Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/88

78 banded, and the officers and men returned to their respective vessels. For this daring exploit Commander Wood and his officers and men received the thanks of the Confederate Congress. Commander Wood was promoted to captain, and Lieutenant Loyall to commander.

Lieut. Hunter Davidson, on April 9, 1864, having run 120 miles down the James river from Drewry's bluff with his torpedo-boat Torpedo, attempted to destroy the United States steam-frigate Minnesota, flagship of Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, at anchor off Newport News. The river swarmed with the enemy's vessels, and a guard tug was lying by the Minnesota, but her commander had allowed his steam to go down. Davidson hit the great ship full and fair, but his torpedo charge was only 53 pounds of powder, and it failed to break in her sides. A frame was shattered, planks started, several gun-carriages broken, and a lot of stores damaged. The daring Confederate got away without harm. Lieutenant Davidson was immediately promoted to commander. He had for a year or more been in charge of the torpedoes in the James river, which constituted a formidable defense of the city of Richmond on the waterside. He found the torpedo service in an embryo state and, by his energy and perseverance, brought it to perfection. To him should be given much credit for the defense of the river in the summer of 1864. The gun-boat Commodore Jones was blown up by one of his batteries on May 6, 1864.

In the fall of 1864 Commander Hunter Davidson was ordered abroad, and the gallant and accomplished Lieut. J. Pembroke Jones succeeded to his command. The selection of Lieutenant Jones indicates the importance the navy department attached to this branch of the defense of the river.

Another brilliant affair was the toarding and capture of the United States steamer Waterwitch, on the night of June -