February 11, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Ogeechee River Correspondence.
OGEECHEE RIVER, Ga., Jan. 27, 1863.
The events of today have doubtless made the presence of an iron-clad in Southern waters so well known to the rebels that it will not be deemed contraband for me to state the fact of the Monitor iron-clad Montauk’s arrival in the Ogeechee river, Georgia, and the additional fact that she has, in a measure, thoroughly tested her offensive powers, as well as her armor, under the guns of Fort McAllister, Genesis Point, not many miles from the city of Savannah.
A sharp fight of nearly eight hours, during which time the Montauk was repeatedly struck by shot and shell of the largest calibre, a portion of which were rifled projectiles, has clearly demonstrated the fact that, at what may be called short range, the iron clads (by which I refer to the Monitor style – the New Ironsides not having been tested), are completely invulnerable as against the heaviest ordnance in the rebel service, or perhaps of any nation. The turret, and the plan of working the heavy guns within, were proved to be all that could be desired. But to the affair itself.
The blockading squadron in Ossabaw Sound, reinforced by the Montauk, proceeded on Tuesday, the 20th, up the Big Ogeechee river, and came to anchor for the night at a point about four miles below Fort McAlister, on Genesis Point, in sight of the work and in view of the steamer Nashville, lying a few miles above the fort, towards Montgomery.
As one of the main objects of this reconnoissance in force was to test the Montauk, as well as to ascertain the strength and character of the work and the calibre of the guns mounted upon it, the Montauk assumed the lead. This morning at daylight the fleet up anchor and steamed towards the battery, the Montauk a quarter of a mile ahead, in the following order: Montauk, Capt. Worden; Wissahickon, Seneca, Dawn, mortar schooner C. P. Williams and tug Daffodil. The Montauk approached to within a mile and a quarter of the battery. Then her further progress was interrupted by two lines of piles, of heavy, square timber, deeply driven in across the channel and completely obstructing it. She then came to anchor, the remainder of the force also coming to anchor below her, in line. At six o’clock all hands were sent to quarters, and the Montauk began the day’s work by firing a fifteen-inch shell at the battery, immediately following it by one from her eleven-inch gun. The other vessels took up the fire and passed it down the line. The practice at first was not effective, but the range being quickly detained, the shells began to drop on and in the fort in magnificent style, but with little perceptible effect on the immensely strong casemate of the work. The rebels were not slow to take up the rage of battle, and responded to our fire by a heavy gun, the solid shot striking the turret fairly between the portholes, but having no more effect on the Montauk than to leave a slight indentation in the outer plate. A slight tremor was experienced by those in the pilot house and turret when the ball struck. This splendid exhibition of rebel gunnery plainly showed that they had obtained the rages to a nicety and that their guns bore upon all parts of the channel. The rebels seemed to devote their particular attention to the Montauk, as she was in easy range, with the view of sinking her, and directed their fire for some time against her, and succeeded in hitting her a number of times with shell and solid shot. With the exception of slight indentations on the armor, and a solid thirty two, which knocked a hole in the launch filled with water and towed astern, no damage was done the Montauk in the action. Not a plate was broken nor a bolt started on her, and those below were hardly conscious of the blow when she was hit. The crew in the turret, with faces begrimed with powder, and blackened with smoke, and worn out with the fatigues and excitement of the day and the noise of the conflict were the only evidence that a battle had been fought.
The ship herself was as tight as a bottle, and ready for a second [illegible]. She proved herself impregnable to all assaults from the Ogeechee battery, and thence, a fog coming on, withdrew herself from the conflict at two o’clock P.M., after three guns out of thirteen had been silenced, and much damage inflicted upon the port. Not a single vessel except the Montauk was struck, and not a man was injured in the fleet, although the enemy, after they had satisfied themselves of the futility of their efforts to sink or damage the Montauk, directed their fire upon the wooden gunboats. Their practice against them was extremely bad, and proved conclusively that beyond a few points that they covered after long practice their firing was wild and unsatisfactory to them.
Having given the order to cease firing the Montauk dropped down the stream and came to anchor with the rest of the fleet, out of range, ready when a fresh supply of ammunition for the fifteen inch shell and one hundred pounder Parrott guns shall arrive to begin the conflict, and accomplish the design formed by Captain Worden during the action. On Thursday, if nothing occurs to change the plan, we shall again attack the fort, and try our pet iron-clad again.
I may add that the firing during the day was frequently desultory on both sides, and at one time the fort ceased altogether for two hours and at no time on our side, was it as hot as we could make it. Having learned what we desired we are prepared now for an earnest fight, and I am sure I shall be able to chronicle it.
Captain Worden and the officers of the Montauk are in the best of spirits, and express in the highest terms their confidence in the complete success of the Montauk, and are anxious to test her defensive qualities at closer range, which they believe to be proof against any ordnance in the world.
Our close proximity to the rebels and the narrowness of the river – only about one hundred and fifty yards wide – requires us to keep most vigilant watch to prevent boarding, and to guard against torpedoes or infernal machines floating down the river.
The enemy’s loss in the engagement is not, of course, known, but it must have been considerable, as the damage received by the battery from our fire was great. The rebel papers will, doubtless, acknowledge nothing; but we are satisfied that the result must have been disastrous to them.
The brief time allowed me before the departure of conveyance makes it impossible to more than outline the affair, without entering into any details. By next mail I hope to give you a full detailed account of both fights, with the results attained.