Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/100

90 and 170 wounded, exclusive of the 120 drowned in the Tecumseh. The Confederate total loss was 1 2 killed and 19 wounded. Among the killed was Lieut. J. H. Cornstock, executive officer of the Selma; and among the wounded were Admiral Buchanan and Lieutenant Commanding Murphy. The Federals lost more men by the fire of the Confederate vessels than by that of Fort Morgan.

In this engagement the Tennessee, though exposed to the fire of 160 heavy guns, rifled and smooth-bore, at close range for more than two hours, lost but 2 men killed and 8 wounded. Nothing could have more forcibly demonstrated her strength. One shot from the Manhattan nearly went through her shield; but all the pounding of the Chickasaw and others, and the ramming of the Monongahela and Lackawanna, did not seriously injure her. Her serious defects lay in her slow speed, unprotected steering gear, want of draft when the smokestack was shot away, and the jamming of the port shutters when struck by shot. But, like the Merrimac, the Louisiana, the Arkansas, and the Albemarle, she proved herself a wonderfully strong vessel, and reflected great credit upon her builders. Her offensive power was shown by the list of killed and wounded in the Federal fleet, though, as in the battle of Hampton Roads, the Confederate gunboats contributed largely to this.

On the 23d of August, Fort Morgan, after an obstinate defense under Gen. R. L. Page, an old navy officer, surrendered; and the way to Mobile was open to the Federal fleet.

In the winter of 1864-65, Fort Fisher, which commanded the entrance to Cape Fear river, N. C., was subjected to a heavy, unsuccessful attack by the United States fleet of 50 vessels. At this first bombardment of Fort Fisher, December 24 and 25, 1864, the navy rendered good service. Major-General Whiting in his report presented his. . . acknowledgments to Flag-Officer Robert Pink-