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no confusion anywhere, even when, from the terrible slaughter at some of the guns, it might have been looked for.
All did their duty, but I cannot but mention Lieutenants Tyson and Adams, and Ensign Whiting, to whose example and exertions it was in a great measure owing, no doubt, that the great loss at some of the guns was not followed by confusion or delay in repairing damages.
Acting Master's Mate Finelli, who took charge of the Third division after Lieutenant Adams was wounded, is spoken of to me very highly.
Acting Third Assistant-Engineer McEwan is also strongly noticed in the report of Chief-Engineer Williamson.
He lost his right arm while busily employed on the berth-deck, where he was stationed, in assisting and comforting the wounded.
He is spoken of by his superiors as most competent to fill the position of Third Assistant-Engineer in the regular service, for which I would beg you to recommend him to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy.
The last shell fired at us — that from the ram — killed my clerk, Ensign W. H. Heginbotham.
Although this was the first time he had been in action, nothing, I am told, could exceed the coolness and zeal with which he performed his duties in the powder division, and I feel his loss most seriously, as his general intelligence and many amiable qualities had made him almost necessary to me.
I must also thank Lieutenant A. R. Yates, a volunteer from the United States steamship Augusta, who acted as an aid both to you and myself, and was to me most useful.
The two after-guns were entirely manned by marines, who, under the direction of Captain Charles Heywood, performed most efficient service.
Thanks to the unremitting supervision of Chief-Engineer Williamson, all had been so thoroughly prepared in his department, that nothing was required of the engines during the day which they could not perfectly perform.
The devoted attention of Fleet-Surgeon Palmer, Surgeon Lansdale, and Assistant-Surgeon Commons to our wounded was beyond praise, and it was owing to their skill and untiring exertions that the large number of desperately wounded were prepared by eight o'clock in the evening for removal to the hospital at Pensacola, for which place they left at daylight on the following morning in the Metacomet, under a flag of truce.
Boatswain Dixon was nearly knocked overboard by a splinter, but absented himself from the deck only long enough to have his wounds dressed, when he returned to his duties.
Acting Master's Mate Henrick, while superintending the passage of powder and shell on the berth-deck, was very seriously wounded by a piece of shell which entirely disabled him at the time, and may, I am afraid, prove very serious.
Up to this time his conduct and bearing are spoken of by the commanding officer of the division in the highest praise.
I must also thank Lieutenant Watson, your Flag-Lieutenant, who, besides attending most faithfully to the signals, found time to assist me on several occasions when it was important to give directions in detail about the firing.
Of the crew, I can scarcely say too much.
They were most of them persons who had never been in action, and yet I cannot hear of a case where any one attempted to leave his quarters or showed any thing but the sternest determination to fight it out. There might perhaps have been a little excuse had such a disposition been exhibited, when it is considered that a great part of four guns' crews were at different times swept away almost entirely by as many shells.
In every case, however, the killed and wounded were quietly removed; the injuries at the guns made good, and in a few moments, except from the traces of blood, nothing could lead one to suppose that any thing out of the ordinary routine had happened.
In conclusion, I request that you will recommend to the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, for the medal of honor, the men whose names accompany this in a separate report.
They well deserve the distinction.
Very respectfully,
With this report I inclose those of the executive officer, the officers of divisions, and of the gunner, carpenter, and sailmaker, and I beg leave to heartily indorse all that is said in them about the officers and men of their respective commands.
I would also beg leave to say that although there was very considerable loss of life in the powder division, thanks to the good arrangements and the example of Ensign Dana, who was in charge of it, there was no confusion.
He was also greatly assisted in the after-part of the division by sailmaker T. C. Herbert, whose example tended much to give confidence to those around him; he is a most deserving officer.
The gunner, J. L. Staples, and carpenter, George E. Burcham, also deserve notice for their strict attention to duty.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
sir: Agreeably to your order, I submit the following reports of the passage of this ship by Forts Morgan and Gaines, and our engagement with the ram Tennessee, iron-clad, and with the gunboats Selma, Gaines, and Morgan.
On the morning of the fifth, called all hands at three A. M., stowed hammocks, and gave the people an early breakfast, hove in to twenty fathoms of chain, and prepared to receive the United States steamer Metacomet alongside.
At daylight the Metacomet came on our port side and made fast, our battery on that side having been run in for that purpose.
