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

[131]

The howitzers must keep up a constant fire from the time they can reach with shrapnel until out of its range.

General order, No. 11:

Should any vessel be disabled to such a degree that her consort is unable to keep her in her station, she will drop out of line to the westward, and not embarrass the vessels next astern by attempting to regain her station. Should she repair damages so as to be able to reenter the line of battle, she will take her station in the rear as close to the last vessels as possible.

So soon as the vessels have passed the Fort and kept away N. W., they can cast off the gunboats at the discretion of the senior officer of the two vessels, and allow them to proceed up the bay to cut off the enemy's gunboats that may be attempting to escape up to Mobile. There are certain black buoys placed by the enemy from the piles on the west side of the channel across it toward Fort Morgan. It being understood that there are torpedoes and other obstructions between the buoys, the vessels will take care to pass to the eastward of the easternmost buoy, which is clear of all obstructions.

So soon as the vessels arrive opposite the end of the piles, it will be best to stop the propeller of the ship, and let her drift the distance past by her headway and the tide; and those having side-wheel gunboats will continue on by the aid of their paddle-wheels, which are not likely to foul with the enemy's drag-ropes.

General order, No. 12:

The Admiral returns thanks to the officers and crews of the vessels of the fleet for their gallant conduct during the fight of yesterday.

It has never been his good fortune to see men do their duty with more courage and cheerfulness; for, although they knew that the enemy was prepared with all devilish means for our destruction, and though they witnessed the almost instantaneous annihilation of our gallant companions in the Tecumseh by a torpedo, and the slaughter of their friends, messmates, and gun-mates on our decks, still there were no evidences of hesitation in following their Commanderin-Chief through the line of torpedoes and obstructions, of which we knew nothing, except from the exaggerations of the enemy, who had given out: “That we should all be blown up as certainly as we attempted to enter.”

For this noble and implicit confidence in their leader, he heartily thanks them.

General order, No. 13:

The Admiral desires the fleet to return thanks to Almighty God for the signal victory over the enemy on the morning of the fifth instant.

sir: I have the honor to forward herewith an additional report of Captain Jenkins, in connection with the engagement of the fifth instant, which was not received in time to accompany my detailed despatch No. 343.

Lieutenant Commander Gherardi's conduct is referred to in this report in high terms.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that in obedience to your General Order and plan of battle for attacking Fort Morgan and the rebel fleet, Lieutenant Commander Bancroft Gherardi, commanding the U. S. steamer Port Royal, reported himself with his vessel to me, ready for action a little before daylight this morning.

The Port Royal was lashed on the port-side of this vessel, with her stern pivot-gun sufficiently far aft of the quarter of this ship to enable it to be used against the enemy as effectively as one of my own broadside guns.

To Lieutenant Commander Gherardi I am greatly indebted for his cool and courageous conduct, from the moment the attack commenced to the time that his vessel was cast off by my order to go in chase of the enemy's three wooden gunboats, the Morgan, Gaines, and Selma.

My orders on board of this ship to the helmsman, and to the officer stationed at the enginebell, were repeated by him on board of his own vessel, and the soundings passed from his vessel to this with a coolness and clearness of voice that could not but excite my admiration.

The after pivot-gun of the Port Royal (the only one that could be brought to bear upon the enemy's batteries from that vessel) was worked most effectively.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that on the sixth instant I ordered a survey to be made of the hull, armor, etc., of the iron-clad Tennessee, and I herewith submit the report, (order of survey and report marked Nos. 1 and 2,) as well as a sectional view of the vessel made by Second Assistant-Engineer J. De Graff, of this ship, and a drawing in water-colors by