The propeller
Fanny, owned by the
Philadelphia Transportation Company and commanded by me, was chartered at
Philadelphia as a transport, by
Lieutenant Crosby of the Navy, about the 1st of July.
Myself and crew were shipped to manage the transport.
On arriving at
Fortress Monroe the
Fanny was armed with two rifled guns, one a six and the other a nine-pounder, after which she was employed in various expeditions where a light-draft steamer was requisite.
In all these, among which may be mentioned that of
Black River, and
Cherrystone Inlet, we were successful.
When the expedition was sent down to Hatteras Inlet, the
Fanny was employed as one of the gunboats, and was the first to enter Hatteras Inlet.
After the success of this expedition was established, the control of the
Fanny was given to
Capt. Rowan of the
Pawnee, and
Col. Hawkins of the Zouaves, and the boat employed in various duties about the
Sound.
[
156]
In order to show that myself and crew were not recognized by the
Government as officer or seamen, but simply in charge of the propeller, for the purpose of navigating her, I will state that, when the expedition to Ocracoke Inlet was planned, my crew declined to go unless it was stipulated that, if any of them fell, their families should be cared for by the
Government.
Capt. Rowan promised to see to this, and we left on that expedition, under
Lieutenants Maxwell and
Eastman, on which, fortunately, no lives were lost.
Previous to this time and shortly before her loss, the
Fanny's gun crew consisted of experienced men from the
Naval Brigade, who well understood the management of guns and were good fighters.
When the
Fanny was sent to Chicomicomico, on the 29th ult., she went in company with the
Putnam and Serious to transport the
Indiana regiment to that point.
After transferring them to the shore, the
Putnam was left behind to act as guard-boat, and furnished with a nine-pound rifle gun from the
Fanny, after which the latter and the Serious returned to Hatteras inlet.
On the morning of the 1st inst., the
Fanny was loaded with stores of a valuable character, consisting of clothing, medicines, and one hundred boxes of cartridges, in addition to two hundred pounds of powder in her magazine.
The
Fanny was then ordered to Chicomicomico to deliver her stores, but no convoy was sent with her. Her gun crew consisted of ten men of
Hawkins' Zouaves, under
Sergeant-Major Peacock.
There were also on board thirty-five men of the
Indiana regiment, who were under command of
Captain Hartt; he, being the only captain on board, had charge of the boat.
I arrived off Chicomicomico about one o'clock and lay at anchor about two and a half miles from shore, in about six feet of water.
The
Putnam then came alongside, delivered the
Fanny's rifled cannon, and left for Hatteras Inlet.
It was not until half past 3 o'clock that any movement was made by the troops on shore to remove the cargo of the
Fanny.
I had but two boats, while they had a large lighter and a number of canoes, with which the cargo could have readily been removed in a short time.
Finally the
commanding officer of the
Indiana regiment came off in a canoe with a lighter and took off a cargo of goods for immediate use. About half past 4 o'clock I saw the rebel side-wheel steamer
Northampton heading from
Roanoke Island directly toward us; shortly after I saw two smaller boats, propellers, one heading to cut off our retreat and the other so as to get ahead of us. The side-wheel steamer was about two hundred and fifty tons' burden and had two thirty-twos forward.
The other vessels were about one hundred and twenty tons, and each armed with one twenty-four-pounder cannon, capable of throwing a sixty-four-pound shot.
The powder I had on freight was stored in a house on deck, forward of the boiler, and a shell exploding into it would have blown the vessel to atoms.
Beside this, my boiler was on deck, and insufficiently protected against shot from cannon.
When the approach of the rebel steamers was perceived,
Capt. Hartt asked me what had better be done.
I declined to assume any authority in the premises, as he was the commander of the expedition, and responsible.
He finally ordered the men to throw the cartridges overboard, and went aft and lowered a boat, to go ashore; as he said, for assistance.
To this course I objected, and insisted that he should remain in charge of his men, as I was not willing to assume any responsibility.
The rebels opened fire, which we returned with nine shots, which fell short, save one, which struck one boat in the bow. I then took my son, who was lying sick in his berth, and, with a boat's crew, pulled ashore.
As I left,
Capt. Hartt suggested to the mate that he had better slip the cable, and run the ship ashore.
I was about five hundred yards from the
Fanny when the cable was slipped, but she struck immediately.
After she struck,
Sergeant-Major Peacock ran up the white flag.
This was a signal that all had been done that could be, and the remainder of the crew took the spare boat and left.
The rebels, by this surrender, came into possession of one of the best-assorted cargoes and every thing on board, save thirty cases of cartridges, which were thrown overboard.
To have attempted to defend the
Fanny, under the circumstances, would have been madness.
The gun crew knew nothing of gunnery, and I think the
Indiana troops on board knew little better.
We had enough time from one o'clock to half past 4 to have discharged every portion of the cargo of the
Fanny, and to have destroyed the vessel, had we received assistance from the Indianians on shore.
I cannot but feel that it was to their neglect to assist us that the loss of the
Fanny may be attributed.
Nor do I think it was policy in
Capt. Rowan or
Col. Hawkins to have sent the
Fanny to Chicomicomico without an escort or sufficient guard on board, when she had so valuable a cargo.
Upon my return to Hatteras Inlet, I made report of the loss to
Capt. Rowan, and on Friday, 4th instant, went up to
Hampton Roads with my crew.
Here I reported to
Gen. Mansfield, and detailed the circumstances of the capture of the
Fanny.
He acquitted me from blame, and furnished me and my crew with passes to
Philadelphia.
It is true I am not nor have I been recognized by the Navy Department as commander of the
Fanny.
She has never been regularly commissioned as a gunboat, although doing nearly three months active and successful duty as such.
Neither have my crew been recognized by the Department, and if myself or any of my crew had fallen in any of the many actions in
[
157]
which we have been engaged our families would have had no claim upon the
Government.
During the time I was in command of the
Fanny, myself and crew received pay from the owners of the boat, and not from the
Government.
I may state here, as the
Fanny Cadwallader has been many times mistaken for this vessel, that the original boat chartered by
Lieut. Crosby was the
Fanny, of
Philadelphia, and was owned by the same company.
With her various expeditions on the eastern coast of
Virginia were prosecuted, and she has done good service.
After some time, however, she became disabled, and her crew were transferred to the
P. T. Hartt.
As it was advisable to retain the prestige of the
Fanny's name, the sign upon her stern was transferred to the
P. T. Hartt, and she afterward sailed under the name of the
Fanny; so that in reality it was the
P. T. Hartt, and not the
Fanny, that was captured.
The latter, under the name of
H. Burden, is now running between
Baltimore and
Annapolis, in Government service.
I am a resident of
Brooklyn, and well known in New York and
Philadelphia, and for capacity as a commander can produce the best of references.
For my courage and that of my crew, I refer to
Lieut. Crosby, now of the
Pembina,
Capt. Rowan, and
Lieuts. Maxwell and
Eastman, of the
Pawnee, under whose immediate command I have been.
