Confederate Torpedo Boat Squib Strikes USS Minnesota-- Part 2

He hailed the craft and the Confederates replied "Roanoke." Acting Ensign James Birtwistle ordered her to stay clear, to which Davidson replied "Aye, Aye." The Squib continued appraoching rapidly. The Minnesota attempted to open fire, but the distance between the two ships was so little her guns could not be brought to bear. //// The Squib rammed its charge of 50 pounds of gunpowder into the Minnesota's port quarter. //// The log of the Minnesota recorded that "a tremendous explosion followed." //// Aboard tne Squib, Curtis wrote that he had closed his eyes at the moment of impact, "opening them in about a second, I think, I never beheld such a sight before, nor since. The air was filled with port shutters and water from the explosion, and the heavy ship was rolling to starboard, and the officer of the deck giving orders to save yourselves and cried out 'Torpedo! Torpedo!'" //// Unfortunately for the Confederates, though, little damage resulted, though the "shock was quite severe." //// --Old B-R'er