Destruction of Nashville

“Destruction of the famous Confederate privateer Nashville, in the Ogeechee River, Ga., by the Federal ironclad Montauk, Captain Worden, February 28th, 1863. Captain Worden’s report: ‘The enemy’s steamer Nashville was observed by me in motion above the battery known as for McAllister. A reconnoissance immediately made proved that in moving up the river she had grounded in that part known as Seven’ Miles Reach. Believing that I could, by approaching close to the battery, reach and destroy her, I moved up at daylight this morning, accompanied by the blockading fleet in these waters. By moving up close to the obstructions I was enabled, although under a very heavy fire from the battery, to appraoch the Nashville still aground, within the distance of twelve hundred yards. A few well-directed shells determined the range, and I soon succeeded in striking her with 11-inch and 15-inch shells. The other gunboats maintained a fire from an enfilading position upon the battery and the Nashville at long range. I soon had the satisfaction of observing that the Nashville had caught fire from the shells xploding in her in several places, and in less than twenty minutes she was caught in flames forward, aft and amidships. At 9:20 A. M. a large pivot gun mounted abaft her foremast exploded from the heat; at 9:40 her smoke chimney went by the board, and at 9:55 her magazine exploded with terrific violence, shattering her in smoking ruins. nothing remains of her. The battery kept up a continuous fire upon this vessel, striking her but five times, and doing no damage whatever.’"— Frank Leslie, 1896

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