Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-21
TIE CaF]aSo Of Eiizate- C.t5 am Destruction o.
the Rsbei NAVY By cur Gun 29ats

TIE CaFt1Se Of Eiizate b C-tJ aDI Destruction o.
the Rsbei Navy By cur Gun Boats. s
Tie ccrr tsI oi.,'crt Of the New York Tri-
tr,ne iLGs tells Of tic naval fight at E;7zab-th
City, which occurred after the capture Of Roam
okc IsIaRd:
We came in sight Of Elizabeth Ci'y abcnt
8u'clrct and rs We approached VIC discovered
The encmy'S steamers seven in numbcr--in
i;ne Of BATTLE in front of the city ready to re-
ceive us. a fort was also discovered on Il point
which projected cut semc considerable t.s:ance
-ore four!h OF mile, perlmps-in front Of
he n bel life Of steamers; and directly tpp.-
site Of this fort was schooner, anchored on
which were two heavy rfl",l guns; the distance
between the fort and 1hi;, schooner being about
half mile. Four L,rg' guns were aountcd
on the fort. and it was lhonght l'y the rebels
that no feet Of ours could pass this narrow
, channel; cons qnently they considered them
selves safe. with the assistance Of their navy,
drawn up between the city and the fort.
Al the sight or the eurn,v, everything was
in readiness Tor hatlIe. TO describe the Wild
delight of cur brave blue jackets when they
first discC Cvercd The enemy is more than the pen
can do.
! The charge was shcrt and desperate, and,
wiih0ut ~ exception, is one pf the m1st brill
| liant cvcl male by the American Navy. An
| ryrs were nu tue Commander Rowan. to see
/ what the first oltl,r ", nd be- as we were rap
/ id approaching the hoe
/ in dae time Inc ran up the signal TO engage
! the enemy in clOse action, hand tn hand. We
! were then about two miles from the encmv.-
| This WAS a signal for test Of speed as well
as the signal for Il deadly encounter wiIh Il
desperate foe, whose all was stakr,l gpon this
liual engagement. For distance uf two
miles il race between our steamers, in
their cagrrncss TO uuisirip each other, and to
be FIRST 10 meet The enemy of the republic face
10 face,
! he riVrr h,gan TO na rrow as we passed the
city. The point where the for. was situated
! NC, ssarly brought our sicumcrs closer togelh-
! cr, making them sure marks for The enemy :
guns. indeed i would be a miracle If shot
from one Of the enemy's guns did not strike
some tine of our steamers. Under the circum
stances, most any other commander would have
thought it advisable To first attack the fort and
silence the guns on both sides Of that narrow
point nd then atiask the rebel steamers; bu
whose motto is TO charge bayoncls on the enc
my Whenever and wherever he may be found
In action the position of The commanderi
ship is he center cf the squadron The Del
aware, Capt. Rowans flag ship, was at tht
head of the advancing column, aud led the van
No attention WAS paid to the fort or urme,
schoon, +, as they dashed by them through
perfect torreRt Of shells and grape, boarded th
rebel steamers, and engaged them at the poin
Of the bayonct as the llluic stricken rebels
lcapcd iulo the water in every direction
Many were killed by the bayonet and rcvolv
rr in this iaId-to- hand ii.i:t, az Il sark below
the water Their real loss will doubtless ncy
cr bc known 10 us; the slaughter, however
= as fearful, and the strHggle short ard des
pcr;,ie- not more than fifteen minutes in dura
tion.
The fngt and armed schooner were deserle
quite as sncn as were the rebel steamers, 70
it was made quite as hot work for those behin
the guns as it vas for their comfcdcratcs on III
guubopls Our loss is two killed and about
dozen wouEde,l--alI scamen. The death st7ue
gle was brief lu less time than it would Ia K
TO write telcgraphic dispatch, the victory wa
ours
The Commodore Perry was in the advauC
and made for the rebel steamer Sea Bird, tt
f flag ship Of the Rebel Navy, on which wl
Commodore Lynch, and run her down cuttin
her through. The Ceres run straight into the r.
bI steamer Fills, and run her down iu like maj
ner, boarding her at the same time. The Vi