The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-04
Official Report OF the Capture Of
Rebel Iron Clad Atlanta.
sIrEp STATES STEAMER WEEHAwKES.

UNITED STATES STEAMER w I.EHAWRES,
WARSAW SOUND, GA, June Il, 1863.
SIR: / have the honor to report that this
morning, at ten minutes past four. an IRON
clad vessel was discovered coming down at
the mouth OF Wilmington river, also two
other steamers, one q side-wheeI and the
other a propeller; beat TO quarters and com
menced clearing the ship for action. At
twenty minutes past four slipped the cable
and steamed slowly down towards the
northeast end OF Warsaw island. At thir-
ty minutes past four turned and stood up
the sound. heading for the iron clad. which
at tins time was discovered to have the reb-
ell flag flying. The Nahant. having no
pilot, followed in our wake. At five min
utes OF five the enemy, being about one and
a half miles distant, fired a rified shot
passed across our stern and struck near
the Nahant
At this time the enemy was lying across
the channel, waiting our attack. At a
quarter past five O'Clock, being distant
from him about 500 yards, we commenced
firing. AT half past five o'clock the enemy
hauled down his colors and hoisted the
white flag, we having fired five Shots
Steamed near the irou-ciad and ordered
boat sent alongside.
At u quarter to six o'clock, Lieut.. Alex
ander came on board TO surrender the
rebel iron-clad Atlanta. He reports the
vessel aground on the sand spit that makes
to the southeast from Cabbage Island
Shortly afterwards Capt W. a. Webb came
on board and delivered up his sword
Sent prize crew to take charge Of the yes
SCI under command OF Lieutenant Com
mander ID. Is. Harmony. of the Nahant.-
Sent also lieutenant Commander J. J.
Cromwell, of this vessel, and Acting First
Assistant Engineer J. q. Young, to take
charge of the engine.
On examination, il was found that the
enemy had been struck four times-first on
the inclined side by fifteen inch coned
shot, which although fired at an angle of
fifty degrees, with her keel broke in, the
armor and wood backing strewing the
deck with splinters, prostrating about
forty men by the conclusion. and wound
ing several by broken pieces of armor and
spl!niers. One has died since. The second
shot eleven inch soiid) struck the edge OF
the over hung knuckle, doing no damage
except breaking plate or two. The third
shot Ia fifteen inch coned) struck the top of
the pilot house knocking it off and wound
ing two pilots and stunning the men at the
wheel. The fourth shot, supposed to be
eleven inch, struck a port stopper in the
centre, breaking it in two and SCATTERING
II very much and driving many fragments
in through the port.
at twenty minutes past eight the engine
ofthe Atlanta was secured by Engineer j.
g. Young, and the vessel backed off into
anchor.
The wounded, sixteen in number We're
removed 10 the steamer Island City, which
had been kindly brought over from Fort
Pulaski by Colonel Barton, United States
army. The officers OF the vessel We're sent
to the tug OlenGer, and portion of the crew
to the United States steamer Cimerone, for
transportation to Port Royal.
The Atlanta was found to have mounted
two finch and two finch rifles, the 6-inCh
in broadside and the finch for bow and
stern guns. There is large supply ofam-
munition for these guns, and other stores
said to be of great value by some of the
officers of the vessel.
There were on board at the time of the
capture, as per musterroll, Is officers and
III men, including Is mariners. The cap
tured rebel officers told me that they
thought We should find the speed of the At
tanta reach ten knots. They believe her
the strongest iron-clad in the Confederacy,
and contidentialiy anticipated taking both
the Nahant and Weehawken.
The behavior oftne officers and crew was
admirable. Lieutenant Commander J. J.
Cornwel! did his duty jealousy and eff
GENTLY. Acting Master BENJAMIN w.
LOring, whom / recommend Tor promo
ton for gallant behavior under the fire of
Fort Darling, served the guns admirably,
as the result shows. His energy and cool
ness were everything that could be wished.
Executive officer Lieutenant Commander
J.J. t)rnwcil inform me that on the berth
decllthe powder aud shell divisions, under
Aching Master G. G.. king,bury, wore the
aspect OF exercise SO completely that no
one would have thought the vessel was i'll
action. The engine, under the direction of
Acting Assistant Engineer James George
Young, always in beautiful order, was well
worked. Mr.. Young has, hope, by his
participation in this action, won the promo
ton for which, on account OF his skill and
valuable services, | have already recon-
mended him. In q word, every man in the
vessel d.8 his duty. ] have the honor to
De, ySug obedient servant,
JOHN RODGERS, Captain
To Rear Admiral S. F. DUPONT, Com |
handing South Atlantic Blockading |