In his report to Secretary Welles, porter wrote: "We found that the rebel arms and gunboats had all been blown up, with the exception of an unfinished ram, the texas, and a small tug gunboat, the Beaufort, mounting one gun."
The ships destroyed included the 4-gun ironclads Virginia No. 2, Richmond, and Fredericksnurg; wooden ships Nansemond, 2 guns; Hampton, 2 guns; Roanoke, 1 gun; Torpedo, Shrapnel, and schoolship Patrick Henry.
"Some of them are in sight above water, and may be raised," Porter wrote.
"They partly obstruct the channel where they are now, and will either have to be raised or blown up." He added: "Tredegar Works and the naval depot remain untouched."
With the James River squadron destroyed and the capital evacuated, the Confederacy was certain to fall soon. As Vice Admiral Farragut, who had preceded the President and Porter to Richmond said, "Thank God, it is about over."
--Old B-Runner
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