Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Hove up our anchor, and at forty minutes past five A. M. stood in to take our position astern of the Brooklyn, which ship was slowly standing in for the bar, followed by the Hartford. Lashed our anchors to the bows, and secured the chains with extra stoppers, beat to quarters, and cleared ship for action. A few minutes after seven o'clock, Fort Morgan opened upon us, and continued firing until the fleet had passed.

We commenced and continued to fire with our starboard hundred-pounder Parrott on the topgallant forecastle, until our starboard broadside could bear, which was not, however, until we got nearly abreast of the Fort, when we opened with our twelve nine-inch guns, loaded with ten-second shell. We now fired rapidly, and as we approached used five-second shell and shrapnel, with fuses cut at two seconds, which had the effect to drive the enemy from their water-batteries and parapet guns whilst we were abreast of the Fort. The Brooklyn now having stopped and commenced backing, the Hartford went ahead and led the fleet until we anchored up the bay.

After passing the Brooklyn, the rebel ram and gunboats paid their individual attention to this ship, taking position ahead and on our starboard bow, and with their heavy guns raking us, we not being able to bring any guns to bear on them, except those mounted on the top-gallant forecastle. We continued, however, to advance, they preserving their position until we got some distance from Fort Morgan, when the rebel ram went back to attack our ships astern. The three gunboats, however, still stuck by us. We had now so altered our course as to bring them to bear on our starboard bow and beam, and opened on them with the starboard broadside; we now were on a footing with them, and delivered our fire with effect on all three, they edging off and increasing their distance, but still keeping up a hot fire, from which we suffered very much. This part of the action had now lasted some thirty minutes, most of the time their fire raking us, cutting down our men at the guns fearfully, and damaging gun-carriages and material, when the Metacomet cast off and pursued. The enemy by this time having been pretty well handled, hauled off, separated, the Gaines and Morgan making for the fort, and the Selma falling a prize to the Metacomet. Our ships now having come up, we steamed up the bay and anchored with fifteen fathoms of chain in three and a quarter fathoms of water, when the ram was seen approaching; hove up our anchor, went to quarters, and stood down for the enemy; endeavored to strike her, but our anchor hanging from the hawse-pipe, sheered us off from the ram, so that the ships passed, the port sides grazing each other; depressed our port guns and fired with thirteen pounds of powder and solid shot. After passing, put our helm hard a starboard, to come around for another butt, the ship, however, making a larger circle in getting around; approached near to our own ships that were bound down for the rebel rain; one of them, the Lackawanna, struck us on the starboard side abaft the main-chains, knocking two of our ports into one, capsized a nine-inch gun, carried away the gig and davits, and starboard M. S. M. backstays, also cutting us down to within two feet of the water. We cleared, and stood down for the ram, which had turned and was running away without a smoke-stack, followed by our ironclads, the Ossipee and other ships. When we were nearly up to the enemy, she hoisted the white flag and surrendered — this ship turned back a short distance and anchored.

The conduct of the crew was splendid, and their enthusiasm was unbounded, notwithstanding the raking fire that we suffered. When men fell, others filled the gaps, until almost two entire crews had been swept away. Nothing could be more noble than the spirit displayed by our wounded and dying, who cheered and smiled in their agony, seemingly contented at the sacrifice of their lives for the victory vouchsafed to their country. Such men are our heroes.

The officers, one and all, did their whole duty, and in a measure to their exertions and example may be attributed the unflinching conduct of those they so well instructed, drilled, and commanded. Conspicuous was Ensign Whiting, who worked the forecastle guns under the most trying circumstances and under the most scathing fire. Mr. Dixon, our boatswain; Wm. McEwan, Acting Assistant Engineer; Mr. Herrick, Acting Master's Mate; Acting Ensigns Bogart and Heginbotham, deserve praise for their coolness and assistance in the powder division, which was at one time a perfect slaughter-house.

Lieutenant Yates, of the U. S. Steamer Augusta, and Acting Ensign Marthow, of the U. S. Steamer Tennessee, who volunteered for the fight, also deserve praise for their very valuable services.

Appended are the reports of the divisional officers, whose mention of particular acts of men under their immediate command will enable you to recommend the men mentioned to notice; also the reports of the several officers in charge of the different departments and of the damages sustained therein.

Very respectfully,

Acting Ensign W. H. Whiting, in charge of the forecastle guns, deserves special mention for his gallantry in serving and working both one-hundred pounder rifles under the most trying circumstances.

The three captains of guns, Henry Clark, Peter W. Stanley, and Wm. H. Wright, displayed an amount of courage and coolness which I have rarely seen equalled. But the two men of whom I wish particularly to speak are Charles Melville and Thomas Fitzpatrick. A rifle shell burst between the two forward nine-inch guns, killing and wounding fifteen men. Charles Melville was