The Portland daily press., 1863-10-15
BY TELEGRAPH
TOTHE
Portland Daily Press.
FROM CHARLESTON.

account Of the late Ensaccessftd 1ftfesapt to
Btoc az, the Ironstdes-Th Rebel Steamer
Snnk-Re~ord offered for the Destruction
OF the Jronsides-tn0nimify Of Feeling
Befsreea tie Comma ndisg Officers.
BALTIMORE, Oct. IA.
The correspondent of the American writes
from Charleston Harbor as follows:
Charleston Harbor, Oct 10.-On Monday
night last daring but unsuccessful attempt
was made by the rebels to destroy the lrigate
lronsides, lying near Fort Moultrie, by a torpe-
do. They employed for this purpose small
and very swift steamer, cigar shaped, and show
Ing but very small portion above water. She
was manned by crew OF four persons, con-
sisting of Lieut.. Glassett, who was the COM
mander, an engineer named Toombs a fireman
named Scott, and pilot, whose name is un-
known at the present writing. The steamer
eluded the picket boats of our feet by passing
close to the shore of Sulivan's Island. She
then made directly across the harbor and came
up to the Ironsides without attracting atten-
ton. She struck the vessel fairly amidshps,
exploding a torpedo containing sixty pounds
OF rifle powder at the moment of contact
The rebel steamer was undoubtedly sunk,
either by the force Of the collision or by our
shot. 1t. Gassett jumped overheard and swan
to a schooner. He and the fireman, Scott, are
now prisoners on board the guard ship.
Lieut.. Gassett was formerly IN our navy.
He says that the explosion of the torpedo
drove the steamer under so that the water run
in her smoke stack and put out the fires. The
torpedo was suspended to tho bows of the
rebel vessel so as to strike the Ironsides under
water. The explosion was severely felt on the
Ironsides, but no material damage was done
TO her hull, engine or armament. One man
had his leg broken, and one of the bulkheads
OF the vessel was knocked down, an injury
which can be repaired here. The Ironsides
was Immediately prepared for action by Capt.
Rowan, and she is now as effective for offensive
operations as ever. She opened FIRE with mus
kerry on the rebel vessel and in few minutes
fired two OF her larger guns. A musket shot
fired from the rebel steamer dangerously
wounded Ensign Chas. Howard Of the Iron
sides, who was officer of the deck at the time.
The bottom of the Ironsides has been examin-
ed by divers and found to be wholly uniniured.
The rebel engineer, formerly Of our navy, and
the pilot of the rebel steamer are supposed to
have been deceased.
On Tuesday night il was supposed that the
rebels medtated another attack on the Iron
sides. A boat of the same kind, believed to
have been steamer, approached our picket
line, but was discovered and driven off after
some firing.
The rebels greatly dread the Ironsides, and
the people of Charleston, it is said, have offer
ed reward of 100000 In gold for her destruc-
ton.
Gen. Gilmore aud Admiral Dahlgren have
both paid brief visit to Port Royal. While
there Gen. Gilmore visited the flagship with
band and serenaded the Admiral. This in
cident shows how little truth there is in the
story Of III feeling between these two distin-
gushed officers. They are, and always have
been, in hourly intercourse by signals.
There has been the usual firing during the
past week, principally by the rebel batteries.
Gen. Gilmore occasionally replies to the James
Island batteries or throws shell into Fort
Sumter The signs are encouraging for the
renewal of active operations.