Commandant Samuel F. DuPont to Gustavus V. Fox, December 25, 1861

Private

Wabash Port Royal

Christmas Day 1861

My Dear Mr. Fox

A Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Welles, and may the prodigious energies and labors of the Secy and yourself be crowned with success and peace for their results during the coming New Year.

The Department has kindly omitted heretofore to speak of the entrance of the Fingal into Savannah. My first act after the battle before its reverberations had ceased, was to dispatch the Augusta there, for I could see no ships in the offing the day I entered here. How the Monticello came to leave without orders (for Com^o Goldsboro' had told me to send her to him when I could spare her) I never could learn. But two days after the fight she entered in a dense fog, even our troops on Braddocks point did not see her. This went to my heart I confess and has given me periodical twitches ever since, for she brought the rebels great assistance — to our cost here.

My only comfort is that we have her pretty well sealed up; a contraband informed us she was loading with cotton and going to run out of Wassaw inlet, fearing lest the vessels blockading might be eluded I ordered Seminole and Pembina and Andrews to cross the bar; the former thumped, but they got inside just in time to run Tattnall's barge up a creek ashore¹—the crew escaped, except two who hid themselves and made signals and were taken on board the Andrew. One of them a very intelligent and apparently perfectly reliable person has given us much valuable information — he is from Rochester N. Y. and belonged to Tattnall's ship — the Everglade. He had towed the Fingal round into Wilmington river, and has his other steamers and his hulk with the guns along — but he hitched on the Fingal and towed her back stern foremost, but on the Gunboats moving up after him, he fell back behind the fort at Skiddaway.

I have sent John Rodgers there, for I feel comfortable wherever he is — his boilers are repaired, some men can always overcome difficulties, while others do nothing but call for help, never putting their own shoulders to the wheel — but the Flag is very deep for inlet work and is long in turning owing to some defect in her rudder. If you could give him one of those new side wheel double rudder vessels she could not be in better hands; for there are few such officers in any service. I do not rate him over his cousin, because I have never met such a perfect officer and man as the latter.

Would it not be well in appointing the officers to the new Steamers, to give such men who have made their mark in the inferior vessels a lift, rather than keep down the list and give to some below them?

I have had to withdraw the Savannah from Tybee and send her blockading. She got thumping too hard. Drayton is there now, another prince of an officer, with Stevens in the Ottawa who is also very superior. The Wyandotte is also there, but this force is smaller than it ought to be.

In reference to the latter, I am sorry to tell you that she is no acquisition — her light 32's have no sphere here at all, and her machinery is good for nothing — but for the efficiency of the Chf. Engineer of this ship I should have a hard time with such craft.

But this is not all, her Captain is in a state of mental stupefaction from intemperance. Being one of the “Board victims,” I am moving in the matter with extreme caution and leniency. He was first reported officially through Davis by Parrott, for queer doings off Charleston, carrying Parrott 15 miles off his station and then firing guns, and when brought to an explanation seemed stupid. After getting here one of his Acting Masters reported him for frequent intemperance and bad conduct—then a Pilot I gave him to carry him out to Tybee he abused very much and the former an excellent fellow reported him in writing — then up comes a report from Drayton saying “the Captain of the Wyandotte seems quite stupid and I believe from drinking.” So soon as I can get him up here I will send him all the reports and ask him for his explanations, and will send the papers home. I think it would be well for Congress to authorize Flag Officers to order Courts of Inquiry on the home stations. I believe this poor man, ——, had a blow in his head once and a very small quantity of liquor affects him in a strange way.

The Prisoners taken in Wassaw gave us a good many items — they have 45 guns on Pulaski. The other deserters say the same. The rebels are kept perplexed as to our operations and have placed their forces between Brunswick and Savannah. No intrenchments going up around Savannah. An attack on Tybee just in the manner that Missroon said it would be made and of which he could not persuade our Dutch Col. ashore, was only prevented by Robt Lee telling them the ships would knock them all to pieces if they attempted anything of the kind. Gl. Wright is coming on bravely there and the defences are well through — he has a masked battery of rifled cannon beautifully placed and the support between ships and shore will now be mutual by his very clever engineering.

We still have many stories about my quondam Commodore and friend Tattnall — it seems he landed with his Marines on the day of the fight, (I saw him disappear) to help Fort Walker, but arrived to see only the disastrous flight, and then from excitement, he became senseless and was carried back. Maffitt was drunk when he approached near enough for Ammen to let him have the shell — and Tattnall turned him ashore and that is the last of that gentleman. I communicate through Scull creek with Tybee. Mather (smart fellow) made it the other day in 2½ hours in the Andrew. He went to St. Helena Sound in 5 h. We are waiting anxiously for the ferry boats, anything small to send inland. Please hurry the Forbes and give her to an active officer. Please think of a dispatch vessel. Now I ought to draw off a little from Charleston and increase further South, but I have nothing to send. Please tell Wise I will answer his friendly and sprightly letter very soon. It made me laugh heartily.

Faithfully Yrs

S. F. DuPONT

_______________

¹ They had come to see if the course was clear.

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. 82-6

Commandant Samuel F. DuPont to Gustavus V. Fox, November 9, 1861

Wabash, 9th Nov.

Port Royal, S.C.

My Dear Mr. Fox—

During the disheartening events of our passage, my faith never gave way, but at some moments it seemed appalling. On the other hand I permit no elation at our success. Yet I cannot refrain telling you that it has been more complete and more brilliant than I ever could have believed.

I have been too fatigued to send a detailed official account of the battle. My report is full up to the eve of it, and I think will interest you, but I had to content myself with a succinct account which I think will be liked as well as a more detailed narrative. This I will however forward in time for the Secretary's report.

I kept under way, made three turns though I passed five times between the Forts. I had a flanking division of five ships, to watch Old Tattnall who had eight small and swift steamers ready to pounce upon any of ours should they be disabled.

I could get none of my big frigates up. I thought the Sabine would have gotten down. To the St. Lawrence I sent no word and the Savannah was blown off. I do not regret it now except on their account. I believe my plan was clever. I stood against the tide and had the management the better in consequence.

Their confidence was extreme that they could drive us away. They fought bravely and the rifle guns never missed. An 80 pr rifle went through our main mast in the very centre, an awful hole. They aimed at our Bridge where they knew they would make a hole if lucky. A shot on the counter let water onto the after magazine, but I saved perhaps a hundred lives by keeping underway and being in so close. We found their sights graduated at 600 yds. When they once broke, the stampede was intense and not a gun was spiked. In truth I never conceived of such a fire as that of this ship on her second turn, and I am told its effect upon the spectators outside of her was intense. I learn when they saw the flag flying on shore, the troops were powerless to cheer, but wept. Gl. Sherman was deeply affected, and the soldiers for once are loud and unstinting in their expressions of admiration and gratitude.

The works are most scientifically constructed and there is nothing like “Walker” on the Potomac.

I did not allow the victory to check our ardor, but dispatched some vessels under Gillis over the other side. To day I have an expedition to Beaufort, to save the light vessels, but Ammen tells me who went up, they were fired instantly after the surrender. Bankhead is up there aground tonight, but Curlew is watching her. Beaufort is deserted. The negroes are wild with joy and revenge, robbing Beaufort. On the other hand they have been shot down they say like dogs because they would not go off with their masters.

I have a boat already at Scull Creek and the communication between Savannah and Charleston cut off. The Sabine has brought the Marines. They have been nothing but trouble to me. The Monticello has not reappeared and some think she went down in the gale.

I am hurrying up for Fernandina and for everywhere, for the terrors will now be complete and some people here tell us that they are obstructing Charleston Bar even.

I have written to L. H. B. for all aids to navigation. Please send me a complete Pilot book and another — try if possible. The Forbes is invaluable. Florida Goldsboro still missing. After Fernandina we will be ready for Savannah Bar. The Susquehanna filled us with admiration. She stuck to us like wax and was our main support, as I told Lardner, he was always precisely where I wanted him to be, and doing precisely what I wanted him to do. We want some ship carpenters.

Yrs truly

S. F. D. P.

Please remember me to Mr. Welles. I thought of him and you about the first thing after I fired those fellows.

I let Wynn go home. I had not time for a survey, don't let him humbug you any more. I have ordered Drayton to Pocahontas — no one to Cotton yet — she is a great vessel and came near being lost.

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. 65-7