438 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS Of 
Ammunition expended :—- 
Seventy-six IX-inch solid shot with 13 lbs. 
Forty-one solid 6-ineh shot (chilled’ends), four long and thirty-seven short, from 
100-pr. rifle with 10 lbs. charges. 
Again, Commander Roe states :-~ 
“ I am forced to think that the s Albemarle 5 is more formidable than the 4 Merri¬ 
mack ’ or ‘Atlanta’ for our solid 100-pr., rifle shot flew into splinters upon her 
plates.” 
“ I would respectfully report the ‘ Sassacus ’ as disabled for active operations 
until she can be repaired.In this unequal conflict of the wooden gunboats 
against an iron-clad, it gives me special pleasure.” 
Captain Smith in a report dated May 24, 1864, states:— 
“ I have heard from contrabands and refugees direct from Plymouth that the 
plating of the ram was much injured; that four of our shots penetrated his outer 
armour, and that the concussion caused by our fire was so severe that it was found 
impossible to keep a light burning, and that one of the guns was rendered useless 
.” Notwithstanding this fire, Captain Smith, in a report to the Secretary 
of the Navy, dated June 4th, states that “not a man on board (the ‘Albemarle’) 
was injured.” 
In addition to the ammunition which was expended as shewn above, the following 
rounds were fired from the “ Wyalusing ” and from the “ Commodore Hull.” 
By “ Wyalusing ” on May 5th :—- 
Thivty-seven solid shot from IX-inch S.I3. gun, and thirty-three 5-inch shell from ditto, forty rounds 
with 13 lbs., and thirty rounds with 10 lbs.; forty-seven soiid shot, twenty 5-inch shell and eight per¬ 
cussion shell from 100-pr. Parrott with 10 lbs. charges, besides forty-five rounds from 24-pr. 
howitzer. 
By “ Commodore Hull— 
30-pr. Parrott shell . 60 } 24-pr. Howitzer . 21 
Thus, after an expenditure of 136 rounds of 9-in. shot (90 lbs. each), of 85 rounds 
of 100-pr. Parrott rifle shot and 61 shell at a range of 150 yards, the ram was 
able to retire, when its commanding officer saw fit to do so, without a man on board 
being injured. This ram, in addition, being only a make-shift, plated with railway 
iron. 
The “Albemarle” was eventually destroyed by a torpedo* on the night of October 
27th, 1864, whilst moored alongside a wharf at Plymouth, N. C. 
The following extracts relating to the attack on the Confederate ram “ Tennessee” 
afford confirmatory evidence :— 
Lieut.-Commander Perkins, TJ.S. Monitor “ Chickasaw,” reported,— 
“ Afterwards, in obedience to orders, I attacked the rebel ram ‘ Tennessee/ 
following her up closely, shooting away her smoke-stack, and firing solid shot at 
her till her flag was hauled down and a white flag raised. 
* Torpedoes do not appear to be in favour with the officers of the federal navy. Admiral 
Farragut calls them “ Devilish means for our destruction,” and again, “ Among other devilish 
inventions is a torpedo resembling a lump of coal, to be placed in coal pits and amongst the coal 
put on board vessels. I have given orders to commanders of vessels not to be very particular 
about the treatment of any of these desperadoes (alluding to the manufacturers of torpedoes) if 
caught. Torpedoes are not so agreeable when used on both sides; therefore I have reluctantly 
brought myself to it. I have always deemed it unworthy of a chivalrous nation, but it does not do 
to give your enemy such a decided superiority over you.” 
Captain Alden commanding U.S. ship “ Brooklyn ” in alluding to the blowing up of the federal 
gunboat “ Tecumseh,” says “ Sunk by a torpedo! Assassination in its worst form!.” 
