first lieutenant, Kell, who had preceded me to Richmond, and been made a commander, in command of one of the ironclads, but he was soon obliged to relinquish his command, on account of failing health.
As reorganized, the fleet stood as follows:—
Virginia, iron-clad, flag-ship, four guns, Captain Dunnington.
Richmond, iron-clad, four guns, Captain Johnson.
Fredericksburg, iron-clad, four guns, Captain Glassel.
Hampton, wooden, two guns, Captain Wilson, late of the Alabama.
Nansemond, wooden, two guns, Captain Butt.
Roanoke, wooden, two guns, Captain Pollock.
Beaufort, wooden, two guns, Captain Wyatt.
Torpedo, wooden, one gun, Captain Roberts.
The fleet was assisted, in the defence of the river, by several shore batteries, in command of naval officers; as Drury's Bluff; Battery Brooke; Battery Wood, and Battery Semmes—the whole under the command of my old friend, Commodore John R. Tucker.
I soon had the mortification to find that the fleet was as much de