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36 after the capture June 1864 The wounded arrived at the liberty street naval hospital at dusk. There were fifteen injured yanks, seven of them officers and two petty officers, “wounded, with a few exceptions, in the head, with sabres,” reported the savannah Republican. assistant Paymaster Billings described the hospital as “a most commodious dwelling which faced one of the numerous squares in that beautiful old city.” Dr. Pierson found it “devoid of some of the luxuries which may be found in northern hospitals,” but it was “airy and comfortable, and the patients there received every care and comfort which the somewhat limited resources of the country well admitted.”1 By the time the officers’ baggage arrived, it had been plundered. lieutenant Pendergrast lost most of his clothing and his shoes. ensign hill and acting ensign stover each lost a watch. confederate surgeon r. W. Jeffrey reported to hunter: “This unfortunate business occurred at Beaulieu & on board the ship after her capture. Dr. Jones informs me that he knows who has possession of the above mentioned articles.” Pendergrast was so destitute he was soon writing hunter: “i am now left nearly in my bare feet and if you will permit me to have a pair of the shoes captured on board the vessel i will be very thankful to you. no 10 will be the size if my request is acceded to.” he would not be so bold to ask, Pendergrast said, “if i had not during the war been in the habit of serving out clothing to prisoners who have been placed under my care.”2 fleet surgeon charles h. Williamson sent orders and Detail death certificates for the confederate dead, and hospital stewards prepared the bodies for burial. Moses Dallas’s body, like the dead confederate sailors, was placed in a $30 plain pine box. But flag officer hunter ordered a $100 imitation mahogany coffin for after the capture / 331 him instead.3 When ready, Dallas’s body was sent to naval headquarters. captain John Tattnall had his two dead marines brought to fairfield, and Paymaster seymour told surgeon Jeffrey he would attend to the removal of seaman loftus’s body. Then, with characteristic procrastination, he left the surgeon waiting. “i am almost afraid to move in this matter till i hear from him,” Jeffrey said, “as it might be an interference with his arrangements.4 Jules chabert, gut shot and assumed dying, was not mortally wounded after all. The ball had not pierced intestines, stomach, or liver. he was brought in to the hospital and was back on duty by mid-august.5 lieutenant Graves’s marine guard brought the rest of the prisoners to oglethorpe Barracks. “They are a fine looking set of men,” remarked colonel anderson , “mostly foreigners.”6 luck had run against them. They had done their duty and should have been home. instead, they would have to try to survive prison. among the prisoners was a runaway slave from savannah, adam, who had escaped from captain armstrong’s Public Works. he was returned to armstrong.7 Dr. Pierson was particularly concerned about the treatment Pilot Murphy might face.8 Murphy was from the Wassaw sound area. he had rowed out to a blockader and offered to work for the federals to avoid conscription into the confederate army. in his dispatch to richmond, hunter referred to Murphy as “the traitor pilot” and sent evidence against him to the Bureau of orders and Detail.9 funerals for the dead were held the next day. it started raining early. a naval honor guard was ordered up for Pelot from the river batteries, and they marched to his home only to find a marine guard already there. soon the entire crew of the ironclad Savannah arrived. as they did, the rain increased in intensity. The sailors crowded into the basement, waiting, as the rain fell in torrents outside. after waiting an hour for the rain to abate, honor guards and sailors assembled outside in the downpour and escorted Pelot’s body to christ church. The coffin was decorated with flowers, and the lieutenant’s cap, jacket, and sword, and the Water Witch’s captured signal book, were laid upon it. Bishop elliott and reverend c. h. coley conducted the service. The rain poured with near violence as the assemblage paid tribute to the earnest carolinian, and it beat at the sad procession (including General Mclaws and his staff) as it wended its way three miles down a puddled...

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