The loss of the steamer Gaines.
The following official correspondence, relative to the loss of the steamer Gaines, will be perused with interest: Mobile, Alabama, August 8, 1864.
The Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Nary, Richmond, Virginia
Sir:
I have the honor to submit a report of the part taken by the Gaines, under my command, in the action of the 5th instant, off Fort Morgan, and the circumstances which led to the beaching and abandonment of the ship.
The Gaines was cleared for action about 6.20 A. M., and in obedience to signal from the Admiral to "follow his motions," waited for him to open upon the advancing enemy — advancing with four monitors in line ahead, and fourteen wooden vessels by twos, each large ship having a smaller one lashed to her port side — the whole forming one complete line of battle.
As soon as the Tennessee delivered fire, the Gaines — having placed herself next the Admiral — commenced at about two thousand yards distance with her pivot guns upon the leading wooden ships, supposed to be the Hartford and her consort, at about 6.50, as nearly as I can determine, and continued to deliver a raking fire upon the leading wooden ships until their passage past the fort.--She then made one circle to prevent too close action — as she was lying nearly in the track of the advancing fleet — and afterwards steered in nearly parallel lines, with the enemy, at distances gradually diminishing, until she was within at least seven hundred yards, and engaging with her port guns.
The enemy being now clear of the fort, was enabled to direct attention exclusively to our little squadron.
Early in the action a shell exploded near the steering-wheel, wounding the two men stationed at it, and cutting the wheel-rope.
The ship was then steered with the relieving tackles until the after wheel-ropes could be rove.
Shortly after this it was reported that the forward magazine was filled with smoke, and thought to be on fire.
This, on examination, luckily, proved a mistake.
An eleven-inch shot had entered the starboard bow, striking the deck above the magazine, had broken it in, and made so much dust that the gunner's mate, serving powder in that magazine, thought it smoke, and believed from the shock and dust a shell had exploded and fired that part of the ship.
He reported accordingly.
This occasioned a short delay in the serving of powder to the forward division.
The firemen of this division, with hose and buckets, went promptly to the spot, under the executive officer, and soon discovered the mistake.
About this time the ship was subjected to a very heavy, concentrated fire from the Hartford, Richmond and others, at short range, as the enemy passed me. Nearly their whole fire seemed for a time to be directed at the Gaines.
The after magazine was now discovered filling with water.
I went below to examine it, and found much water had accumulated in it, and was rapidly increasing.
Not being aware of any shot having entered, near the water, that part of the ship, and being unable to see any damage upon inspection from the side which could have caused such a leak, I directed the executive officer, with the carpenter's mate, to get into a boat and make examination of the counter.
He found a shot had broken in the outer planking under the port quarter about the water line, and which, from marks, seemed to have glanced below in the direction of the stern-post.
This could not be stopped by reason of the impossibility of getting to it, because of the flare of the counter.
As this break could not have caused all the water which flowed into the ship, I am of opinion that it was a shell which caused the break, and had probably exploded below water, under the counter, and had started the timbers near the stern-post; the ship had received a shock during the engagement which shook her from stem to stern, being much more violent than that of shots passing through.
The bilge pumps were immediately worked, but there was no water in the engine room.
Finding the magazines rapidly filling, also, the after hold and shell room, with no water in the engine room, I caused the after bulkhead of the engine room to be knocked down, so as to allow the flow of water to the bilge pumps.
By this time the stern had settled some, and the steering became difficult.
Under these circumstances, I determined to withdraw from action.
The enemy's fleet had now passed.
Finding the ship would sink in a short time, and thinking I might be able to reach the shore, now about two or three miles distant, I withdrew from action and made the best of my way towards the fort, steering the ship principally with the side-wheels, which position I reached without embarrassment from the enemy — thankful to an opportune rain-squall which shut me from view — and placed her bow upon the beach, within five hundred yards of Fort Morgan, at about 9.30.
I am happy to state there was no confusion nor panic under the circumstances of our position, but that every work was done with deliberation and without undue excitement.
The ship delivered fire to the enemy at the moment of striking the shore.
At the time of beaching, the magazine was nearly filled; I had caused all the powder to be removed to the cabin; the shells were removed as rapidly as possible, but not before many of them had become submerged.
The usefulness of the ship having been destroyed by the enemy, I devoted myself and crew to the preservation of all valuable materiel; and landed all the powder, shell, shot, gun equipments, &c., which I gave to the general commanding at Fort Morgan, to whom I thought they might be useful in the expected siege.
The crew were then landed, with their bags and blankets, muskets, cutlasses, and small-arm ammunition, and the ship abandoned at 12 o'clock, with her battle-flags flying and her stern settle as far as it could — about two fathoms.
I did not spike the guns, because they could be secured by the fort and could not be taken by the enemy.
Having thus left my command, it became necessary to devise a retreat for my crew — they were not necessary to the fort, as I was informed when I offered their services.
Already I had secured two boats belonging to the Tennessee — left by her at anchor, and with four boats of the Gaines--one having been destroyed by shot — I left the fort at 8 o'clock P. M. and reached Mobile at 7 o'clock A. M. on the 6th, with one hundred and twenty-nine officers and men, small arms, &c., and six boats; passed the enemy's fleet without observation, and reported myself and crew to the senior officer for further service.
Not a man was lost by straggling, and I brought up the wounded.
The dead were buried on the afternoon of the 5th in the fort's burial ground.
We had only two killed and three wounded. The surgeon's report of the casualties I herewith enclose.
Whilst running the gauntlet up the bay, I became apprehensive of capture, or of being forced to land and make a march to Mobile; the Morgan was being chased by the enemy; as I knew it was her intention to pass near the Eastern shore, and could see her approach us, I feared she might lead the enemy upon the boats.
Under these circumstances, I deemed it prudent to drop the signal book into the sea.--I did so.
The officers and crew of the Gaines, for about ten or fifteen minutes, were subjected to a very heavy fire from the enemy at short distance, and, I am proud to say, stood it with great gallantry.
There were two or three exceptional cases only.
Without casting censure upon any by my silence, I cannot withhold the expression of my thanks to Lieutenant Payne, Passed and Assistant Surgeon Iglehart, Second Assistant Engineer DeBois, Gunner Offutt and Paymaster's Clerk Wilson, (in charge of the supply of shells to after division,) for their examples of coolness and gallantry under the trying circumstances of this combat against an overwhelming force, and the influence it must have had among the crew, most of whom had never before been in action.
Frequent interviews with these officers caused me to regard them with admiration.
The ship received seventeen shots in her hull and smoke-stack; of these, only two can be said to have caused her any distress — that which caused the leak and the cutting the wheel ropes.
As is usual and proper when a ship is lost, I beg the Department to order a court of inquiry to investigate the causes which led to the abandoning of the Gaines.
The Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Nary, Richmond, Virginia
Sir:
Confederate States of America, Navy Department, Richmond, August 23, 1864.
>Lieutenant Commanding J. W. Bennett, Provisional Navy, Confederate States, Mobile:
Sir:
Your letter of the 8th instant, reporting the battle of the 5th instant, in the Bay of Mobile, and the part taken in it by the Gaines, under your command, has been received.
Against the overwhelming forces brought to bear upon our little squadron, defeat seems to have been inevitable; but the bearing of our officers and men has snatched credit even from defeat; and, mingled with deep regret for the suffering and captivity of the brave old Admiral, and the loss of our men and ships, is the conviction that the triumph of the enemy leaves the honor of our service untarnished.
The court of inquiry for which you ask is deemed unnecessary.
Such a tribunal could but strengthen the public verdict, in which the Department fully concurs, that the loss of your ship resulted from no want of courage, skill, or judgment, on the part of yourself, your officers, or crew. >Lieutenant Commanding J. W. Bennett, Provisional Navy, Confederate States, Mobile:
Sir:
