Official Records of the Rebellion

343 Thursday, April 24.—One hundred and seventy 30-pounder shell, ten 30-pounder shot, thirty-three 30-pounder shell with Greek fire; forty-eight 8-inch carcasses, twenty-six 10-inch carcasses transported from landing to depot; five 30-pounder Parrott guns transported from landing to Battery No. 2.

Battery No. 2. Five 30-pounder Parrott guns placed in position, six platforms laid, and five hundred rounds of 30-pounder ammunition placed in magazine. This battery is now ready for service. Eight 13-inch sea-coast mortars were transferred from the transport to canalboats, and will to-night at high tide be towed into Wormley’s Creek. Two 13-inch mortars and one 200-pounder Parrott gun will be transferred to-morrow, and, weather permitting, will also be towed into the creek. A quantity of 10-inch shell and 100-pounder Parrott projectiles are being landed from transports.

Battery No. 5. Six platforms laid. The guns will be in position tonight and by daybreak ready for service.

Friday, April 25—a. m.—The five 30-pounder Parrotts were placed in position in Battery No. 2 last night. Ammunition supplied for the fifteen guns of that battery, and the guns transferred to their proper platforms—i. e., five 20-pounders in left branch, next in order five 30-pounders, and next five 4 1/2-inch guns. Finishing work is now being done, but the battery is ready for immediate service. Eight 13-inch sea-coast mortars, with a quantity of shell, were towed out of Cheese- man’s Creek last night en route for Wormley’s Creek. Upon arriving at the fleet it was ascertained that the tide was beginning to ebb, and the officer detailed by me to superintend the work (Major Webb) was dissuaded by the pilot and Captain Missroon, U. S. Navy, from attempting the passage. The canal-boats were therefore anchored beyond range of the enemy’s guns and view, and they will be run in at 8 o’clock to-night, together with the remaining mortars and 200-pounder.

Friday, April 25—p. m.—In consequence of the breaking of the blocks and fills procured from the Navy, the transfer of mortars was necessarily delayed. Two 13-inch mortars and one 200-pounder gun yet remained to be transhipped. Measures have been taken to procure from Fort Monroe lifting material of adequate strength. Six hundred 30-pounder shells and four hundred 30-pounder shot were [344] transferred from landing to depot. One large sling-cart, lifting-jack, and ropes were taken to battery No. 4, in readiness for 13 inch mortars. Eight 13-inch mortars are to be brought into Wormley’s Creek to-night at high tide (8 p. m.) and will be moved up to Battery No. 4 early tomorrow morning.

Saturday, April 26—a. m.—Two of the barges, containing eight 13- inch mortars, were successfully gotten into Wormley’s Creek this morning. The remaining barge, loaded with 13-inch mortar shell, is hopelessly aground, and will have to be discharged. It can easily be unloaded, and I have to request that the engineer department be ordered to furnish Colonel Tyler with pontoons for this purpose. No change reported in any of the batteries.

Saturday, April 26—p. m.—Two canal-boats, containing eight 13-inch mortars and nine beds, were brought into Wormley’s Creek, in readiness to be taken up to their position at high tide (8.30 o’clock) to-night. Major Webb left Cheeseman’s Creek at 5 o’clock this afternoon, in charge of two canal-boats, containing two 13-inch mortars, one bed, and one 100-pounder gun, with its chassis, carriage, and platform. They will be brought into Wormley’s Creek at high tide to-night.

The following were landed from transports at Cheeseman’s Landing and transported thence to depot, viz: One hundred and thirty 10-inch shell, twenty-three 10-inch carcasses, seven 8-inch carcasses, one hundred and seventy 30-pounder shot, four hundred 30-pounder shell.

Battery No. 1. Ten shell from the large gun at Yorktown and two from Gloucester Point were fired this morning at a canal-boat ashore about 350 feet in front of the battery. Fragments of these shell struck the battery in several places. The projectile appears of about 7 inches caliber and about 1 ½ inches in thickness.

Battery No. 2. The working party asked for this morning, to complete the road in rear of the battery, did not report. The application is renewed for to-morrow, as the work is deemed to be of importance.

Batteries Nos. 3, 5, and 6. No change.

Battery No. 4. Preparations made for landing and mounting 13-inch mortars. The roads to and from Cheeseman’s Creek are again getting bad, and require immediate attention.