Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-05-30

Al correspondent alluded 10 the EvENrNo
PosT Of Saturday:
"U. 8. STEAMSHIP AevsrA. cyr
CHARLEsToN, May 10 1862.
"Sir: have the honor 10 inform vou
that the rebel armed steamer Planter was
brought out TO US this morning from Char
lesion by eight contrabaDds, and delivered
up to the squadron. Five colored women
and three children are also on board. She
carried one 80 FOUNDER aud one 24.pound-
er howiizer, and has also on board four
large guns, which she was engaged in trans
porting. send her to Port Royal at once,
in order TO take advantage Of the present
good weather / send Charleston papers
Of the 18th, and the very intelligent con-
traband who was 10 charge will give you
tho information which he has brought off
| have the honor TO request that you will
send back rs soon as convenient the officers
and crew sent on board"
Commodore Dupont, in forwarding this
despatch, says 10 relation to the Planter:
''She was the armed despatch and trans
portation steamer attached to the Engineer
department at Charleston, under Btigadier
General Ripley, whose bark a short time
since was brought to the Blockading feet
by several coutrabands. The bringing out
of this steamer, under all the circumstances,
would have done credit TO any one. At
four 10 the morning, in tho absence OF tho
Captain, who was on shore, she left her
wharf close to the government office and
headquarters, with the Palmetto and Con-
federate flags flying: passed the successive
forts, saluting as usual by blowing the
steam whistle. After getting beyond the
range Of the last gun she hauled down the
rebel flags and hoisted white one. The
Onward was the inside ship Of the blocka-
ding squadron in the main channel, and
was preparing to fire when her command
ers made out the white flag The arma-
ment Of the steamer is thirty-two- pound
er or pivot, and fine twenty-four-p FOUNDER
howitzer. She has, beside, on her deck,
four other guns-one seven inch rided---
which were to be taken on the morning of
the escape to the new fort on the middle
ground. One Of the four belonged to Fort
Sumter, and had been struck in the rebel
attack on the fort on the muzzle. Robert
= Sman, tho intelligent slave and pilot Of the
Ooat, VINO performed LnlS OoidIeaC skiIlIuilyi
informed me of this fact, presuming it
? would be matter Of interest to us to have
possession of this gun. This man, Robert
Small, is superior TO any who have come
into our lines, intelligent as many of them
have been. His information has been most
interesting, and portions Of it of the most
importance.
"The steamer is quite valuable acqui-
sition to the squadron, by her good machin-
cry and very light draught. The officers
in charge brought her through St. Helena
Sound, and by the inland passage down
Beaufort river, arriving here at 10 last
night. On board the steamer when she
left Charleston were eight men, FIVE women
and three children. / shall continue to
employ Small as pilot on board the Plan
ter for inland waters, with which he appears
to be very familiar.
~ do not know whether, in the views Of
the government, the vessel will be consider
ed as prize, but ifso, respectfully sub
4 nit to the Department the claims Of the
man Small and his associates.
i "Very respectfully, your obedient servant
i rs. F. DUPONT,
r "FIag. officer Commanding, dc."