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

[143]

Wounded--Lieutenant Commanding C. H. Green, contusion of leg; Acting Ensign Maurice McEntree, contusion of the thigh; Acting Master Henry R. Billings, contusion of face, all from splinters, slight; James McIntosh, Coxswain, incised wound of scalp, not severe; John Govard, seaman, lacerated wound of forehead, quite severe; Charles Howard, seaman, contusion of sacrum, slight; William H. Nice, Boatswain's Mate, severe contusion of right eye; Andrew Crough, Quartermaster, contusion of scalp, slight; George Smith, ship's corporal, wound of upper third left arm, quite severe; John Robinson, quartermaster, contusion of left foot, slight.

Killed, one; wounded, ten.

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

sir: I respectfully report the following casualties in action yesterday morning, while passing Fort Morgan, namely:

Daniel Godfrey, coal-heaver, mortally wounded in abdomen, by fragment of shell from the rebel iron-clad Tennessee, and has since died; Acting Ensign H. E. Tinkham, serious gunshot wounds, and contusions of left, arm, side, thigh, and leg, by fragments of shell from the rebel ram Tennessee, no fracture; Peter R. Post, landsman, gunshot wound and fracture of right cheek-bone, serious; Charles Sanders, Master-at-Arms, slight contusion of lips; J. D. Ireson, Captain of the Hold, Isaac Fisher, (colored,) first-class boy, and several others, very slight contusions, by fragments of shell from the Tennessee, and splinters caused by it; and Kimball Prince, landsman, contusion of right shoulder, slight, by splinter caused by a solid shot from the Fort.

Very respectfully,

sir: I regret to inform the Department, that after I had passed the forts some time, I saw a steamer on fire inside the bay. I soon perceived that it was the Philippi, and I could not imagine how she came to be set on fire.

I have since received the report of her commanding officer, Acting Master J. T. Seaver, which is herewith inclosed:

The facts appear to be, that Acting Master Seaver, on the evening before the action, asked Fleet-Captain Drayton if he should not follow the squadron into the bay. Captain Drayton told him that that would be a folly, and ordered him to go and deliver the ammunition he had brought from Pensacola, on board the Tennessee, and then report to Lieutenant Commander Grafton, senior officer for duty outside. Instead of doing this, he followed the fleet in, and was struck with a shot from the Fort, when he put his helm a-port and ran her on the bank. After having had two men killed and two wounded, he deserted the vessel, leaving his signal-book (boat code,) on the quarter-deck, where it was found by the enemy, who subsequently boarded the vessel.

. . . . . . .

The rebels set the vessel on fire, and we have thus lost one of the most efficient vessels in the squadron for all kinds of express duty, and we are sadly in want of just such vessels.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I beg leave to make the following report to you in regard to the loss of the U. S. steamer Philippi:

At daylight, hove up anchor, and steamed alongside the Tennessee, and discharged all the ordnance stores and provisions belonging to other vessels; not having orders to report to any one, and the verbal order I received being to discharge the stores into the Tennessee as quickly as possible, I did so. Wishing to be of assistance to the fleet in case any vessels were disabled, and knowing the power of my steamer, immediately after the freight was out, I dropped off from the Tennessee, got hawsers, lines, etc., all ready to be of assistance in towing any disabled vessel which would need my services. At forty-five minutes past seven stood up the channel for the fleet, keeping as far out of range of the Fort as I could judge was necessary to clear the shoal, the Quartermaster at the lead from the time of making the bar. At about fifteen minutes past nine, while going ahead slow, the Quartermaster gave the cast, a quarter less three, and the steamer immediately struck. I rang three bells and tried to back her off, but she did not stir. I kept backing for ten minutes; had about thirty-five pounds of steam on. The Fort then opened fire on us, and, getting our range, every other shell did execution — the second shell or shot, (as it did not explode, I could not tell which,) struck the rail about the starboard bow-port, and immediately killed Frank Wilson, landsman. One shot passed through the boiler, entirely disabling us, and another burst in the engine-room. At this time Fort Morgan kept up a constant fire at us, every shell doing more or less execution. The men, while I was forward, many of them, rushed aft, and commenced cutting the boats' falls. Hearing this, I came aft and ordered them to stop, which they did, and the boats were lowered with safety, but the men crowded in, and two of the boats were immediately filled. I put the wounded in one of the boats, and sent the dying in charge of Acting Ensign L. R. Vance, to the Cowslip, for assistance.