Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of Rebellion, Series I, Volume 24 by United States Department of the Navy

Author:United States Department of the Navy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Official Records, Civil War
Publisher: United States Department of the Navy
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Page 411

NAVAL FORCES ON WESTERN WATERS. 411

From the moment the Federal flag was struck and our forces took possession of the vessel there appears to have been an utter want of authority, system, or plan. The vessel was towed or drifted down several miles, making water rapidly in her hold; not so much from injuries received as from four plug holes, opened by the Federal com- mander for the purpose of scuttling her. She lodged in front of Mr. Joe Daviss place.

The following morning (Wednesday) a detail was made of about 100 men, under command of a lieutenant, to go on board the prize and try to save her. They were furuished with two 6-pounder field- pieces and about fifteen muskets or rifles. Meantime the Queen of the West was sent to Warrenton with dispatches and as a picket for the fleet. In a short time the Queen~ of the West came back in great haste, reporting a gunboat of the enemy approaching. All the vessels at once got underway in a panic, and proceeded down the river, abandoning without a word the working party and field- pieces on the wreck. The Federal vessel did not approach nearer than 2~ miles, and appeared very apprehensive of attack. The position of the Indianola was such that her two XI-inch Dahlgren guns commanded the river above, and the two IX-inch guns could also have been brought in battery. With the assistance of our two vessels, the Queen of the West and the Webb, there is scarcely a doubt that we could have saved the Indianola, and possibly have cap- tured the other gunboat of the enemy. Major [Isaac F.] Harrisons command, nearly opposite, tendered their assistance. The lieutenant commanding the working party made some effort to free the vessel of water, but finding himself abandoned by our fleet, and the enemys gunboat lying above him, he, on Thursday night, burst three of the valuable guns on board, spiked the other, threw his fieldpieces overboard, blew up the vessel, and fled with his com- mand. Many of them wandered about Palmyra Island, on which they were, and about 25 are supposed to have been captured by the crew of the last Federal gunboat. The others have been strag- gling into my camp for two or three days. With the exception of the wine and liquor stores of the Indianola, nothing was saved. The valuable armament, the large supplies of powder, shot, and shell, are all lost. I shall to-day send Lieutenant-Colonel [Robert C.1 Wood, with one squadron across Big Black, instructed to approach the wreck, if he possibly can from this side, drive off the Federals who may be lurking about it, and recover, if practicable, the two fieldpieces. There are bayous intervening, which may prevent his approaching the wreck. * * * * * * *

remain, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WIRT ADAMS, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Regiment. Major J. J. REEVE, Assistant Adjutant-General

Page 412

412 NAVAL FORCES ON WESTERN WATERS.

Order of Major-General Pemberton, C.

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