Army, commanding Third Military District.

 No. 3.

Report of Brig. Gen. W. S. Walker, C. S. Army, commanding Third Military District.

HDQRS. THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA,        

Pocotaligo, S.C., April 16, 1863.

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.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. S. WALKER,        

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN,
        Chief of Staff, &c.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 282-3

Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 4. — Report of Capt. Stephen Elliott, Jr., Beaufort (S. C.) Artillery.

No. 4.

Report of Capt. Stephen Elliott, Jr., Beaufort (S. C.) Artillery.

HDQRS. ARTY., THIRD M IL. DIST. OF S.C.,        

 April 14, 1863.

 SIR: I have the honor to submit a report of the capture of the armed steamer George Washington by a portion of the artillery of this command on the morning of the 9th instant.

At 5 o'clock on the 8th instant a gunboat and a steamer were reported near Chisolm's Island, the former aground and the latter making efforts to get her off. The following artillery forces were ordered to report at the causeway leading to the island, viz: Beaufort Artillery, Lieutenant Stuart, six guns; Nelson Artillery, Captain Lamkin, four guns; Cooper's North Carolina battery, three 10-pounder Parrott guns, and Company I, Eleventh Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, Captain Campbell, two guns.

While the batteries were being brought into position the gunboat, which had now been set afloat by the rising tide, moved off toward Port Royal Ferry. General Walker then directed me to divide the guns and to take one portion to the ferry with the view of intercepting her, and to order the other portion to open fire on the steamer as soon as she should attempt to move. I directed Captain Lamkin with two guns and Lieutenant Stuart with four guns to remain, and sent forward the rest to the other point. At 5 o'clock a.m. the steamer gave indications of moving, and these guns were rapidly placed in battery by their commanding officers and a brisk fire opened upon her with 6-pounder shot and 12-pounder shell. After two rounds it was evident that she was disabled. She raised a white flag and drifted up the river and across to the opposite shore.

Upon hearing the firing I returned, and observing that her crew were attempting to escape into the marsh opposite I directed the commanders of batteries to reopen fire upon them, and continued it until they had disappeared. She was now evidently on fire, and as soon as the explosion of shell and powder on board had subsided I boarded her and found that she had sunk in 4 feet of water, was burnt to the water's edge, and had carried two 24-pounder howitzers aft and 20-pounder Parrott pivot gun forward. There were 3 men in her yawl, which lay astern, 2 of them severely wounded and the third dead. They were taken ashore. Efforts were made to bring off one of the howitzers, which from want of proper means were unsuccessful. Attracted by the cries of wounded men in the marsh I entered it, but the reappearance of the gunboat rapidly approaching rendered it unsafe to remain any longer. As the wounded men had been left where they would not be perceived by the enemy and could not be assisted by us, I rode back with a flag of truce and directed the attention of the captain of the gunboat to them, and after some unimportant conversation with him returned. No information of importance was elicited from the prisoners while in our possession.

The practice of our batteries reflected great credit on the gunners, conducted as it was at early dawn and at a rapidly moving object half a mile distant.

The expedition sent down two days afterward succeeded in getting off from the wreck a 24-pounder howitzer (which was buried on shore until it could be brought off with safety), the bell, and a small kedge anchor. A heavy and continuous shelling of the wreck from the opposite shore forbade all further attempts to secure the pivot gun. The enemy had already moved the other howitzer.

My thanks are due to Captain Earle, of the Furman Light Artillery, a volunteer, who rendered efficient aid during the attack upon the boat, and also to Captain Barnwell, of General Walker's staff, who upon both expeditions afforded me the most valuable assistance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR.,        

Chief Artillery, Third Military District of South Carolina.

Capt. JAMES LOWNDES,
        Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 283-4

General Pierre G. T. Beauregard to Samuel Cooper

CHARLESTON, April 9, 1863.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

General W. S. Walker destroyed an armed steamer in the Coosaw River at daylight this morning; no casualties on our side. All quiet. Six monitors and Ironsides still within bar.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 891