The Republican journal., 1906-06-21
L. :. STEAM GUNBOAT MIAMI. J
OF mouth of Roanoke River,
April 20, 1854. '

IS a. tLilSl4i
L. :. STEAM GUNBoAT MIAMI. J
OF mouth of Roanoke River,
April 20, 1864, y
Sir: | beg leave to submit the
following report of the attack on
Plymouth, \. c.. by the Rebel
forces: also the engagement on the
morning of April 10th between the
hours of and 5 a, N. with the
naval fleet and the Rebel ironclad
ram. The siege began Sunday after
noon. April 18th. by an artillery fire
upon Fort Gray. Early on the morn
ing Of the 18th, between the hours
of 5 and a. M, the enemy tried to
carry by storm Fort Gray. but were
repulsed. In the afternoon of the
18th heavy artillery opened upon
the town and breaStWor6s. Then
the fight became general. Up to
this time the gunhoats Miami and
SouthGeld We're chained together in
preparation to encounter the ram.
but they were then separated. The
SouthfeId moving up the river OPP
ened fire over the town, while the
Miami moving down the river open
ed a heavy cross fire upon the enc
my, who We're making a charge upon
Fort Williams. The firing from the
Miami being very exact caused the
enemy to fall back, after making
three attempts to storm the fort.
A $50 =. m. firing ceased from the
enemy. they having withdrawn from
range. Commander FhlSSer dis
patched a messenger to General
Vessels to learn the result OF the
days fight. The messenger return
ed at 10 p. m. bearing a dispatch
from General Vessels stating that
the fire from the gunboats was very
satisfactory and effective: so much
so that the advancing columns of
the enemy broke and retreated. He
desired that the Miami might re-
main below the town to prevent a
flank movement by the enemy. At
1920 D. m. tie Southtield came
down and anchored near. At 1920
a. M, all being quiet on shore, the
Southfield came alongside and we
made preparations for rechalnlng
the two vessels together as they
we're before. Eut before this could
be fully accomplished the gunboat
Ceres came down the river and
passing near gave the alarm that
the ram was close upon us. The
commander Immediately rang four
bells and ordered both vessels to
steam ahead and run the ram down.
In obedience to these orders IN one
minute both steamers were steam
ing up the river toward the ram,
and in two minutes were engaged
with the ram, which struck the
Southtield upon her starboard bow
causing her to sink later, but she
kept firing at the ram until she did
sink. AS soon as the batteries OF
the Miami could be brought to bear
upon the ram we commenced firing
solid shot and shell from the 100
FOUNDER Parrot rifles and 9-lnch
Dahlgren guns, they making no
perceptible indentations in the ar
NOR of the ram. While firing one
of these guns with his own hands
and while the lock-string was still
in his hand, a fragment of his own
shell, which after striking the ram
broke into several pieces, rebound
ed on board the Miami, striking
Captain Flusser and cut him in two
and he was thus killed by his own
hand. The loss to the country OF
such a brave, gallant, Jealous and
energetic officer is irreparable, and
for him we mourn. To speak of
him is but to praise him, for to the
last his example was that of patriot
ism and of honor to the flag.
have the honor to be,
very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
VIM. n. WELLEs,
Acting Master and Executive Officer
Acting Rear Admiral
S. p. LEE,
Commanding North Atlantic
Blockading Squadron.
This report of Acting Master Well'
was written in haste and under gre:
excitement and he did not have tt
to go into the details,
both he and Acting Master Newman
Executive Officer of the Southfield, d