The national Republican., 1861-10-28
NATDNAL REPUBLICAN.
OmciaI Report OF the Affair ofthe Reoei
Ram.
u. S. STEAMSHIP RICHMOND,

-.
g w Pass of Miss, River. Oct. 13, 1861.
Sra. have the honor TO make tho following
report ,,,. .o,
an dsck wore en,ployed in taking coal on board
III, schooner Joseph II. Toone, ram was dis
covered in close proximity to this chip. BY
tbe time the alarm could be given she had
struck The ship abreast of the fere channels.
tearing the schooner from her fasts and forcing
n hole through the ships side
Passing aft the ram endeavored to effect
breach 10 the stern but failed Three planks
on the ships side were stove in. about two feet
below the water line, making hole about five
inches in circumference. At the first alarm.
the crew promptly and coolly repaired to their
quarters, and as the ram passGd abreast Of the
ship, the entire port battery was discharged a,
her, with what effect 1t was impossible to dis
cover, owing to the darkness.
\ red light was shown as n signal OF 80 dan
GER aud the squadron was under weigh in
lew minutes having slipped their cables. !
ordered the Prcble and Vincennes to proceed
down to the Southwest Pass, while l covered
their retreat, which they did at about t50 A. NJ
At this time three large fire RATS, stretching
across the river, were rapidly nearing us, while
several large steamers and q barque-rigged
propeller were seen astern of them. The squad
ron proceeded down the river in the following
order: First, Preble; second, Vincennes :
third. Richmond; fourth, Water Watch, with
the prizc-schooner Frolic in tow.
When abreast Of the pilot settlement tb,
pilot informed me that he did not consider il
safe to venture to turn this ship in the river ::
but that he believed he could pass over the bar
] accordingly attempted to pass over the bni
with the squadron, but in the passage, the Vim
cennes and Richmond grounded, while thr
Preble went over clear. This occurred abou'
s o'clock, and the enemy who were now dow
the river with five steamers, commenced firing
at us while we returned the fire from our poll
battery and rifed-guu on the poop-our shot
however. falling short OF the enemy, while thril
shell burst on all sides of US, and several passcc
directly over the ship.
At about $50, Commander Handy, ot til
Vinccnues. mstaking my signal to the ships
outside the bar to get under weigh for a signal
for him to abandon his ship. came on board
the Richmond with all his officers and a larg.
number of the crew, the remainder havirr
gone on board the Water Witch. Capt Hand )
before leaving his ship had placed a lighted
slow match at the magazine. Having waitcd
Il reasonable time for an explosion, | direct"u
Commander Handy to return to his ship witt
his crew-to start his wafer, and, il necessary
4. his own request, to throw overheard hi
small guns Tor the purpose Of tightening hi
ship, aud TO larry Out his kcdge with a cablr
to heave oil by.
AT 10 A. NJ. the enemy ceased firing, and
drew up the river During the engagement. l.
she'll entered our port tquartcr-port, and one -
the boats was stove by another shell. At l0.3,
A. NJ dispatched Acting Master Devens, of th.
Nlncennes. in the Frolc. with orders to til,
south Carolina, in Barataria Bay, to COM
down TO our assistance. At | p. NJ. made
steamer standing down from Pass lOutr,
towards us. which proved TO be the army
transport Mcclellan, with Enfed guns irul,
Fort PiCkcIR for this ship.
AT 1 7. NJ. sent the Water Witch down I,
Barataria Bay for the South Carolina and Hunts
villr, with orders to order the latter 10 Pas
lOutrc aud the form'r TO this place. At i
=. NJ received on board the guns and anmuni
ton from the Mcclellan. My object in de.
patching the Water Witch for the above named
steamers was for the purpose OF having them
up as soon as possible. and to send the Hunt,
vii" to guard Pass a lOutre and the South Car
oiiuI 10 assist in towing this ship and the Win.
cenncs o7cr the bar, TO prevent her being fircd
and sunk.
have this morning succeeded in getting this
: ." over the bar. The Mcclellan and Souil
i''lna are using all expedition to get tn,
Vucenues of. The Nightingale is hard au'
last a'hore, to the northward of the bar.
have succeeded in reducing the bulk of th
ship, so that our small engines keep the shil
Tree. This is only temporary, and the ship vii
have to 90 to some place and have three plank
put in. | have received the rife guns-placCC
the 32pounder on the iorecaste and the II
pOundrr on the poop. The coal schooner Jo
tcpI ii. Toone fell into the hands of the enc
my having about Is tU:.s of coal on board.
Could have possibly managed this ship i
tny other way than keeping her head up al,
down the river, would have stopped at PilU
T''wn to give battle; but this was found to-
lozardous, owing to her extensive length. TIL
attempt was made, but the broadsidc could NJ
be brought to bear without running the sh
ashore. | then concluded, as advised by tn
pilot, to ruu for the bar and trust TO chance ,
iinding water enough to cross.
In narratng the affair of the river, l omittc
to state that the ram sunk one of our lar
cutters, and shot from the enemy stove tn
gig. | am pleased to say that the Vincennc
L. ahoat, and at anchor outside on our starboar
quarter
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
(Signed) JoHN POrE, Captain.
To Flag Officer WM, W. McKEAN, commandiD
bcCkadiug squadron.