Thread Medic- Joined
- Jul 23, 2017
- Location
- Southwest Missouri
From Incidents and Anecdotes by Admiral David Porter
The night before Richmond was evacuated by the Confederate forces we were sitting on the Malvern's upper deck, enjoying the evening air. The President, who had been some time quiet, turned to me and said, "Can't the navy do something at this particular moment to make history?"
"Not much," I replied; "the navy is doing its best just now holding in utter uselessness the rebel navy, consisting of four heavy ironclads. If those should get down to City Point they would commit great havoc—as they came near doing while I was away at Fort Fisher. In consequence, we filled up the river with stones so that no vessels can pass either way. It enables us to 'hold the fort' with a very small force, but quite sufficient to prevent any one from removing the obstructions. Therefore the rebels' ironclads are useless to them."
"But can't we make a noise?" asked the President; "that would be refreshing."
"Yes," I replied, "we can make a noise; and, if you desire it, I will commence."
"Well, make a noise," he said.
I sent a telegram to Captain Breese, just above Dutch Gap, to commence firing the starboard broadside guns of the vessels above, to have the guns loaded with shrapnel, and to fire in the direction of the forts without attempting any particular aim, to fire rapidly, and to keep it up until I told him to stop. The firing commenced about nine o'clock, the hour when all good soldiers and sailors turn in and take their rest.
The President admitted that the noise was a very respectable one, and listened to it attentively, while the rapid flashes of the guns lit up the whole horizon.
The night before Richmond was evacuated by the Confederate forces we were sitting on the Malvern's upper deck, enjoying the evening air. The President, who had been some time quiet, turned to me and said, "Can't the navy do something at this particular moment to make history?"
"Not much," I replied; "the navy is doing its best just now holding in utter uselessness the rebel navy, consisting of four heavy ironclads. If those should get down to City Point they would commit great havoc—as they came near doing while I was away at Fort Fisher. In consequence, we filled up the river with stones so that no vessels can pass either way. It enables us to 'hold the fort' with a very small force, but quite sufficient to prevent any one from removing the obstructions. Therefore the rebels' ironclads are useless to them."
"But can't we make a noise?" asked the President; "that would be refreshing."
"Yes," I replied, "we can make a noise; and, if you desire it, I will commence."
"Well, make a noise," he said.
I sent a telegram to Captain Breese, just above Dutch Gap, to commence firing the starboard broadside guns of the vessels above, to have the guns loaded with shrapnel, and to fire in the direction of the forts without attempting any particular aim, to fire rapidly, and to keep it up until I told him to stop. The firing commenced about nine o'clock, the hour when all good soldiers and sailors turn in and take their rest.
The President admitted that the noise was a very respectable one, and listened to it attentively, while the rapid flashes of the guns lit up the whole horizon.
Bringing the