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[191] were adopted, (of all of which Rear-Admiral Dahlgren has reports,) and the vessel was carried successfully into action, notwithstanding her disabled condition.

After all these efforts to keep the vessel available, and after having endured the battering of those batteries on Sullivan's Island for three hours, it is most disheartening to find that the presence of the vessel in the action is not mentioned in the review; and I respectfully request, in justice to my own reputation, as well as that of every officer and man on board of this vessel, that you will have this report corrected.

I feel, sir, that the service of this vessel has been underrated. It is patent to all the commanders of iron-clads in the fleet that the Passaic is more battered than any of them, in many cases showing three shot-marks to one; and I ask that justice may be done her by correcting at the Navy Department the errors that I have pointed out in the review of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren. For further information I enclose a copy of statements of firing made to Rear-Admiral Dahlgren during the past nine months.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. Simpson, Lieutenant-Commander, commanding. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

Statement of Firings by United States Iron-clad Passaic, Lieutenant-Commander E. Simpson.

date.rounds fired.hits by enemy.distance.object.remarks.
1863.  Yards.  
July 2915-inch, 12 shells; 15-inch, 1 shot; 150-pounder, 9 shells; 150-pounder, 1 shotNone1,200Fort WagnerCarried away cap square bolt of rifie.
Aug. 9Rifled 150-pounder, 1 shellNone1,200Battery GreggReturning fire of Battery Gregg while on picket duty.
Aug. 1515-inch, 2 shells; 150-pounder, 2 shellsNone1,200Black Steamer and Battery GreggWhile on picket duty.
Aug. 1715-inch, 30 shells; 150-pounder, 9 shellsThirteen1,200Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter1Engaged Wagner in forenoon, then engaged Sumter, and after dinner engaged Wagner again.
Aug. 1815-inch, 18 shellsFive1,000Fort WagnerSeveral bad hits, deck leading over bread room.
Aug. 2315-inch, 9 shells; 150-pounder, 1 shell and 9 shotFive750Fort SumterShot from Sumter drove in a bolt of ring around wave of turret.
Aug. 3115-inch, 1 shell; 150-pounder, 9 shellsNine875Fort MoultreThree shots through; one of them over coal-bunkers, 20 inches by 9; the other two causing bad leaks on berth deck. Another bolt driven in from ring around wave of turret.
Sept. 115-inch, 20 shells; 150-pounder, 20 shells and 6 chilled shotSeven1,200 to 600Fort SumterNo bad hits, but side armor sprung apart 6 inches at the stern, caused by fouling a monitor.
Sept. 6 (A. M.)15-inch, 6 shells; 150-pounder, 9 shellsNone1,100Covered way between Wagner and GreggNo reply from the enemy.
Sept. 6 (P. M.)15-inch, 1 shell; 150-pounder, 1 shellNone ObstructionsThis firing was done on picket to prevent reenforcements coming to Wagner. In revolving turret the spindle and pilot-house torn up. Motion with the turret; turret, spindle, pilot-house, revolving together.
Sept. 815-inch, 19 shells; 150-pounder, 30 shellsFifty-one750Battery Bee, on Sullivan's IslandThree new holes through the deck, and side armor badly injured in several places. Eleven hits on ring around base of turret; one of them at the base caused so much friction on deck plate as to require 34 pounds of steam to revolve the turret. Twenty-nine new hits on turret.
Nov. 16 (A. M.)15-inch, 3 shells; 150-pounder, 31 shellsThree1,500Fort MoultrieCovering the Nahant and Mon tauk, towing off the Lehigh that was aground.
Nov. 16 (P. M.) 1864.150-pounder, 3 shellsNone1,750Moultrie HouseTrying to ignite Moultrie House.
Feb. 215-inch, 3 shells; 150-pounder, 68 shellsNone2,356Blockade runnerBlockade runner aground off Fort Moultrie.
Feb. 3150-pounder, 35 shellsNone2,356Blockade runnerTrying to destroy Blockade runner off Fort Moultrie.

1 Distance from Wagner 900 yards, from Sumter 2,000 yards.

Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1866.

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