The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 53
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CHAP. XXIX.] CAPTURE U. S. TRANSPORT W. B. TERRY.
guns into the broadside of the boat, many of the balls going entirely
through and out at the opposite side. Not a single state-room escaped
being pierced through. Our pickets had fired on their reconnoiterers
and then ran. This precipitated an attack by their whole force, which
took us by surprise. From what I afterward saw I put their force at
200, although they claimed to have a much larger force. I was in the
after-cabin when the firing commenced, and went immediately through
the cabin and down the forward gangway onto the lower deck to see
about the cannon. Before reaching the after-deck, where they were
placed, both were discharged and deserted without spiking. I found
every man lying fiat down behind the ice-box and coal pile. I do not
accuse them of cowardice for this, because no set of men on earth could
have loaded the guns in their exposed position amidst such a perfect
hail-storm of bullets as was being poured through the cabins and deck.
Their discharges were mingled with the wildest shouts I have ever
heard. All of them were within 60 yards of the boat. Being satisfied
that any further attempt at resistance would be worse than folly, and
believing it my duty no longer to hazard the lives of my passengers
and crew (not forgetting myself), I called with all the power of voice I
could command for them to cease firing until I could show a flag of
truce. I do not know that they heard me, but they did not cease firing.
I then went up into and through the cabin, got a broom-handle, put a
small sheet on it, went out on the guard in front of them, and waved it.
There were as many as fifty shots fired by them after I presented my
extempore flag of truce, four of which went through it. Their officers say
that they ordered firing to cease the moment the flag was shown, but
that some of their men did not hear it and could not see the flag. Cap-
tains Napier and Algee came immediately on board and took formal
possession in the name of the Confederate States of America.
All forces were then set at work throwing overboard the coal and
everything that would lighten her, and in a few hours succeeded in
hauling her over the rocks. They used her that evening to ferry some
troops across the river, and the next morning stripped her of all furni-
ture and stores and burned her about 10 o'clock. The Terry had 8 offi-
cers, including myself. Her deck and cabin crew numbered 17 (all
negroes), and we had 5 passengers, all of whom, with officers and crew,
were taken prisoners. The soldiers were taken, excepting two of the
pickets, who are missing (probably in the woods). The passengers
were immediately paroled. My officers and myself were detained to
work the boat until she was burned. We were then paroled and al-
lowed to construct a raft out of the spars and stages and turned loose
on the river, without provisions of any kind, to make our way to Fort
Henry as best we could.
In the attack there were none killed, unless it might possibly be the two
missing pickets. One passenger was seriously wounded in the knee;
another, the only lady passenger, received a painful, though not dan-
gerous, wound in her thigh. One of the gunners and one negro re-
ceived two wounds each, not dangerous. The soldiers and negroes,
some of whom were free, were all sent back in the country immedi-
ately after capture. With Captains Napier and Algee we have no fault
to find while prisoners with them. They treated us gentlemanly and
respected our rights to private property of all kinds, but some of their
men pilfered much of our clothing that was not under lock and key.
LEONARD G. KLINCK,
Master U. S. Transport-Steamer W. B. Terry at time of capture.53
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 17. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 17.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1886; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154626/m1/64/?q=%221862%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.