Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-06
fhe N,rnl HIctnrs At charleston

The special reporter Of the Charleston Courier, who
was on board of the tenders dnriog the attack
on the blockadng set at Charleston furnishes Particu
lars Of the engagement from which extract the fol
lowing
Coming up with the United Sta es steamer Nereediia,
he saws the Palmetto State With full mp into
the Mercada the bow striking right about midshp5
and making an entrance OF about three feet At the
same time our boa gun fired with seven inch in-
cendary she'll We Immediately backed out, when the
Mercedita hauled down her flag. They were ordered TO
send boat 10 u, aud Lieutenant I. Abbott com
handing, came OF with bOass crew aud surrendered
his vessel in the name Of Commander SselwsgOn of the
Meredith carrying guns and l5S men. He stated
that his vessel in linking condition, and begged
our officers 70 relieve them. A shot had pierr-
ed her boiler which had burst and scIlded large num-
Der Of men. Lieutenant Abbott begged Commodore
ingraham 70 take the with him ON board the Pat
fgsto State in their haste 70 come to us they had
gee.ed put in the plug, and their small boat whs
only kept adOlt by the Efforts OF the men bail
lug the boat lie asO stated that the water in the ~
csftd had at the time Of his leaving already risen As
high the engine floors.
Commodore Ingraham regretted that he could not
comply with the request he had room To accom-
mOdate them aboard OF his vessels and no small boats
or any other of afOriiug them relief Leut"n-
Abbott then pledged his word Of honor for the OH
GERS and crew of the Meredith not 20 serve in GgN
manner against the Confederate States until regularly
exchanged upon which condition he sent ON board
his own vessel. The M,reedtl was taken completely
by surprise. They reused from their slumhers by
the shock the not having scarcely time to dress
themselves Lieut.. Abbott aud the men with him were
nearly destitute OF clothing
The Palmetto STATE, leaving the Mrrcedita 10 her fate,
stood out sea- and engaged several other yeSSrs OF
the Abolition b0cSadng fleet, Occ OIaly exchanging
shots The latter however d "a AZ our approach firing
long distances and leaving far aSeru. one or Two
shots exchanged With the United States irigae
POwhatlu. The latter, however followed the example
OF her companions and fed We then stood NOrtl
ward towards the Chcora, which az this time was a.
most surrounded BY the eusmy's vessels. At A. v.
there being Of the Abolition feet in sight,
stood bacS the entrance Of Beach Channel, having
sigualed the Chcora 20 return
The Chcora, Captain c r. Tucker commenced action
at sos with b.ockalns vessel the ef, OF the Pal
metlo State, which Wa under all Roadway. The CoU-
risrs Reporter says:
We rounded 10 and gave her the full benefit Of our
6rOadside guns aud after gun. She immediately rang
her bell for hre aud made signals of distress TO the rest
OF the heet The last OF her bT signal officer SUN
ders she vas stern down very los in the water and dis
appeared very suddenly. This vessel il supposed to
have gone down.
Another sde-wheel two masted steamer with walking
beams now steamed toward the Cbieora, coming down
on our stern Captain Tucker perceying il rounded
70 and proceeded until within about Ave hundred yards
when the beigSrent steamer also rounded 10 and gave
both broadsides and shot from her pivot gun. We
bred forward pivot gdu with Au ncendary SHE'LL ana
struck her Just forward Of her wneehouse, setting her
on IRE disabling aud stopping her port wheel THIS
vessel fired both fore and aft and volumes OF smoke
observed 10 issue from every aperture A. ncared
her she hauled down her flag and made sigual Of sur
reuder but still kept under way with her starboard
wheel and changing her direction. We succeeded ia
catching this vessel but having surrendered, and the
Captain suppOsug her boilers struck aud the escaping
steam preventing the engineers from going into the en-
glue room to stop her ordered not TO fire She thus
made her escape.
The Cheora now engaged SIX more OF the enemy
vessels AZ one time-three side wheel steamers aud
three propellers-al at long range Discovering that
the Flag boat Palmetto SaL had ceased firing aud was
standing in shore orders given 20 follow her. On
our return, again across three masted bark
rugged vessel which engaged, firing our guns as we
passed striking her once or twice We then kept on
or course 10 the Bar having sustained damage IN
the action nor a single casualty on board.
One Of the block Riers was certainly sunk.