, 1862-05-21
GALLAsT ACT OF 4 NEGRO PILOT
EIGHT C0NTR 4BANDS STEAL 4
REBEL STEAMER,
INTERESTING REPORT FROM COM.
DUp0hT.

Our teleE1Hphic column in this issue refers
to The fact that it has been brought before
Congress to award the usual prize money to
tho gallant blacks who brought to Com Dn-
pont at Port Royal the rebel armed steamer
Planter, OF which brief mention was made in
our Monday mornings dispatches. The fol-
lowing is Commander Parrott's official report
forwarded through Commodore Dupont to
the Navy Department
"E. S. STEAMSHIP AUGUSTA, !
OF Charleston. Nay 13.
"s1R-I layc the honor to inform, you tAat
the rebel ARMED steamer Plauter was brought
ont to us this morning from Charleston by
eight contrabands; and delivered up to the
squadron. Five cu1ored women and three
children are also On board She carried one
"&Vounter and one :24-poundcr howitzer, and
has also On board four hrgc guns which she
was eIesaHssd III transporting. 1 send her to
PVrf Royal at once, III order to take advantage
Of tho present good weather. send Charles
ton papers Of the l2th, aad the very iutelli-
gent cuniraband who was in charge will
give you the information which he has
''rsEght Oft t have the honor to request
that you will Stud back as soon as convenient
The officer and crew sent on board7
Commander Dupont, in forwarding this dis
patch, says in relation to the rebel steamer
Planter:
SIZE VICE tie armed dispatch and transporta-
1ioE steamer attached TO the engineer depart
n.cnf 1t Charleston, under Brigadier General
Ripley, whose bark short time since was
brought to the biockadirg feet by several con-
t1alaDds: The brir ging ous Of this steamer, IN
DIR al the circumstances, would have done
cr dit to any one. AT o'clock In the NOR.
ming, In the absence Of the captain, who was
On shore, she left her wharf, close to the GOV
sr1;1nent office and headquarters, with the
Palmetto and Confederate flags flying, passed
the successive forts, salnting, Is usual, by
blowing the steam whistle, After getting
be. ond the range of the last gun, she
hauled down the rebel flags, and hoisted q
white one. The Onward was the Inside
ship Of tho blockading squadron in the main
channel, and was preparing to fire when her
1nament Of tho steamer is 33-ponnder. o1
pivot, and fine 24pounder hoWitzer. She
has besides on her deck four other guns, ouc
Finch rihed, which were to be taken, on the
morning of the escape, to the new fort on the
| to Fort Sumter, and lad been struck on the 7et
el attack on the fort On the muzzle. Rober
| Small, the Intelligent slave and pilot of tht
boat, who performed this bold feat So skiufnl
", informed me OF this fact, presuming il
would bc matter Of interest to us to nav.
possession Of this gun. This man, Rober
I
our lines, intelligent IS many Of them hav,
bstn. Ills information has been most inter
es'ing, and portions Of it of the most i'm
! poTtance. The steamer is quite valuable &c
quisition to the squadron by her good machiu
ery and very light draft: The officer in charg
b> The inland passage down Beaufort River
arriving here at 10 O'clock last night O.
board the steamer when she left Charleston
wIre eight men, five women, aud three Chi
dren- ! shall continue to employ Small As
pilot on board the Planter for INLAND waters
with which he appears to be very familiar.
do lot know whether In the view Of tn
Government the vessel will be considered
prize; but if so, I respectfully submit to th
department the claims Of The man Small an
his associates. Very respectfully your obed
elf servant, F. s. DUPONT,
Flag Officer Commanding, &c.
Port RoyM Cor. N. 7. Tribuncl
HILTON HEAD, May II, 1864
This morning there appeared In our ha.be
il to he the Planter, of Charleston, worth som
81, GOO, and "planted" iu this bay by blac
pilot and engineer. By previous arTaug
Tsent, 1t seems, the two families belonging I
these men we're ready on the pier at Cnar{s
ion hetore daybreak yesterday, aud while tt
white Captain and officers were ashore. eau
on board. They got up steam, and after Pas
itg the range Of Sumter's guns with the reb
flag, hoisttd q white ole and stood for tt
b'ocs aiding squadron, after which they ran
herr. She is capable Of considerable sersit
mounts four guns, one If which is Parro
100poundcr
!; The pilot, who seems very intellIgen
states thAI hs saw the dav previous. on Il
bulletin boards of that city, uu annoanceme'
nt the burning Of Norfolk Navy Yard, a.
1nr destruction Of the Mesrimac He brini
ChaTleston morning papers of the day pr
E1ous, and states also 'hst the principal inhs
lug as fast as possible,