Private
Wabash Monday
11 Nov. 61, Port Royal
My Dear Sir—
The Coatzacoalcos goes in the morning — there is nothing very
special to add to my letter of yesterday. I send certain letters to explain
our operations about Beaufort. I did not have the flag raised in Beaufort,
because it may not answer the Genls purpose to hold it — though it was well to
show up the Gun-boats for moral effect. I was to have gone up with Sherman
today but a fog prevented.
We are all tinkering; the heavy gale caused a good deal of
injury in various ways to the smaller vessels.
Our own big job is the Main Mast, it is weakened one third —
we are plugging up the holes and the Carpenter thinks he can fix it so as to
make it stand in a gale of wind, though it will be a clumsy piece of work. When
the ship goes north in the Spring if you will have a new one made she can take
it in. We lost main topsail yard, spanker boom, lower boom, topmast &c.
Those rifle 80 prs have the wickedest whistle I ever heard, how we all escaped
on that Bridge I cannot conceive.
I concluded to send Vandalia North to fulfil my promise to
the crew, & we have helped ourselves out of her — her two 8 in guns I have
given to the Isaac Smith, & provisions & ammunition also have been
taken from her. I am painfully impressed with the worthlessness of Sailing
vessels since I have got to work out here — See the reports of the Sabine sent
by this mail!! he has been a month in the Station. The Dale came in the day
before our action & I packed her off to pick up coal Ships & go back to
her Station. The QrMaster has given me some 80 000 gals of water
& I am sending the Steamer which has it in out to Georgetown — Sending
Alabama in the meantime to Georgetown — but I hear the Flag is off with
Rodgers, Lardner having sent her to repair, the bottom of the boiler having
come out.
I am exceedingly anxious to get away to Fernandina, for I
see the old Story coming on me, viz the soldiers will absorb the fleet if I do
not look out—if I can get through that and some other points perhaps St.
Helena, I can come back here & make a station of it.
Will you please hurry back Steadman & not let him wait
for all the ammunition asked for if it be not ready?
I do not intend to send vessels North if I can help it — I
can make out here for water, but there are so many repairs required to ship,
boats, & Engines, that if you could send down a certain number of ship
Carpenters and Mechanics in iron, I think it would be economical I am sure, of
course I mean shipped men—
Please let us have Pilot boats too, Davis says the G. W.
Blunt. We should make the Pilot by the general rules I suppose. A Tug also if
you please. The Mercury has paid for herself already — the Forbes is
invaluable.
If you will give me Tuscarora & two new Gunboats, you
may have Sabine, St. Lawrence, & Vandalia, 130 guns for twenty.
The magnitude of our operation is growing upon me & the
blow is ringing all over the Southern country — the Planters talk of burning
their cotton — and as this is the only sinew of war with them, the sooner they
go at it the better.
I am at work at my detailed report of the action, with
correct drawings of the order of battle &c which may some day go to the
Naval School. The sketch I sent you is not critically, but generally
correct. I will send my report by Atlantic in two or three days, in full time
for Secretary's report or to go with the Documents.
When you can find leisure to give me a private note do so.
You can take the credit of this business to any extent yr visit to New York put
me upon it. It turns out Bulls bay is very defensible & not much
after you take it. I think poor old Tattnall & Co must feel mean. Please
make my regards to Mr Montgr Blair & to Mr Blair Senior, the latter so
correctly looked forward for some naval results to help on the war on our side,
that I hope he will be gratified but we must not stop here. I think the capture
of the Forts was clever, but I think also the getting on the Wabash was
cleverer.
Confidential.
I have one misgiving — our army here are depredators &
freebooters — they are robbing as at Hampton in all directions, & robbing
the poor negroes too, for all sheep, poultry, sweet potatoe patches &c
belonging to them, & they are our friends, they will soon be disgusted
& become our enemies — Sherman is a soldier every inch of him,
whether he can be a commander in chief remains to be seen he is as much
disgusted at what I mentioned as I am. They have not commenced an intrenchment!
& to us people look like a mere rabble— they have commenced a wharf at my
request for they are very kind to me & I think all the generals would do
any thing in the world to oblige me.
I saw Sherman yesterday & hurried him up about
Fernandina and I earnestly begged him to put a stop to the plundering — &
shoot if necessary.
Davis & Rodgers send their regards, they are great helps
to me and Preston an extraordinary young man— Raymond Rodgers is even above his
reputation.
Ever yrs faithfully
S. F. Dupont.
G. V. Fox Esq.
SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright,
Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential
Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865,
Volume 1, p. 67-70
