From the Civil War Day By Day, UNC Libraries. Report dated Sept. 12, 1862 from Charles Wilkins, commanding officer of the James River Flotilla to Secretary of Navy, Gideon Welles.
Welles wanted to know the state of the Confederate fleet on the James River.
"1st: Richmond (Merrimack No. 2). Yorktown, Raleigh, Patrick Henry, Nansemond, Beaufort and Hampton.
2nd: Ironclad (Richmond) has four 8-inch shell guns, two placed at either end and two in the center, three ports on a side; the forward and after guns pivoted for three ports.
3rd: Not sure when ironclad (will be) finished--but not soon. Slow progress. Only half iron on. Will be 2 layers, each two inches thick, laid at right angles to each other, in bands 8 inches wide horizontal and vertical on the roof. her roofing and timber projecting to about 6 feet at water."
A ram was to be placed on its bow and its engine machinery was taken from the "old Arctic."
It is thought that Captain Buchanan will again command. Captains Pegram, Lee, Davidson, Minor and others command the smaller vessels.
The Yorktown is half ironclad, thickness three and a half inches and will mount 4 side guns and 2 pivot guns, 30-pdr. rifles.
Four small tugs the size of the Teaser mounting smoothbore and rifled 20-pdrs on pivots: Raleigh, Sumter and Patrick Henry.
The barrier is just above Fort Darling, not below it. It is almost a solid mass of concrete.
So, there You have It. --Old B-R'er
No comments:
Post a Comment