The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
More aDout Hollins' Ram.

:" OCt ZO.-SOtIlInOuOTe NC
Kcon's dispatches are received at the Navy
Department.
Capt. Pope, Of the Richmond. reports that
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
passed abreast the Richmond, the entir. port
battery was discharged Mt. her, with what
effect it was impossible to discover in the
darkness. A red li-ht.was shown as sig
nal of danger andthe squadron was under
weigh in very few minutes, the Richmond
covering the retreat. The Preb!e went over
the bar, while the Vincennes and Richmond
grounded. The enemy was coming down
the river with five steamers. They com.
menced firing at us. while we returned the
fire from our port batteries and r,fled guns
on the poop, our shot. however, falling short
while their shell burst on all sides of us, and
several passed directly over the ship.
At 9:2o Commando. Handy, of the Vim
cennes, installing my signal to the ships.
outside the bar TO- get urder weigh,
for a signal for him TO abandon 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 lighted slow.match at
the magazine. Having waited reasonable
time for an explosion, directed Comman
der Handy to return, to his ship with his
crew, to start his water, and, If necessary, at
his own request, to throw oyerboeTd the
small gems foTthe purpose Of tightening his
ship and carry out his kedge with cable to
heave off. At 10a. m. the enemy ceased
firing and withdrew up the river.
During the engagement shell entered onr
port, and one Of our bo&ts was stove in by
another shell.
Capt. Pope reports the Richmond and
Vincenns both ahoat. The leak of the for
mer YVES so reduced that the small engines
kept her free. This is only temporary, and
the ship will have to 60 to some place and
have three planks put in.
have received riAed guns and placed the
3O-pounder on the forccastle and the ~
FOUNDER on the poop. Could I have posi-
bly, managed this 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 broadside could not be brought
to bear without running the ship ashore.
Commander Alden, Of tho steamer South
Carolina, relates the capture Of the schooner
Ezlldia, commanded by an officer ofthe Sum
ter, the VIM. Anderson. Hicks, and the
schooner Jas H. Toome The vessels con
tanned from 1000 to 5000 guns, some Of
them old Rint locks and some entirely use
less. Two passengers. VIM. II. Amor, mer-
chant of New Orleans and owner of the YES
sci, and Thomas Lewis, u s. A., were made
prisoners ofwar. The captured cargocs al
so embraced quantity Of powder, caps, re,
volvers, blankets, lead, &c. s5s
Adjt. Gen. Thomas has ordered that
troops transported by Railroad through dis
affected portions Of the country shall march
on foot over bridge, where possibility ex-
lists Of the cars breaking through. To this
end there will be an agreeHentin the con-
tract for transportation that the trains shall
be stopped to permitthe troops to aligkt be-
fore crossing the bridge.
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