Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 13. Page: 57
xix, 922 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
of the river from the sea to the firm land and could insure a safe
transit to the army across the same.
1 beg you to receive my commendation for the successful manner in
which you performed this service, removing, as it did, some unfounded
and very unpleasant reports of the doings of the rebels and the falling
back of the gunboats.
In the same communication I regret to find that you express " deep
mortification" that Commander Drayton had come to supersede you in
command of the vessels at a time when some credit might be obtained
in safely passing the army across, etc.
I have considered you as commanding for the moment the largest of
the detached divisions of this fleet, as it is the most important, and is
so considered by the Navy Department-the blockading force off
Charleston.
I refrained, so long as circumstances enabled me to do so without
injustice, from relieving you by either Commanders Prentiss or Golds-
borough, your seniors. Further, when the reconnoissance of the
Stono became necessary, I left it optional with you to take charge of
it or not. After the first reconnoissance you returned to your ship,
very properly, showing, however, that you considered the service as a
mere collateral to your other duty. When matters had not gone
well there, I directed you to return and reestablish them, which you
did in a very creditable manner, and I think you should have appre-
ciated this evidence of confidence on my part.
Now, in reference to Commander Drayton: You wrote to me on the
26th, enclosing a communication from Lieutenant Commanding Col-
lins, calling earnestly for "additional gunboats with heavy rifles."
You say yourself: "It would be desirable to have more light-draft
steamers in the Stono River." The Pawnee was the only vessel that
could cross the bar with a more formidable armament. Was I to take
her commander out before sending her there?
If you -had been able to go with the James Adger, or expressed a
desire to remain in Stono and give up Charleston, I would have sent
the Pawnee and Commander Drayton to command the force off
Charleston.
Having taken especial pains to equalize and apportion on this sta-
tion to all the commanding officers what they might deem desirable
duty so far as it was possible, having in view the character of the
vessels, whether sailing ships, steamers, side-wheel or screw, and
above all the draft of water, I am not insensible to such a remark as
the one I have quoted above from your communication of the 29th
ultimo.
Respectfully, etc., S. F. DU PONT,
Flag- Officer.
Commander J. B. MARCHAND,
. S. S. James Adger, Charleston.
General order of Major-General Hunter, U. S. Army, commanding the Department of the
South.
GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
No. 14. Stono River, South Carolina, June 10, 1862.
The major-general commanding can not refrain from expressing his
admiration of the noble conduct of the naval officers on duty in the57
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Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion: General Index (Book)
General index listing persons, naval units, ships, battles, and major subject headings mentioned in the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion" volumes. Listings include the numbers for the series (Roman numerals) and volume (Arabic numbers) where the reference(s) can be found.
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United States. War Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 13., book, 1901; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192848/m1/80/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.