The commander of the CSS Beaufort, Lt. William Harwar Parker in his book "Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841-1865" wrote this about the Battle of Hampton Roads and the surrender of the USS Congress after it was destroyed by the CSS Virginia:
As the Congress hoisted a large white flag to its main masthead "Midshipman Mallory, in charge of our bow gun, waved his cap and exclaimed: 'I'll swear on the Bible that we fired the last gun!' "
Parker then ordered Midshipmen Mallory and Foreman to push off with a crew of three to go to the Congress and take possession and bring her commander on board the Beaufort.
As they approached the stricken ship, a Marine on the gangway leveled his piece at them and threatened to fire, "but Mallory told him he was ordered to board the vessel, and he was bound to do it.
They pulled alongside the Congress, boarded t and Midshipman Foreman hauled down the colors and brought them to me."
--Old B-Runner
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