, 1863-08-27

over Fort Wogner and thcinte1mcdiatc space.
About the same time ! moved mp the entire
available naval force, leading With mr. flag in
the Weehawken, followed bF tie Catskill,
co in reserve, for Fort Sumter, the 1ronsides
in position opposite to Wagner, and the gun
boats named In the margin at long range;
Canandaigua, Capt. J. J. Grum.
Weehawken, Commander ]. 3. Creighton.
Cilns1one. Commander 4. Z. Hnshes.
|, NfeEahitkon, Lieut.. Commander ]. 1. DaYls.
Dal Ching. Lient: Commander J. L. Chaplin.
& EIudono, Lieut.. Commander E. Beodhead.
As the tide rose, the Weebawken WAS closed
to ab6ut $50 yards Of Wagner. The Other
three Monitors followed, and the Ironsides
mitted.
After steady and well directed fire Wagner
Was s1cnced about 9:30 a. M, and that OF
our OWL vessels WAS elackened in conse-
quence.
Sumter, which appeared to hare been
strengthened in eVeTy possible manner:
At this time the Lag was shifted to the
Passaic, which, with the Patapsco, both hay.
Ing 1itled guns, steamed up the channel until
within two thousand yards Of Fort Sumter,
the southeast front Of the work. The Pataps-
co fired very well, and Is believed to have
struck the southeast front nine consecutive
times. To all this Sumpter scarcely replied,
Wagner was silenced, aud Battery Gregg
alone maintained . deliberate fire at the
Patapsco.
It was now noon, the men had been hard at
work ftom daybreaF, and needed rest, SO
|-witharew the vessels to give them dinner.
During the afternoon our shore batteries
continued the fire at Sumter, with little Of
no reply from the enemy, and contented my
self With sending up the Passaic aud Patapsco
TO prevent Wagner from repairing damages
The fort replied brisk1y, but In q brief time
lett off firing.
1 am not able to state with exactness the
result Of the days Tork, but am well satisfied
with what distant view Of Sumter allowed
nc. Our entire power is not yet developed,
rs It Mill be daily, while the ensmy ia dam.
aged 1ith0ut being able to repair.
The WcchaW6en was lying about one thou
sand yards from Wagner, and the Cattsktl1,
With my gallant friend, just insidc Of me, the
fire Of the folt coming In steadily. Observing
Weehawken to be carried in closer, and the
anchor was hardly weighed when noticed
that tie CattsEiu was also under way, which
I remarked to Captain Calhoun. It occurred
| to me that Capt. Rodgers detected the move
ment Of the WeehaWIen, aud was determined
to be closer to the enemy, II possible. Ny
attention was called OF immediately to po-
sition for the Weehawken. and soon after it
was reported that the CattskilI was going out
OF the action, with signal flying that ler
Captain WAS disabled. He had been killed in
stahtly.
The officers ard men Of the vessels ensnged
havc done their duty well, and will continue
to do SO. All went well with us, save one sad
exception. Capt. Rodgers, my chief Of stall,
VAS Killed, as well as Paymaster Woodbury.,
Who was standing near him Capt Rodgers
bud more tllAp once asked on this occasion II
he should 60 with me, Us usual, OF resume
tho command Of his vessel, the Cattskill, and
he repeated the query twice in the morning,
Just while preparing to move into action. In
each instance replied, "Do as you please"
he finally said, Well, I will 20 In the Cats
kill, and the next time, with you-"
= It Is but natural THAT shonld feel deeply
the 1oes thus sustained, for the close md con-
t1dential relation which the duties Of Fleet
Captain necessarily occasions impressed me
deeply with the worth Of Captain Rodgers.
BraYe, intelligent and highly capable, devoted
to his duty and TO the 1lng under which he
passed lis life, the country cannot afford to
loze such men. OF kind and generous na.
ture be was always prompt to give relief
when he could. I have directed that all re-
epect be paid to his remains, and the country
viii not, am sure, omit to honor the memo
rs Of ono who has not spared his life In her
hour of trial. I have 1hc honor to be, very
respectfully, your obcdient servant.
JOIN A. DAu10REs, Rear Admiral,
Comsg South Atlantic BlocEadfn0 Squadron.