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

sir: I have the honor to inclose the accompanying reports of injuries sustained by this ship in the engagement of yesterday, as also of the amount of ammunition expended. In addition to my report of yesterday, I would state all under my command showed such zeal and energy that it would be invidious to select any one as more deserving than another.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I respectfully report that the damages done to the rigging on board this vessel on the fifth instant were as follows:

Starboard fore-stay shot away, also three strands of the port fore-stay.

Very respectfully,

sir: I would most respectfully submit the following report of the expenditures of ammunition and projectiles, while engaging the rebel forts and vessels of war, by this ship, August fifth, 1864.

Shells, five sec., thirty; ten sec., six; fifteen sec., two; twenty sec., seven; percussion, thirty-two. Solid shots, eleven-inch, four; one-hundred-pounder, two; thirty-two-pounder, six; hollow shots, thirty-pounder, four. Powder, number seven cannon, three hundred and sixty-five pounds; ordinary powder, three hundred and fifty-four pounds.

Very respectfully,

sir: In obedience to your order for passing the forts on the fifth instant, at half-past 5 A. M., we went alongside, and made fast on the port side of the Lackawanna, and took our designated station in the line, and am happy to say we had no casualties on board.

The hull of the ship was not struck at all. One strand of the port mainstay was cut by a fragment of a shell.

At fifteen minutes past eight A. M. we cast off from the Lackawanna, and at fifteen minutes past eight A. M. came to anchor. At half-past 9 A. M., seeing the rebel ram Tennessee approaching us, we slipped to avoid her, and at fifteen minutes past ten A. M. returned to our anchorage, after having delivered two broadsides at her, at a distance of about one thousand yards. I am happy to say that all the officers and crew behaved with the utmost coolness.

Respectfully, etc.,

sir: I have to report that, in passing the fort yesterday, we met with no casualties in killed or wounded. One shot from the water-battery cut one strand of our mainstay, which is the only injury done to the ship or rigging. Respectfully your obedient servant,

sir: The following is a report of expenditure of ammunition on board this vessel in the engagement of yesterday: Five ten-second eleven-inch shell; four thirty-two pounder solid shot; sixteen thirty-pounder Parrott rifle-shell; two thirty-pounder Parrott rifle-shot; five fifteen-pound charges; four six-pound charges; eighteen three and a quarter pound charges.

Respectfully your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that, according to instructions, this vessel yesterday, at half-past 5 A. M. got under way from her anchorage near Sand Island, and proceeded up the bay for the purpose of attacking the enemy.

At seven took station between Fort Morgan and the wooden vessels of the fleet in line of battle.

At fifteen minutes past seven opened fire on the fort, the enemy firing rapidly. At eight the United States Monitor Tecumseh was blown up and sunk by a torpedo when within about a cable length of us, and shortly after the following men, having been saved from the wreck, were brought on board in a boat belonging to the Metacomet:

Acting Ensign John B. Zellick, Quartermaster Wm. Roberts, Quartermaster Chauncey P. Dean. Seamen: George Major, James McDonald. Ordinary seamen: James Burnes, Charles Packand, James Lands, William Tidder. Coal-passer: William West.

At half-past 8 passed Fort Morgan, and steamed slowly up the bay. At ten minutes past nine the after-turret broke down. At fifteen minutes past nine received order from flag-ship to attack the rebel ram Tennessee, which surrendered at forty-five minutes past nine. Anchored with the fleet at forty-five minutes past ten in the lower fleet anchorage of Mobile Bay.

Inclosed please receive engineer's report of condition of the turrets, and the gunner's account of ammunition expended.

The Winnebago was struck nineteen times, three of the shot having penetrated the deck near the after-turret.