Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-05-22

= not minCc the matter, but dashed di
rectly ahead.
They permitted us to approach t,
!. within a mile and quarter befor,
: they opened on us. Captain Bailey
Q IN the Cayuga, Lieut.. Com. Harrison
: was in advance of me, and received
; the most of the first fire but, although
the shooting was good, they did not
damage his little vessel much He
, fell back, and the Hartford took hel
place. We had only two guns, which
| had placed on the top-gailant fore.
castle, that could bear on them until
VIC got within half a mile. We then
shccred of, and gave them such a fire
as they never dreamed of in their
philosophy" The Pensacola ran up
after while, and took the starboard
battery off our hands and in q few
minutes the Brooklyn ranged up aud
took chance at my friends on the
left bank. They were silenced in,
should say, twenty minutes or half an
hour. But cannot keep a note of
time on such occasions. only know
that half of the vessels did not get a
chance at them. The river was too
narrow for more than two or three
vessels to act to advantage, but all
were so anxious that my greatest fear
was that We would fire into each other,
and Capt. Wainright and myself were
hallooing ourselves hoarse at the men
not to fire into our ships.
| Thto L.. a.; ,x,hok 7 oal o,,n
Of the little elcgancies of the profess
sion---a dash and a victory. But the
passing of the Forts Jackson and Saint
Philip was one of the most awful
sights and events | ever saw or cx-
pcct to cxpcrince. The smoke was so
dense that it was only now and then
you could see any thing but the fash
of the cannon and the iirc-ships or
RATS, one of which was pushed down
upon us (the Hartford) by the ram
Manassas, and in my effort to avoid it
ran the ship on shore, and then the
iire-raft was pushed alongside, and in
a moment the ship was one blaze all
along the port side, half way up to
the main and mizen tops. But thanks
to the good organization of the fire
department by Lieut. Thornton, the
flames were cxtinguished, and at the
same time We backed off and got clear
Of the raft. But all this time VIC were
pouring the shells into the forts, and
they into us, and every now and then
a rebel steamer would get under our
fire and receive our salutation Of
broadsidc.
At length the fire slackened, the
smoke cleared off, and VIC saw to our
surprise that We were above the forts,
and here and there a rebel gunboat
on fire. AS we came up with them,
trying to make their escape, they
were fired into and riddled, SO that
they ran them on shore. And
all who could, made their escape to
the shore.
| am told, l don't know how truly,
that General Lowell had gone down
that evening to make an attack with
thirteen gunboats, large ram of
of eighteen guns, and the Manassas.
The Mississippi and the Manassas
made set at each other at full speed,
and when they were within thirty or
forty yards, the ram lodged the Mis-
sissippi and ran on shore, when the
latter poured her broadside into her,
knocked away her smokc-stack, and
then sent on board of her, but she was
deserted and riddled, and after while
she driftcd down the stream full Of
| hn la, tap e hn nlA
we destroyed.
The larger ram was still at Fort
jackson, but they say here she was
sent down before she was ready, and
that she cannot stem the current. She
will have to surrender with the forts,
which l hope will be today or to-
morrow. will give them my attcn-
ton as soon as l can settle the affairs
of the city.
demanded the surrender Of tho city
yesterday of the Mayor, through Capt.
Bailey, as the second in command
His reply was that the city was under
martial law, and he would consult
Gen. Lowell. His lordship said he
would surrender nothing, but at the
same time he would retire and leave
the Mayor unembarrassed
This morning the Mayor sent his
Secretary and the Chief of Police to
see me and say that he would call the
City Council together at 10 O'clock
and give me an answer; that the
General had retired and that he had
resumed the duties of his office as
Mayor, and would endeavor to keep
order in the city and prevent the de-
struction of property. sent him by
his Secretary the letter No. /, (copy
enclosed | also sent him a letter
demanding the surrender Of the city
,, in conformity with the demand made
J by mo yesterday through Capt. Bailey,
(copy No. 2.)
This morning at six A. N. / sent to
Capt Morris, whose ship commanded
the Mint, TO take possession of it and
hoist the American flag thereon. which
was done, and the people cheered it
At ten / sent on shore again and
ordered Lieut.. Kortz, Of the Navy, ant
Lieut.. Brown, Of the Marines, with q
marine guard, to hoist the flag on tho
. Custom-house but the excitement o
the crowd was so great that the May
/. or and Councilmen thought it woule
produce conflict aud great loss o
life.
At III a signal was made to th'
{ feet for Divine service, under a gene
Q raj order, (copy No. 2.
Y April Goth, in the afternoon, having
9 been informed that there were tw'
: forts eight miles above the city, at
t place called Carrolton, determine,
n to take a look at them and demolis
them. We accordingly ran up, bu
o to our surprise we found the CUR
q carriages all on fire, and upon exam
'r nation found the guns all spiked.
"a | e. Il III. l. e.,