The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-09
Twenty-ono Killed on Board the
Keystone state and Three on
Beard the Mercedita.
The Reason for the Reported Disappear
ance Of the Blockading Fleet.
Narrow Escape Of the Princess
Royal,
&c.. &c. &c.

PBl.ADBIrIuA, Feb. 8, 1868.
Tho iron steamer Princess Royal in charge Of Acting
Master Edward Van sice, arrived OF the Navy Yard to-
day She brings highly important intelligence, both as
relates TO her capte and the rehei attack on our block
aiding squadron at Charleston showing conclusvoly that
there is foundation for the assumption OF the rebels
that the blockade Of Charleston raised by tho
departure Of the United States feet only two vessels out
Of the eight having been disabled obliged to
leave
appears from the statement OF an intelligent eye wit.
that the OF this attack Of the rebel rams
squadron owing the capture OF the Princess
Royal-the captain and pilot OF that vesse! having es
capped during darkness Of the night and com
muDicated intelligence to the enemy.
The Princess Royal epdeavored 10 the blockade by
way Of Beach Inlet the 10Th ult. discovered
by the pilotboat Blunt On signal beng given tho Una
aiIh proceeded towards her and captured the prize
without other assistance II then discovered that
captain pilot had succeeded in getting ashore by
small boat, carrying important dispatches to the rebel
government The Unada ca1ssd her TO the eide Of the
Housatonic and aid there till daylight, when thunder
Of guns was heard BY sharp flashes Of IRE 1t
was supposed that fleet engaged in making, or
he Alabama or Florida endeavorng TO force en-
trance At daybreak two rebel -clads wcro seen
soming down from the direction OF sono Inlet towards
eur feet
They attacked the Mercedta Grat. struck her
n the water ridge, keeling her over. and at the same
ttne firing which entered Of her boilers cans
NJ the death of three persons including gunner, by
shot and steam The then hailed tho Merceda, and
Captain Stcwagen lowered one Of his small boats after
leaving If tho pugsout allowing the water TO enter
H. me ram answered hail by replying, "Confede-
rate ram Palmetto state DO you surrender ~ This was
repeated three tines Captain stellwagen replying at
zach nauiry 81 am In sinking condition The rebels
answered God damn You TO hell, II You don't surren.
dor We will blow you out OF water. Send your boat
Aboardn
The boat which Captain stelwagen lowered then con
veyed his lieutenant executive ocer) TO tho side Of the
rebel ram the officer asked 70 be admitted on board
This WAS refused Tho lieutenant then repeated Captain
btellwagen's statement that in sinking con
dnoUn The rebel officer repicd"You can't sink lower
shan the rails We canno, take you aboard" The officer
shsn gave his parole demanded and returned to hs
ship The rebels thus successfully deceived as to
she condition Of the Merceda thinking she in sink
ing condition. She laid in shoal water and hence
their reply that .'shc could sink lower than her
rails"
The ram shen steamed towards the Keystone State,
and sent shot through her steam drum causing the
Asath Of twenty personstweIve by the shot and
aipe by being scalded by Fifteen wounded,
and lying at Port Royal, in precarous condi
ton the meantime the United States gunboat Housa
tonic engaged ram driving her away At half
pact O'Clock in the morning both rams left
the scene and proceeded up TO Charleston.
During this attack feet the Princess Royal,
which laid near the Housatonic, and tho chief
object Of contest both Sides succeeded 10 getting on
mainly through the energies or Third Assistant Engineer
fhurston Who piled into her fires all the Inhammnblc
material at hand. Her escape chiefly owing to his en-
deavors, well her safe this port notwh
standing the gale which prevailed during her
passage from Port Royal Although the coal was the
anthracite with which our navy s supplied she made
ten knots hour her trip with ease in tho
heaviest storm Her usual rate Is fifteen knots.
The Merccdta steamed down TO Port Royal, escaping
with only one Of her boilers injured. She arrived safely
ai Port Royal, and would be repaired in day.
Tho Keystone state entirely disabled, but was
towed down TO Port Royal by tho Memphis.
Tho reber statements that the federal feet had entirely
disappeared from the port Charleston entirely
sustained by the facts
The feet consisted 81 the following Tho Una
dina Housatonic Augusta, Quaker CITY Keystone st'te
and Mercedta besides the plotboats Blunt, Memphis
and other vessels.
During daytime bockadng feet are not paricu
lar as TO keeping 10 the station and day Of this
assault Of The sailed towards the Keystone
State her condition. and whether she wan
any assistance This may account for their apparent
absence at the tme Of the visit u the foreign eonsnls a.
mentioned ~ the rebel pagers Our vessels, As usual
resumed their positions at dark
The United States steam frgate New Ironsides, Com
modore Thomas Turner Commanding arrived the next
day 70 reinlorce the blockade. Tho following i list q
her oaheers-
Comaander-fhomas lufnc..
Lieutenant Commanding and Ezectusre Caosr-Coo
ssyoeor-Marius puvolI
fss,1