U.S.S. Madgie
St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia, August 21, 1863

Sir: I have the honor to inform you of the capture of 15 persons, late of the Confederate steamer Oconee, commanded by Lieutenant Commanding O.F. Johnston, of the Confederate Navy (which vessel foundered at sea on the night of the 18th, having run out by Fort Pulaski the night before). At 9:15, on the 20th, a boat was reported coming around the east end of St. Catherine's Island, about a mile distant from us, which I at first took for a boat from the Midnight. In a few moments two more came around full of men. I immediately went to quarters, ordered steam, and everything ready for slipping chain, fired a blank cartridge from the starboard howitzer, and ordered the other guns to train on the boats and fire as soon as ready, they not stopping nor showing any colors.

In fifteen minutes from the time we went to quarters, steam was reported ready; when I ordered the cable slipped, and had hardly given the order when the engineer reported the boiler sprung a leak in two places, rendering it useless. I gave immediate orders to secure the chain and get a spring on the cable, so that the guns would bear on the boats. The boats, having the wind and tide in their favor, had got a good distance off. We commened firing on them as soon as the guns would bear and continued until they got out or range at 10 a.m., having succeeded in fetching one boat to, the others escaping.

Had I an efficient vessel we could have captured them all, or had I not placed any dependence on the steam, the result might have been different. I send enclosed a list of officers and men, with their rank, etc. From the number of officers and men on board – 43 in all – they were, no doubt, intended for some other vessel, as she was a small boat of about 200 tons.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

W.H. Polleys
Acting Master, Commanding

Rear-Admiral J.A. Dahlgren
Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron

Send the prisoners to New York or Fort Monroe. Examine them first for information.

Source:
United States Naval War Records Office, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 14, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 1902, pages 492-493

Submitted by Bob Franks