Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[216] be assailed by every vessel having an opportunity to fire into them. A blow from the ram must be received, if possible, on the bow, and as near the stem as our steering will permit; and if the prod should enter a vessel in that manner, open wide and go ahead, to prevent her withdrawing it, when the other vessels will attack the propeller.

Should the thirty armed launches accompany the ram, the small steamers will run them down, using their howitzers with shrapnel on approaching, and hand grenades when near. Small grapnels should be in readiness to throw at the stack, and secure our vessels alongside when other experiments have failed. Ramming may be resorted to, but the peculiar construction of the stems of the double-enders will render this a matter of serious consideration with their commanders, who will be at liberty to use their judgment as to the propriety of this course when a chance shall present itself.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of casualties arising on board this ship from the engagement of the fifth instant:

James M. Hobby, first assistant engineer, scalded severely; G. H. Doyle, first class fireman, ditto; Thomas Welch, first class fireman, scalded, perhaps fatally; James Tillot, first class fireman, William Sutherland, first class fireman, Edward Kelly, second class fireman, and Joseph Murray, second class fireman, scalded and wounded, perhaps fatally; O. H. Merrell, second class fireman, scalded very severely; Charles White, second class fireman, scalded very severely; Thomas Johnson, second coal-heaver, killed; John English, coal-heaver, M. Sullivan, coal-heaver, and E. Sullivan, coal-heaver, scalded; E. H. Mayer, ensign, and E. Sawyer, ensign, contusion, not severe; E. Clayton, ordinary seaman, and John Lang, captain after guard, wounded severely; William McKay, carpenter's mate, and George Simms, captain's steward, wounded, not seriously; and T. W. Smith, seaman, scalded.

Respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: I would most respectfully report the following casualties on board this ship during the action with the rebel ram to-day:

Killed.--Ralph E. Lake, first class fireman, and William H. Dewitt, first class boy.

Wounded.--James L. Plunkett, acting master, contusion of right thigh; Daniel Lamon, captain forecastle, lacerated wound of scalp; James Mulvehill, ordinary seaman, contused wound of back and left elbow; Greenburg T. Smith, landsman, contused wound of left shoulder; Charles F. Moeller, first class boy, wound of right knee and ecchymosis of left eyebrow and lid; John B. Jewett, landsman, punctured wound of right fore-arm.

Very respectfully, &c.,

Sir: I regret to report the death of John A. Oliver, landsman, by being struck on the right side of the head, on the temporal bone, near the suture, by a fragment of iron shot away from off one of the starboard smoke-stack. guys, forward, penetrating his skull into the brain. He was killed at the nine-inch gun forward.

Respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this vessel yesterday in the engagement with the rebel ram Albemarle. At three P. M., discovering the picket boats stationed off the mouth of the Roanoke River to be falling back, as ordered when the ram appeared, we made general signal to get under way. At ten minutes past three got under way and stood up the sound, with the Sassacus, Wyalusing, and Whitehead following in first order of steaming. At forty-five minutes past three made signal, “ram is out;” the Miami, Commodore Hull, and Ceres falling into position as we came up on port quarter, thus forming the third order, as directed. At twenty minutes past four Miami made signal, “the enemy is retreating,” the ram and gunboat being observed to have their heads pointing towards the entrance of Roanoke River, distance about ten (10) miles. At forty minutes past four, when abaft the ram's beam, she fired two shots, one of which cut away both rails of launch and spar across davits, scattering splinters and wounding Acting Master Plunkett very slightly, two men severely and three slightly, all belonging to forward rifle gun. Noticing immediately after the firing an evident intention on the part of the ram to run into us, the helm was ordered to starboard, sheering to port, thus causing us to pass at a greater distance than was our intention. At forty-five minutes past four, when a little abaft the ram's beam, at between one hundred (100) and one hundred and fifty (150) yards distance, fired our starboard rifles and (9) nine-inch guns with solid shot, passing ahead, and when nearly