Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-30
Geographic Nems.
From Warrington.

Com. McMeans dispatches are received at the
Navy Department. Capt. Pope. of the Rich
mond, reports the hole made in her by the ram
was two feet below the water line and five inches
in circumference At the first alarm the crew
coOlly repaired to quarters, and as the ram pass
ed abreast the Richmond the entire port battery
was discharged at her, with what effect it was i'm
possible to discover in the darkness.
a red light was shown as a signal of danger,
and the squadron was under weigh in a very few
minutes. the Richmond covering the retreat. The
Preble went over the bar, while the Vincenpes
and Richmond grounded. The enemy coming
down the river with fire steamers the - com
menced firing while we retreated.
The fire was from our port battery and rihed
gun on the poop, our shot, however, falling short,
while their shell burst on all sides of us, and sew.
eral passed directly over the ship.
At $3.50 Commander Handy, of the Vincennes,
mistaking my signal 10 the ships outside the bar
to get under weigh for a signal for him to aban-
don his ship, came on board the Richmond with
all his officers, and a large number of his crew.
The remainder having gone on board the Water
Witch, Capt. Handy, before leaving his ship, had
placed a lighted slow match at the magazine.
Having waited a reasonable time for an explosion,
directed Com Handy to return to his ship with
his crew to start the water it necessary, and at
his own request to throw overheard the small
H0Ac " WV u "a lOoC AHutChiuA uio snip, anu ~
carry out his kedge with a cable to heave off.
At 10 A. NJ. the enemy ceased firing and with
drew up the river.
During the engagement a shell entered our
our quarter port, and one of the boats was stove
by unother shell.
Capt. Pope reports the Richmond and Vincen
mes both aloat, and the leak of the former so re-
duced that the small engines keep her free.
This is only temporary, and the ship will have
10 a., - 90 .l.oo - L.. IL. -ll- -.
in. l have received rifed guns and placed the
50 FOUNDER on the forecastle and the y FOUNDER
on the poop.
Could | have possibly managed the ship in any
other way than keeping her head up and down
the river, ] would have stopped at Pilot town and
given battle, but this was found hazardous owing
to her extreme length.
The attempt was made. but a broadside could
not be brought to bear without running the ship
ashore.
Commender Olden, of the steamer South Car
DINA, relates the capture OF the schooner Zelda,
commanded by an ex- officer of the Sumter, VIM.
Anderson Hick, and the schooner Jas. II. Toone.
he vessels contained from 1000 to 5000 guns,
mady of them old flint locks, and some entirely
useless.
Two passengers, VIM. H. Ames, merchant of
New Orleans, owner of the vessel, and Thomas
Lewis, q. s. A, were made prisoners of war.
The captured cargo also embraced a quantity
of powder, caps, revolvers. blsnkets. lead, DC.
Adjutant Gen. Thomas has ordered that troops
transported by railroad through disaffected parts
of the country shall march on foot over bridges,
where a possibility exists of the cars breaking in.
To this end there will be an agreement in the
contract for the transportation that the trains
shall be stopped TO permit the troops to alight be-
fore crossing the bridges.
The Herald's special says:
Rev. L. w. Conway, Chaplain Of the 9th regi-
ment New York volunteers now at Hatteras In
let, has been sent by Gen. Wool with information
to the Government in reference to the loyal peo-
pie of Hyde county, North Carolina. He brings
with him a declaration of independence adopted
by the leading citizens of that county at Hatteras
Church, in which they declare themselves free
and Independent of the Southern Confederacy.
Mr.. Conway's mission is to solicit arms for
these Union men. who only wait for means and
opportunity to strike a death blow to the despo-
tism by which they have been oppressed. The
President has promised to use his best efforts to
protect them aud provide them with weapons.
Mr.. Conway brings the information that these
people are actually starving for want of food and
suffering greatly for want of clothing.
TIL Tribune's correspondence says:
We learn from an uuquestioned commercial
source in this city, that two English sailing vessels
entered the port of Charleston, South Carolina
a few weeks ago. There being at that time no
blockading ship at that port. Lord Lyons now
demands of the Secretary of State that these
vessels be allowed to leave Charleston unmolest-
ed. on the grounds that at the time of their going
in there the blockade was not effective.