Wilmington journal., 1864-11-03
Omcial Re pert OF Admiral Buchanan OF the Eavs
EnRsgsmsnt I'm Noblla Bay, August 8, 1854.
e. 8. NAVAL HOSPITAL,
Peusaccl., AUGUST 25th 1864.
bon. 8. r. MAhLosY, secretarv Of the Nav, ,C.s,A,.

Bon. 8. z. MALLORY, Secretary CT the Navy, G. A:
sr-I have the honor to inform you that the enemy's
spd 9eur moors On
shou $50 A. NJ in The following o. DER and stood into
hatas each carrying t~o XIV inch guns the winnebag
and Chctasaw each carving four II inch guns 10 ain
teen steamers Brcotlyn Of twenty six: OctoIora. ten
sartford twenty egh; Aetacomet ter; Richmond TWEEN
tyour Pert Royal eigh fourteeu Seminole
nine; twelve; Kennebec hvs Ossippee,
Plasca four Oneida, and aaena, fourteen
in double line ahead. each two ashed together. The
heel ste off shore all abcu, quarter of mile
53m 'hs monitors earring in al 1879 gun, So and men
nal mad to the Mobile squadron nndsr my command
M 90 na ana
oIs on the Tennessee Of six gunsin all ~ and
All soon under way and stood towards the enemy
in iue abreast As the Tennessee approached the feet
the .se the Eqa s
ford and made the attempt into her, but owing
towards the heavy ship, the Brooklyn, with
view. She also svoted By her superior speed
with he ensmr. ali our guns were used to the sres ss
advantage and sueceeded IN seriously dauasinx macy
Commsndant N. Murphy and J. ". Bennett fuught gal
Ian ~ and gra.ihed to hear from officers Q, the
fought until she found 70 be in sinking oond
CommandAns Murphy clossly engaged with tbs Meta
comet.
Soon after the guuboats were dispersed by the
wheming userority of force and tho enemy ees had
chored about four miles above Fort Morgan stood
for them ain in the Tennessee and renewed the attack
with the hope Of sinking some of them with our pro -
Again foed Dy their superior speed in avoiding
The engagement with the whole feet soon becane
general close quarters aud lasted about hour
and, aithstsndng the serious Injury Inflicted upo1
many CT their vessels by we could not sick them
Frequently during the contest were surrounded by
the enemy, and all guns IN action almost at tbs
moment. Five of the heaviest vessels isto
with full steam, with tAe view Of sinking One ves:el
fo midable Ehe struck with forca, in
juring bat little her and stem knocked CT
and the vessel much to make necessary
dock her. Several OF the other Of tie feet
found require extensive repairs enclose you COPY
of drawing of the Brooklyn, made by of her officers
after the action and ocer Of the Hartford informed
that she seriously jursd than tbs Brooklyn.
these facts prove that the Of the
details Of the action and uries sustained by the Ten
Hessee, refer you TO the report OF Commander j. D
Johnston, which has approval After was carried be
ow unfortunately wounded had to be governed by
reports of that valuable officer the condition Of the
hp and the necessity and time OF her and when
ne TO her utterly condition to
nue te with Dory the enemy and suggested her
directed him to do the coud and when
he couid NO longer damage the ensmy do 1t affords
me much piasure to state that the officers
uy fougnt tneir gaHs to the best of their abtes and
gave ronS eVosnce by their promptness executing
des OF their Wlhngnsss to continue the long
they could stand to their guns the ia
gue they had undergone for several hours and il
only under the circumstances represented by Captain
johnston that she the fleet about 10
A M, painful 40 il was to do
seriously felt the want Of experienced officers during the
action ALI were young and lnexperesced and manY had
but little familiarity with naval duties having been appoiR
mander Harrison, Of the Morgan, and Lieut. Com dg Bsn
nett OF he Gaines you have doubt received from
officers enclose the report of Fleet Surgeon D. B. Con.
ssd, to whom an much indebted for hs ski promptns