The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-18
Letter II ON Lieut.. JeGers, OF the Monitor.
TO TIE BDTToB or THE HERALD.
Uxrxp STATE BATTERY MoSTroR,l
RIv June 4

UyrrYp STATES BATTERY MONITOR,
JAMES RIyER, June ., 1862.
find in the daily journals OF G. under the date Of
Washington June s, the following item Of news
Upon Recommendation OF the Secretary Of the Trea
sury the President has complincnted First Lieutenant
u. G. Constable, commanding The revenue steamer z. A.
Stevens, by handing him personally a comm ssiOn as
captain tho cutter service, in recognition Of
his galantry In leading with his steamer the attacking
forces In the recent ascent of tho James river and the
bombardment Of Fort Darling.
second Lieutenant j. wall wilson has also been pro.
melted toa first beusnsncy Tor gallant bearing during
;he same action.
Although a newspaper paragraph may appear 70 be .
slender foundation for SO long letter. yet have fire.
qrenty during this war, such assumptions when
uneonrovertod 70 be admitted facts beg leave
20 make your columns the following contribution 70
the truth Of history
Tho navy has rsaped Of the substantial rewards
OF glorious deeds N the way OF promotion. 1t Vs. there
fore each nomber OF IL that noae Of
the credit due is nsspprcpriated.
The L. A. Stevens did lead the attacking forces at
the bombardnent OF Fort Darling any other time
place when under ERE.
On several occasiens arriving shallow places she
ahead Of her light drausht 10 sound
and when necessary 70 plant buoys.
The morning Of The battle the Galena led followed by
the Monitor and distance by the Arooeook Port
Royal and &. A. Stevens.
ina 70 Commander Rodgers estimate, Of six hundred
yards below the batteries the enemy opened Gre The
Monitor coming UP, Commander Rodgers directed
her TO pass ahead and shortly afterwards the Gaena
getting into position, did but finding that sr guns
could not be brought to bear the Monitor then dropped
dawn below the Gslens and after manmuvriug FOR
suitable position, anchor nearly midway be.
tween the Galcna and tbs shore.
DGriag THIS time the Aroostook was under way, but
found that the moment she left the Of small
point the enemy opened on her with great precson she
therefore dropped anchor cose in shore her hull shell
tered considerably by the low bank ringed with
tered trees and bushes and about i've hundred yards
beIow The Gaiens as estimated BY her commander.
tbs u. A. stevens stl further below aud seldom
Or ever visible from the battery The thin screen az
trees which frnged the ba1k permitted her 30 see tie
battery but rendered the Stevens position very rds
Tbs Port Royal hy s;ill further below in the only
position IN which she could bring her gun 70 bear
From my postum, to wE0ward, clear VI smoke,
could observe every shot fired ~ both parties aud with
thc aid of very powerful glass generally which
sci tho fort guna trained The enemy very judi
ciousy rsiraned from hrng at the honitor not over
beng fred while the Galcna within rangs);
and relying their good judgment Ia ths matter,
Of the turret scutcs ~ better observe the eject
d my and The other vessels IRE.
therefore venture that single shot was
cred from the fort nj the A. stevens during the action
In1ment shot whzzed p.sE me turned o. observe the
eject On my comrades IN the rear.
No, cir, The whole credit u that action belongs 10
Commando John Rodgers lie believed, as did, that
the sor 81 Inc Caleas was readily psnetrsble by shot
IV VIC ~ aNb w we're llkey 70 una on the nat
tery. This however, bei4. but an opinion required a
trial TO verify is truth. lie knew from ocular demon
sraton hat the barrier passabls Unless the fort
was reduced and that batteries placed Ia such ,ayor.
able positions could not DO reduced BY the runboats
aone, n reg0lutely defended.
That tray would be 20 defended no had ruaraptoe IN
the knowledge that The guns manuod bv tho rest
artiI'erats IN the wordssancn commanded bv of,cars
late Of the navy Of the United states
Noverhsess be led ~ that vessel and sustained ,ha
action nj close quarters for four hours only On
the exhaustion Of his ammuniton6n actsn uasxcslad
Tor "a "a
unsuccessful yet not rause Tor nothing furtt sr iha
rsconDossaneo In foFee aad trial OF tho Calenais
intended.
II the intention OF this letter 70 in any uny a.
tract from the gasntry OF Captain Constable a ia srn
ply 10 sste facts. No doubt II would have afforded him
great satisfaction 10 have led the suu.dror N he had
Thoughts bis little vessel could have sustained tie Arc for
five minutes and no feel quite chzgrn.s Al being
PLACED by the telegrsphs where he was NOT
TO none other than Commander Rodgers IL fherc q,
credit due, beyond the fact that all the sfe II
handled, and performed well their respective rarts n
proportion " their armament ard power Of -s.isance
WlLLIkM N. JEFFE.s
Iiertenant United states Nav