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[313]

Destruction to the Confederate fleet.

Here are some of the sights presented to the view of President Lincoln and Admiral Porter aboard the flagship Malvern, as they proceeded up the James on the morning of April 3, 1865, to enter the fallen city of Richmond. To the right of the top photograph rise the stacks of the Confederate ram Virginia. Near the middle lie the ruined wheels of the Jamestown. And in the bottom picture, before Fort Darling appears the wreck of the Patrick Henry. All these were vessels of Commodore Mitchell's command that had so long made every effort to break the bonds forged about them by a more powerful force, afloat and ashore. The previous night Lincoln, as Admiral Porter's guest on the deck of the Malvern had listened to the sound of the great engagement on shore and had asked if the navy could not do something to make history at the same time. When told that the navy's part was one merely of watchfulness, the President responded, “But can't we make a noise?” Porter at once telegraphed to his fleet-captain to open upon the forts; then the air was rent with the sound of great guns up the river. Soon, rising even louder, came the sound of four great explosions one after another — the blowing up of Commodore Mitchell's vessels.

What Lincoln saw: the last of the undaunted Confederate flotilla--“Virginia,” “Patrick Henry,” and “Jamestown” sunk

Confederate ship “Patrick Henry” sunk in the James River.

Coal schooners wrecked to block the James--(below) Drewry's bluffs


 

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