Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 06.djvu/55

Rh which the chains ran with a sheet of iron one inch thick. During the action, an eleven-inch shot fell upon this thin iron covering and jammed it down upon the rudder chains, so that the ship from that moment lay like a log.

She could not move at all. Her guns could not be brought to bear, and the enemy's ships took positions such that out of range themselves they could pound the Tennessee to pieces. Her rudder chains jammed, three of her port shutters jammed, her smokestack shot away, and finally her brave old Admiral shot down, amidst more than thirty of his dead and wounded crew, the surrender of the Tennessee was no less glorious to the Confederates, than to the Federals who overwhelmed her.