epeating the hail several times very rapidly. We were coming toward
them with all speed and I made no answer but cocked both barrels of my
gun. The officer of the deck next made his appearance and loudly
demanded, 'What boat is that.' Being now within forty yards of the ship
and with plenty of head way to carry me on, I thought it about time the
fight should commence and fired my gun. The officer of the deck fell
back mortally wounded (poor fellow), and I ordered the engine stopped.
The next moment the torpedo struck the vessel and exploded. What amount
of direct damage the enemy received I will not attempt to say. My little
boat plunged violently and a large body of water, which had been thrown
up, descended upon her deck, and down the smoke-stack and hatchway.

"I immediately gave orders to reverse the engine and back off. Mr.
Toombs informed me then that the fires were put out, and something had
been jammed in the machinery, so that it would not move. What could be
done in this situation? In the meantime the enemy, recovering from the
shock, beat to quarters and general alarm spread through the fleet. I
told my men I thought our only chance of escape was by swimming and I
think I told Mr. Toombs to cut the water pipes and let the boat sink.
Then taking one of the cork floats I got into the water and swam off as
fast as I could.

"The enemy in no amiable mood poured down upon the bubbling water a
hailstorm of rifle and pistol shots from the deck of the 'Ironsides,'
and from the nearest monitor. Sometimes they struck very close to my
head, but swimming for life I soon disappeared from sight and found
myself alone in the water. I hoped that with the assistance of the flood
tide I might be able to reach Fort Sumter, but a north wind was against
me, and after I had been in the water more than an hour I became numb
with cold and was nearly exhausted. Just then the boat of a transport
schooner picked me up and found to their surprise that they had captured
a 'rebel.' I was handed over next morning to the mercy of Admiral
Dahlgren, who ordered me to be put in irons, and if obstreperous, in
double irons. When on the flagship I learned that my fireman had clung
to her rudder chains and been taken on board.

"Engineer Toombs started to swim towards the 'Monitor,' with the
intention of catching her chains, but changed his mind when he saw that
the 'David' was afloat, and had drifted away from the frigate. Swimming
to her he fo