Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-23
The Expedition Up the James River
Official Reports

The Expedition Up the James River
Official Reports.
wA-mAaioS, May a0-The following reports
lmye been received at the Navy Department,
having hecn forwarded by Commodore Colds
borough;
U S STEAMER GALRNA,
on City Point James River, May 10, 1862.
Sir ! have the honor to report that this YES
sci, the ArostoOk, the Monitor and Port Royal,
with the Ngugatuck, novel up tue r.Ver. get
ting aground several times but meeting with no
artificial impediments until we arrived ut Ward's
Bluff, about eight miles from Richmond, where
we encountered heavy battery and two seper
| ate batteries, formed of spies, steamboats, aud
sail vessels The pilots 10th say shat they saw
the jamestown and Yorktown among the num-
bcr. The banks of the river We found lined
with rife pits, from which sharpshoOters annoy
ell the men at the guus These would hinder
the removal of the distractions. unless driven
away 10y land force. 1he Galena lan within
about six hundred yards Of the battery, as near
the spiles AS it it was proper to go, let go her
anchor, and, with spring, swung across the
stream, which is not more than twice as wide
us the ship il long Then, ut 40 A NJ, we
opened upon the battery. The wooden vessels
as directed, anchored about thirteen hundred
yards below. The Mouitor anchored near. and
ut niue o'clock she passe just above the Galena,
but found her guns could not be elevated
enough to reach the battery. She thea dropped
II little below.
Al five MINUTES after Ii O'Clock, the Galena
had expended nearly all her ammunition, and
made signal TO discontinue the action. We
had but six parrott charges, aud not single
filled nine-inoh shell.
We had thirteen killed and eleven wounded.
The lided l00.pouud Parrot Of the Nauga-
tuck burst, halt Of the part abatt the trunuiOu
: going overheard, She is. therefore, disabled
l Lieut. Newman. the executive officer, was CON
1 spicuous for his gallant and effective service.
MIR Wasbburne, acting master, behaved ad
Q miIably. These two are selected from among
=, the number.
The Aroostook, Port Royal aud Naugalue
d took the stations previously assigned to them
II and did everything that was possible The
9 Monitor could not have done better The bnr-
Q rer is such that the vessels of the enemy, even
Il If they have any, cannot possibly pass out while
ours cannot pass IN.
n have the honor to be, your 0bedient servant,
il JOHN RODGERS, Commander U s. Navy.
" The following is the report Of Lieut.. WIN. N
10 70 Jeilers, commanding the Monitor in the late
,, engagement near Richmond. 1t is addressed tu
~ Commander Rodgers
s. lRoN-GLAD STEAMER MONITOR,
le JAMES RIVER, Va, May l6, 1862.
Sir: J submit the following report Of the
" yesterday:
/. Shortly after weighing anchor from our posi-
4 ti0n near kiugsland crtek, Il sharp fire of mus
u kerry was commenced from both bnnks on al
~ " the ships. Al half past seven o'clock ! diseoy
~ cred an extensive t0rlifcation on an elevation
w about two hundred feet with several smaller
y, batteries all apparently mounting guns of tn,
u, e heaviest caibr0. AZ the foot of the bluff in tn,
s i river, there WAS an obstruction formed of suu-
y leu steamers aud vessels, secured with chains
a. piled across the river. The uaeua having
-. anchored Ht about one thousand yards distan
,' " from the fort aud being engaged, endeavOIet
u 10 pass ahead Of her TO take oil some Of the fire
a. but found that my guns could not be elevated
~, sufficiently to point at the fort | then took
w w position On the line with the Gaena, and main
" tnined Il deliberate fire until the close of th
.t action, when, in company with two other YES
,m ~" sels, dropped down 10 the anchorage of th
@ ni morning
% '. The fire of the enemy was remarkably wei
~, directed, but Vainly, towards this vessel, Shj
't =" was struck three times-by one solid Sinch shU
- square or the turret, and two solid shot on th
ha side armor forward OF the pilot house Neihe
Al cansed.any damage beyond bending the plates
~ iam happy to report no causaties.
I,, In conclusion, permit me to say that the &C
- tion was most galanty fought against greu
,an odds, and with the usual effect against enrtl
W., works. So long as our vessels Kept up rapi
s fire they rarely returned it, but the moment on
'S' fire Hlackened they renamed their guns
~, was impossible to reduce such works, exceJ
'"' with the aid of land force.
,no The following is the report Of Lieutenant 4
~" @. Constable, commanding the steamer r.
AZ Stevens (Naugatuckl In the action. The repol
"' is dated May 49, and addressed as are the othei
H.. to Commander Rodgers:
SIR have the honor to report that in ye
ov terlay'a attack upon the tnemy'A battery
=" Wards Hill, near Richmond, Va: l placed Il
a. vessel under my command in the position Il
signed me by you in the line OF attack, al
Nj, opened fiIe upon the battery, which continue
NJ until the bursting of our gun. Whilst gettil
~, into position during the bOmbardmenl, al
W. while falling back with the squadron, the Vess
49,. Wus under quite heavy fire Of musketTy, whi(
''i' was constantly returned by us with shell al
canister from our light brOadsde guns. ha
ere likewise TO report to you, that two of my ere
uh' ara wounded-one by musket shot throuQ
the arm, and the other by severe conusio
med They have been sent on board the Port Roy
the for surgical operation. My officers aud ere
'sex behaved to my entire satisfaction. | would r
ZEN spectfully request that you appoint Il board
officers 10 examine into, and report upon, Il
on cause Of the bursting Of our PafrOtt gun
hiiys iuy The following has been received at the Nav
eni. Department
'e.- U. $. FLAdsnIp SusouRnANHA.