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

sir: It is my agreeable duty to report that the officers and crew of this ship have, without exception, shown an unsurpassed zeal in preparing this ship for battle, and a coolness and courage in conflict with the enemy, that has won my admiration and thanks.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor and very great pleasure to report that in the action this forenoon with the batteries at Fort Morgan, and the rebel ram Tennessee, this ship has received no serious damage, and there were no persons killed. Two men were wounded, but not seriously, and the ship struck a number of times in the hull and rigging.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor respectfully to submit the following report of the ammunition expended in the attack on the morning of the fifteenth instant, upon Fort Morgan and its water-batteries, and subsequently upon rebel iron-clad casemated steamer Tennessee, namely: In approaching toward and steaming from Fort Morgan and batteries--

（40）	Forty ten-second fuze, nine-inch shell.
（30）	Thirty fifteen-second nine-inch shell.
abreast of the Fort and batteries.
（60）	Nine-inch shell with five-second fuzes.
（16）	One-hundred pounder rifle concussion-shell.
（9）	One-hundred pounder solid shot.
（14）	Thirty-pounder concussion-shell.
（2）	Thirty-pounder solid shot.
（5）	Twelve-pounder howitzer (heavy) shell from main-top into the water-battery.
（10）	Twelve-pounder howitzer (light) shell from fore-top into the water-battery.
（4）	Twelve-pounder howitzer (light) shrapnel from fore-top into the water-battery.
iron-clad Tennessee.
（1）	One nine-inch solid shot with thirteen-pound charge, fired at the rebel iron-clad Tennessee, at the distance of about four hundred yards.
（32）	Solid shot, with thirteen-pound charge, fired at the rebel iron-clad Tennessee, at distances varying from fifty to two hundred yards, and embracing a period of about twenty minutes time.
（155）	Ten-pound charges, expended for nine-inch and one-hundred pounder rifle-guns.
（30）	Three and a quarter pound charges for thirty-pounder rifle.
（33）	Thirteen-pound charges.

The exact number of rifled musket-shots fired into the Tennessee's ports is not known.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that about sunrise to-day this ship was gotten under way, and the Seminole lashed on the port side. Our position being in the centre of the line of battle, we crossed the bar, and following close on the leading vessels, stood up the channel, and as soon as our guns could be brought to bear, a fire was opened on Fort Morgan with shells, and continued until passing it, when the Seminole was cast off.

Soon after the fleet had passed the middle ground, the rebel iron-clad Tennessee commenced approaching, with the design of attacking our vessels, and in obedience to your signal, I started under the heaviest headway to run her down, and succeeded in striking her at right angles at the after-end of the casemate.

The concussion was great, but the effect on her was only a heavy list, whilst our stern was cut and crushed to the plank ends for a distance of three feet above the water-edge to five feet below, and causing a considerable leak in forward store-room and peak. Fortunately our yards and top-masts were down, otherwise they, in all probability, would have been carried away by the concussion, which caused the ship to rebound, and the stern of the Tennessee to recede. Some panic must have existed on board the enemy, as they fired but two guns through our bows. After striking, the two swung head and stern alongside of each other, and as our guns have been pivoted for the opposite si.de, we succeeded in discharging but one nine-inch shell, that struck one of the enemy's port shutters, which was distant about twelve feet, destroying it, and driving some of the fragments into her casemate. A few of the enemy were seen through their ports, who were using most opprobrious language. Our marines opened upon them with muskets; even a spittoon and a holy-stone were thrown at them from our deck, which drove them away. Upon separating from the Tennessee, our helm was put hard over to make another attempt at running the enemy down, but our great length, and the shallowness of the water, caused us to turn so slowly, that we had not gotten round until again amongst our fleet, and, unfortunately, we collided with the flag-ship, which was running toward the Tennessee, although every exertion was used to prevent it by backing. By this accident two of the quarter-deck ports of the Hartford were knocked into one, without this ship sustaining any injury. After the collision with the flagship, I again started to run down the Tennessee, but whilst still at a distance she surrendered to our fleet.