The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-30

dered 10 attack the ram, not only with their
guns, Dnt BOWS on AZ 1ull speed. And then be.
| gan one of the fiercest naval combats on recorJ
| The MOnOngahela, Commander Strono yvas
the first vessel that struck her, and in doin~
| so, carried away his own iron PROV toprtbor
with the cutwater. without apparently doing
his adversary much injury. The Leckawanna
| Capt. Marchand. was the next vessel to strike
her, which she did at full speed, but though
| her stern was cut and crushed to the planl,
| ends for the distance of three feet above the
waters edge to five feet below, the only per-
ceptible effect on the ram was to give her a
heavy Lift The Hartford was the third vessel
which struck her, but as the Tennessee quick
ly shifted her helm the blow was glancing
one, and as she rlsped along our side we pour
ed Our whole port broadside of 9.inch solid
shot within ten feet of her casemate. The
monitors worked slowly, but delivered their
fire as opportunity offered. The Chickasaw
succeeded in getting under her stern, and a
15-inch shot from the Manhattan broke through
her iron plating and heavy wooden backing,
though the missile itself did not enter the YES
sci.
Immediately after the collision with the flag
ship, directed Captain DraytOn to bear down
for the ram again. He was doing so at full
speed, when. unfortunately, the Lackawanna
ran into the Hartford just forward OF the miZ-
Zenmast, cutting her down to within two feet
of the waters edge. We soon rot clear again,
however, and were fast approaching our adver,
sary, when she struck her colOrs and ran up
the white flag She was at this time sore be-
set: the Chickasaw was pounding away at her
stern, the Ossippee was approaching her at full
speed, and the MOnongahea, Lackawanna and
this ship were bearing down upon her, deter
mined upon her destruction. Her smoke stack
had been shot away, her steering chains were
gone, compelling a resort 10 her relieving
tackles, and several of the port shutters were
sny,ny nnI In1f 81,
struck her until her surrender, she never fired
a gun. AS the Ossippee commander lie Roy,
was about to strike her she hOlsted the white
flag, and that vessel Immediately stopped her
engine though not in time to avoid glancing
blow. During the contest with the rebel gun
boats and the ram Tennessee, and which TEL
minated by her surrender at ten O'Clock, we
lost many more men than from the fire of the
batteries of Fort Morgan. Admiral Buchanan
was wounded in the leg, two or three of his
men were killed, and five or six wounded.
Commander Johnson. formerly of the u. 5.
Navy, was in command Of the Tennessee and
came on board the flagship to surrender his
sword and that of Admiral Buchanan. The
Surgeon, DIR. Conrad, came with him, stated
the condition Of the Admiral. and wished to
know what was to be done with him. Fleet
Surgeon Palmer, who was on board the Hart
ford during the action, commissioning the sufs
ferings OF the wounded, suggested that those
of both sides he sent to Pensacola, where they
could be properly cared for. therefore adj
dressed a note to Brig. Gen. K l.. Page, com.
handing Fort Morgan. informing him that Adj
miral Buchanan and Others of the Tennessee
had been wounded. and desiring to know
whether he would permit one of our vessels.
under flag OF truce, to convey them. with or
without our men wounded. TO Pensacola on
the understanding that the vessel should take
out none hut the wounded, and bring nothing
shp m "a C1lI his
coded to by Gen. Page. and the MctacOmet
proceeded on this mission OF humanity.
AS had an elevated position in the main
rigging. near the top. was able to overlook
not only the deck OF the Hartford but the
other vessels of the fleet. | witnessed the ter
rble effects OF the enemp'S shot and the good
conduct OF the men at their guns; and al
though no doubt their hearts sickened as mine
did, when their shipmateS were struck down
beside them, yet there was not Il moments hes
ltatlon to lay their comrades aside, aud spring
again to their deadly work. Our little consort
the MetacOmet, was also under M immediate
eye, during the whole action. up to The mo-
ment | ordered her to cast Oil in pursuit OF the
Selma. The GOODNESS and promptness OF Lieut.
Commander JOuett throughout. merit high
praise: his whole conduct was worthy of his
reputation. In this connection mast not ad-
nit to call the attention of the Department TO
the conduct of Acting Ensign Henry - Nielis,
sent from the vessel when the Tecumseh sunk.
He took her III under one Of the most CALLING
hreS L ever saw, and succeeded in rescllin9
from death ten of her crew within six hundred
yards of the fort. | would respectfully recon-
mend his advancement. The commanding of.
hcers OF ail the vessels who took part in the
action, deserve my Warmest commentators,
not only for the untirng zeal with which they
had prepared their ships for the contest, but
for their skill and daring in CARRYING ont my
orders during the engagement
With the exception OF the momentOry arres t
OF the fleet when the Hartford passed ahead.
and to which have ALREADY adycrted the or
der OF battle was preserved, ana the ships fol-
lowed each other in close order past the bat
teries OF Fort Morgan, and in comparative
safety, too with the exception of the Oneida
Her boilers were penetrated by shot from the
fort. which completely disabled her, but her
conSort. the Galena, firmly fastened to her side,
brought her safely through, showing clearly
the wisdom of the precautou OF carrying the
vessels two abreast. Commander Mullany.
who had solicited eagerly to take part in the
action, was severely wounded, losing his left
arm In the encounter with the ram. the COM
handing officers obeyed with slacrity the order
to run her down, and without hesitation eN-
posed their ships to destruction to destroy the
enemy. Our iron clads, from their slow speed
and bad steering. had some difficulty in getting
into and maintaiDg their position in line as we
passed the fort, and in the subsequent encounter
with the Tennessee from the same causes, were
not SO effective as could have been desired but
l cannot g i've too much praise to Lieutenant
Commander Perkins, who. though he had Or
ders from the Department to return North,
volunteered to take command of the Chicka-
saw, and did his duty nobly.
The Winnebago was commanded by Com
mander T.. II. Stevens, who volunteered for
that position. His vessel steers very badly,
and neither OF his turrets will work, which
compelled him to turn bis vessel every time to
get shot, so that he could not fire very often,
but he did the best under the circumstances.
The Manhattan appeared to work well,
though she moved slowly. Commander Mich
olson delivered his fire deliberately, and. as
before stated, with one of his 15-inch shot
broke through the armor of the Tennessee.
with its wooden backing, though the shot it.
self did not enter the vessel No other shot
broke through her armor, though many of her
plates were started, and several of her port
shutters jammed by the fire from the different
ships.
The Hartford, my flagship, was commanded
by Capt. Percival Drayton, who exhibited
throughout that GOODNESS and ability for which
he has been long known to his brother officers.
But must speak of that officer in q double ca
pacity. He is the feet captain of NV SQUAD
ron, and one of more determined energy. un-
firing devotion to duty. and zeal for the cor