Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-02-13
The War News, go.
from onaries,on.

pat1.o.trnfs. Fsh. 4.
The iron steamer Princess Rovnl. 4, rbnr,1e az
Acting Mr.. Van Si6e. arrived "a The Navy Ynrd
to-day. She brings highly important iutelli-
eeeoe. both IA relates TO her capture and tbe re-
Bel atinck on our blockadinr fieot nj Charlcston.
showing oonclusivuly that there IS no Foundation
ade of Charleston was ever raised by the depar-
ture ofthe blockadinR fleet only two vessels out
Of the eight or ten having been disabled or OBJ
Iged 10 leave.
IN appears from The statement of nm intelli-
gent eye.witnesa, that the cause Of the attack of
the rebel ram on our eouadrun was owing 10 the
capture Of the Princess Royal, the captain and
r,iiot f that vessel having ,scared ashare dur;n,,
The dsrkness of tbe nigIt cd,nmnn;cated the
intelligence to The rebels. THE Princess Royal
endea yored To nm The biockade NV 1vaV of Roach
Inlet. ontbe 99tb.1 hut was disccvered bv the
,,ilot.boat Bluntc' 'fI1 .Tl 'Ef I-l.
Z On signal being riyen tho Unadlla proceeded
toward and capt,ired he- without other assist
nnce IL was iben discovered that tbe Capta;n
and Pilot had succeeded III getting ashore by a
small boat carving i,nnoy,,,rt lisnatcbcs 40 tho
reheI Government' y
Al daylight thunder of guns was henrd. nc
eompanied bv sbarp flashes 81 fire. It was
s,,,,,,,,ssd tbat orr fea, a ~ a,,cd n o,nsL;r,
an attack on The AIsbans os F6y;da who ,,,srs
endea voring 70 force nm eutranee' =,
Al dav. .hyealr two rehsl iron-clads ware coon
coming down from the directinn ~ Stono inlet
toyv,rglat,,,r Acct T'has, .,,scl,od M Mo,osd;t.
f,~, Ono ram s,r,,rI Gor NJ, ,l,a vv,tar r;Jge
sceling her over and at tbe same time ;ring a
shot which entered one of her boilers. causing
tho ds.stb ~ tbrre norsone. inclna;na = y,n,,er
by the hot steam.
'Tbe ram Then bo;led the Mercalita and Can't
stellwagon lowered one nf his small boats after
leaving one of the plugs out allowing the water
10 enter II.
The ram answered ouy hail Bv co,s,derate
ram Palmetto Staie-a Do Won s,,rrender ~
This was reneated tbrce timcs Cant S,ell-
wagon replied at each inouirv. IL AM Al n
sinking condition.
The rabels answered -s(1od damn Won IN hall
ifyou don't surrender We will l,low Won ont of
the water-Send vour boat aboard u
The boat which Captain Stellwapon lowered
then conveyed bis,executiye officer TO the rebel
ram and the officer asked 70 be admitted on
hoard: tbis was refused
The lieutenant then repeated Capta;n stell-
wagons statement that we were in a sinking
condition.
The rebel replied: q You cannot sink lower
than the rails-we cannot take YOU on board {"
The officer then eaye his parole as demanded
and returned TO his shin. -
The rebels were thus deceived as to the condi-
ton OF the Mercadita thinking she was in a
sinking condition. She laid in shoal water, and
hence the reply that she could not sink below
her rails.
The ram steered toward the keystone State
and sent a shot through her steam drum causing
the death of 81 persons. 10 bv the shot. and bS
scalding (by steam.l Fifteen were wounded
and are living at PORT Roval some in n nrecari.
ous condition.
In the meantime, the eunboat Housatonic en-
eaced the other ram. driving her away. Atbalf
past six in the morning. both rams left the scene
and proceeded up to Charleston. N
During this attack on our fleet, the Princess
ROYAL, which lay near the Housatonic, and was
in getting off mainly through the enerpies of 3d