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

Port cat-block shot away, also three deck-stop-pers. Fore-rigging, two shrouds starboard, and one port shot away; one shroud shot away in two places; two dead eyes starboard, fore-rigging shot away; starboard fore-topsail halliards shot away; port fore-brace shot away; port fore-topsail brace and block shot away; starboard sheet-anchor shank broke, and flue shot off; port main-stay shot away; main rigging six shrouds shot away, four starboard and two port; one dead eye port main rigging shot away.

Main lift and brace shot away.

Main topsail clewlines and buntlines shot away.

Main topmast rigging stranded.

One shroud, mizzen-rigging shot away. One laniard port mizzen-rigging shot away.

Starboard cross-tack, and mizzen topsail-brace shot away.

A shot passed through the top-gallant and royal rigging barricaded in the sick bay, and lodged in the port water-ways.

Starboard sheet-chain shot away.

No doubt a great deal of the gear is cut, but how much cannot be ascertained until broken out. Also the starboard bow-chain shot away.

Very respectfully,

One hundred ten-pound charges, (nine-inch;) thirty-two thirteen-pound charges, (nine-inch;) thirty-seven ten-pound charges, (one-hundred pounder;) fourteen six-pound charges, (sixty-pounder;) fifty five-second shell, (nine-inch;) twenty-five ten-second shell, (nine-inch;) twenty stands of grape, (nine-inch;) thirty seven solid shot, (nine-inch;) twenty-five solid shot, (one-hundred pounder;) twelve shell Tico's concussion, (one-hundred pounder;) twelve solid shot, (sixty-pounder;) two shell, Tico's concussion, (sixty-pounder.)

I am, sir, most respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

At half-past 5 A. M. got under way in obedience to signal, took my station in the line, and prepared for action.

At ten minutes past seven the action was commenced by the first guns being fired from the Fort. After passing the forts I saw the rebel ram Tennessee head in for the line. I then sheered out of the line to run into her, at the same time ordering full speed as fast as possible. I struck her fair, and swinging round poured in a broadside of solid eleven-inch shot, which apparently had but little if any effect upon her. Soon after, signal was made to my ship to again run into her. I did so, and was about to try it the third time, when she surrendered to the fleet.

During the action my officers and men, without exception, behaved in the most gallant manner. It would be impossible to make any distinction where all did every thing that could have been desired.

I would here mention that a volunteer crew from the U. S. S. Kennebec, in charge of Acting Ensign Ellis, came on board and manned one of my thirty-two pounder broadside guns during the engagement with Fort Morgan. Their conduct during the action was gallant, and met with my entire approbation.

I regret to say that my First Lieutenant, Mr. Prentiss, lost a leg in the action, and that fears are entertained for his life.

Inclosed I send you the Executive Officer's report of the expenditure of ammunition, and the damages sustained, also the Surgeon's and Engineer's reports.

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

In twice attempting to run down the rebel iron-clad ram Tennessee, our iron prow was entirely carried away, together with the cut-water. The butt ends of the planking on both bows are started from the stem and badly shattered, the port ones considerably sprung off.

Two six-inch rifle-shell from the ram entered our starboard bow; one between the planking and cutwater, grazing the perpendicular, striking the under side of the breast-hook, ricocheting, passing through the boatswain's store-room, and striking the berth-deck, where it lodged without exploding. The other entered about twelve feet further aft, and exploded on the berth-deck, slightly wounding three men, breaking an eleven-inch scraper and an eleven-inch worm, and bending a stanchion near the galley. A six-inch rifle-shell exploded underneath the No. 1 pivot port, raking up the side in ten or fifteen places, many of the pieces remaining in the side. One six-inch solid shot entered abreast No. 2 pivot port, passing through the boatswain's room, starboard side, berth-deck, paymaster's issuing room, port side, and lodging in the outer planking, springing off one butt about eight inches. One ten-inch shot or shell came in our starboard gangway, carrying away head-board of starboard quarterdeck hammock netting, grazing top-rail and mainmast, and passing through port side under main