The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-06 00:00:00

STAMPED ....sd.

at the time there were only seven pounds of steam. The
disaster happened immediately after cold water had been
put into the boiler. The magazines of the ship were within
three feet of the boiler, and the shell room as near. As soon
a s the explosion occurred a panic commenced, the men
jumped overboard, fearing the explosion of the magazine
and shell rooms. At this point the gunner, Mr. John A.
Lovett, in the absence of the first lieutenant, took charge
and displayed great energy and courage in saving life and
property, and in re-assuring the panic-stricken men.
" The ship wa6 found to be filling, when the poor
wounded and burned sufferers were landed, together with
the personal effects of the crew and officers. It was raining
and blowing very hard, and the bank was very muddy upon
which the wounded were landed. The poor fellows Icy
writhing and groaning in the mud for some time before they
could be got to a cotton gin near by.
"The ship was hauled in near the shore, and has sunk
to her deck, settling firmly on the bottom. The powder
and shells are a total loss. The guns have been landed,
and the nine-inch and rifle aro already in position at a
strong point, and although the loss of the vessel and the
brave men is much to be deplored, yet with the guns ashore
manned by the splendidly-drilled crew of the late Chatta-
hoochee, the river is much safer than even before."
The following are the official accounts of the cap-
ture of the Atlanta at Savannah :
"Flagship Wabash, Port Royal Harbour, S.C.,
June 17.
" Sir,—l have the honour to inform the department Thai
since mailing my despatches I have received further details
of the capture of the Atlanta, sent through the kindness of
Col. Barton, by telegraph, from Pulaski.
"The Atlanta, Capt. Wm. Webb, came down this morn-
ing, via Wilmington River, to attack our vessels in War-
saw Sound, accompanied by two wooden steamers filled, it
is said, with persons as spectators. The Weehawken, Capt.
John Rodgers, at once attacked her, firing in all five shots
three of which took effect, penetrating her armour and kill.
ing or wounding the crews of two guns. Two or three of
the pilots were also badly wounded and the pilot house
broken up, whereupon the vessel grounded and immediately
after surrendered. The armament of the Atlanta was two
7-inch and two 6-inch guns. She is but slightly injured.—
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" S. F. DuroNT, Rear Admiral,
Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
"p.S.—The officers and crew of the Atlanta numbered
.65 persons. 6' S. F. D."

" Newport News, June 22,
"To Hon. Gideon Wells, Secretary of the Navy.
"your telegram was just received. Admiral Dupont
sent the Weehawken, Captain John Rodgers, and Naphant,
down to Warsaw Sound to look out for the Atlanta. June
17, at 6 a,m., the Atlanta came down, accompanied by two
gunboats. The engagement was exclusively between the
Weehawken and Atlanta. The latter mounted four of the
Brooke rifles, two of 7-inch on the bow and stern pivots,
and two of 6-inch on each end, She could use two of the
former and one of the latter on a side. Rodgers engaged
the rebel at close quarters. The first 15-inch shot, fired by
himself, took off the top of the Atlanta's pilot house, and
wounded two of her three pilots. Another 15-inch shot
struck half way up her roof, which was iron
plated four inches thick, killing one and wounding
17 men. Eleven shots were fired in all—five of the Wee-
hawken, and six by the Atlanta. The fight was short, and
the victory signal.
"The Weehaken sustained no injury of any sort. The
Atlanta steers well, and made six knots against a hard sea
going to Port Royal. She was completely provided with
instruments and stores for a regular cruise. She has a ram,
a saw, and a tornado on her bow• Ex-Lieutenant W. A.
Webb commanded her. Her compliment was 125 souls.
" The Atlanta is said to have come down confident of
capturing the monitors easily, and her consorts, filled with
spectators, were prepared to tow them to Savannah. She
will soon be ready for service under the flag of the Union.
(Signed) "S. P. LE; Acting Rear-Admiral.
REPORT OF CAPTAIN ROGERS.
"Washington, June 23.

" Captain John Rodger circumstantially relates the pro
ceedings attending the capture of the Atlanta. On ex-
amination it was found that the enemy had been struck
four times, The first on the inclined side by a 17-inch
convex shot, which, although fired at an angle of 50 degrees
with her keel, broke in her armour and wood backing,
strewing the deck with splinters, prostrating about 40 men
by the concussion and wounding several by broken pieces
of armour and splinters; one man has since died. The
second shot, an 11-inch solid, struck the edge of the over-
hang knuckle, doing no damage except breaking a plate or
two. The third shot, a 15-inch coned, struck the top of
the pilot-house, knocking it off, wounding two pilots and
stunnirg the man at the wheel. The fourth shot, supposed
to be an 11-inch, struck a port stopper in the centre, break-
ing it in two and shattering it very much, driving many
fragments in through the port.
" There were on board at the time of the capture (as
per muster rolls) 21. officers and 124 men, including 2S
marines.
"The captured rebel officers told Captain Rodgers that
they thought the speed of the Atlanta would be found to
reach ten knots. They believe her to be the strongest iron-
clad in the Confederacy, and confidently anticipated
taking both the Nahant and the Wekhawken. The fob-
lowing among her officers are late of the United States
Navy R. Webb, commander ;J. W. Alexander, first
lieutenant; Alphonzo Barber, second do. ; A. L. Freeman,
surgeon ; G. H. Johnson, first assistant engineer.
"Admiral Dupont, in his despatch, says the Fingal in a
dense fog ran the blockade of Savannah a few days after
the Port Royal forts were taken in November, 1861. She
has been closely watched ever since, and, as in the case of
the Nashville, the long and ceaseless vigilance of his officers
has been rewarded. The Atlanta is now at Port Royal
under the American flag, having unaided steamed into the
harbour from Warsaw."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
VALLETTA, June 30.—Her Majesty's ships Marl-
borough, 131, bearing the flag of the Vice-Admiral
Commander-in-Chief Robert Smart, K.H., Capt. C.
Fellowes ; Revenge, 73, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral H. R. Yelverton, C. 8., Capt. the Hon. F.
A. Foley; Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason, and
Meeanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse, entered port on
the 22d inst., the Marlborough and Trafalgar from
the lonian Islands, and the two other ships from a
cruise in the Malta Channel. All four ships sailed
again on the 25th hence, and, except the Revenge,
which re-entered port on the 29th inst., have ever
since been cruising off Malta, within sight o
ra f
elite.
he
island, occasionally exercising at target pcti
Unless contrary orders are received to•night bytee
mail from Marseilles it is expected the Comma:l
in-Chief will, on receiving his despatches, proceet
to Naples, and afterwards visit several of the Pc'trhes
of Spain, before returning to Malta ,
7 not
winter, The Revenge, it is reported,
lcaplee,
accompany the squadron further than
i frsteae,
but will probably proceed to netsCorffu,.bLe
tioned there. Her Majesty's screw r 1.123 d inst. for
35, Capt. G. Parker, left Malta on thei_.
E.
Baird,
Corfu, the Alacrity, 4, Commander J. -h- E
England. to be paid
left on the same day for
off. Her Majesty's screw storeship Supply, 2,
Master-Commander E. Gibraltar,Bowden, arrived on the
27th inst. from Woolwich and
h_ with stores
for the Mediterranean fleet.
HS e brought as
pas-
for
Capt. J. Kelley, lt.A.cHer Majesty's screw
Lieut.
dornmander the Hon,
from Gibraltar,
gunboat Procris, 3, ,oe.
John B. Vivian, arriveto-
undergo repairs. RerMajesty's ships in o to
P rt are
Hibernia, receiving ship (bearing the flag
'11.1... Austin, B \ ii
C.
-.
I) emmee gof Rear-
Admiral Harvey, 73 (bearing the flag of R ander H. B.
B. Yelverton, C. 8.), Capt. the Hon."r-Mmiral H.
the 'Medina, Capt. J. A. B. s F. A. Foley ;
pratt, C.B,
lacca, 17, Capt. G. x , • Napier ;the ; the Ma.wander P. Brock; the c rae Pelican, 17,
Lieut.-Com-
manderCom-
E. Wilkinson;
the ad" 2
P
Commander the Hon. B. rocris, 3, Lieutenant-
Master-Commander E. B Vivian - the Supply, 2,
The death of Col. Edward
Bowden ; and the tenders
Boxer and Growler.
W na he
alter Crofton, co
Royal Artillery in
th.mandic g the 3d Brigade of
Friday morning last,l,: i garrison, which occurred on
island. as cast a deep gloom over the
The deceased
by
his own officers was was much respected not only
and men,
but by those of the
other branches of the service as well atl by the in-
habitants generalllife he was y, Scarcely past the prime of
struck down by an insidious disorder.
Which from long neglect had rendered an operation
necessary. He died in less than a week from the
of
first appearance
dangerous symptoms.
mains were interred in the Ta B 'raxia Cemetery.
Major.-Gen. Wood, C.B., commanding the Ist bri-
gade in this garrison, accompanied by Mrs. Wood
and Capt. Wood, aide-de-camp, left Malta last week
for England via Marseilles, on leave of absence.
The following officers have also taken their depar-
ture on leave :—Capt. Musgrave, Rifle Brigade ;