. I at once
gave the order to cease firing upon her, and directed
Lieutenant Bier, First Lieutenant of the _Chicora_, to man a
boat and take charge of the prize, if possible to save her; if
that was not possible, to rescue her crew. While the boat was
in the act of being manned, I discovered that she was
endeavoring to make her escape by working her starboard wheel,
the other being disabled, her colors being down. I at once
started in pursuit and renewed the engagement. Owing to her
superior steaming qualities she soon widened the distance to
some two hundred yards. She then hoisted her flag and
commenced firing her rifled guns; her commander, by this
faithless act, placing himself beyond the pale of civilized
and honorable warfare.[1] We next engaged two schooners, one
brig, and one bark-rigged propeller, but not having the
requisite speed were unable to bring them to close quarters.
We pursued them six or seven miles seaward. During the latter
part of the combat, I was engaged at long range with a
bark-rigged steam sloop-of-war; but in spite of all our
efforts, was unable to bring her to close quarters, owing to
her superior steaming qualities. At 7.30 A.M., in obedience to
your orders, we stood in shore, leaving the partially crippled
and fleeing enemy about _seven miles clear of the bar_,
standing to the southward and eastward. At 8 A.M., in
obedience to signal, we anchored in four fathoms waters off
the Beach Channel."

"It gives me pleasure to testify to the good conduct and
efficiency of the officers and crew of the _Chicora_. I am
particularly indebted to the pilots, Messrs. Payne and Aldert,
for the skillful pilotage of the vessel."

"It gives me pleasure to report that I have no injuries or
casualties."

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"J.R. TUCKER, _Commander, C.S.N._
"_Flag Officer_ D.N. INGRAHAM, C.S.N.,
"_Commanding Station, Charleston, S.C._"

The result of this engagement was a complete demonstration of the
futility of any attempt on the part of wooden vessels to contend with
iron-clads. The Federal squadron consisted of the _Housatonic_,
_Meresdita_, _Keystone State_, _Quaker City_, _Augusta_, _Flag_,
_Memphis_, _Stettin_, _Ottawa_, and _Unadilla_, ten vessels, all of
them unarmored, and three, the _Housatonic_, _Ottawa_