Smyrna times., 1863-02-19
CiORRESP SPONDENCE.
Written for the "Smyrna Times"
Letter from the Blockading Squadron.
L. S. S. W1ssAn1ckoN.N


Great Ogeechee River, Coast of $
Ga, Friday Jan, 3Oth 1868
We give the following portion of an
interesting letter from our young friend
Geo. s. Culbreth, having had to condense
it considerably to enable us to get it in this
issue. Ed
Friend 71mGs:
~ Our stay at Port Royal was
short, just barely sufficient to give our ma
chinery the necessary repairs Information
had reached Port Royal that the rebel ran.
FYagal, at Savannah, was ready for often
sive operations, and would soon be down
the Ogeechee River to open the blockade
and let the Nashalle Tor RattIesnGke as she is
called by the rebels) out to sea. This news
being considered reliable it became neces-
sary to station force here sufficient to give
the ram and her cOnsort such a reception as
would prevent the accomplishment of their
object, and we as a part of that force were
double quicked from Port Royal at short
notice. But the undertaking promised to
be difficult one, as she is lying about ff-
teen miles above strong fertilization on
the river at Genesis Point-known as Fort
McAllister This Fort mounts nine guns
which are of very heavy calibre, and is sit
uated in very strong position, at q bend
IN the river; the latter being obstructcd bv
piles driven firmly i'll the bottom, and pro-
tected by the guns of the Fort For the
reduction of this stronghold the iron clad
steamer .Hoata&k-Lieut Commander Wor
den-ithe same that commanded the .IEoD;-
tor iii her terrible fight with the jfs,rfa,ac,
was sent from Port Royal and her comman-
der given in charge Of the expedition, con-
sisting of the jloat4mt, (tlagShip) gtlnboats
Seaecr-Capt. Gibson, ITI<sahctoa-C Capt.
Davis, Da~H-Barncs, and Mortar schooner
No. 5-Capt Freemen. Tuesday morning
the engagement commenced and continued
till one O'Clock in the afternoon. when the
ammunition having been expended on all
the boats we hauled off. and Immediately
dispatched to Port Royal a tug-boat to pro
cure supply OF that very necessary article
In the engagement on Tuesday the .ILon-
tdak was struck thirteen times-the first
shotfrom the Fort striking her turret fairly.
but leaving only slight indention upon it,
although 1t was ten-inch columbiad solid
shos. The starting of plate or two in the
deck was the only effect of any consequence,
and thus was not deemed worthy of notice.
The remaining boats escaped without q shot,
the fire of the Fort being directed almost
exclusively upon the .Noatauk
Monday Feb. I'd. The Down and tup-boat
having been despatched for instructions and
ammunition to Port Royal returned Satur-
day morning, and the next day we again
attacked Fort McAllister. The Seneca fired
a. small shell, followed soon after bv one
from the tremendous fifteen inch gun Of
the Moatauk. The rebels directed by far.
as on Tuesday last, the major part of their
fire upon the -nDntauE, but would occasional
Iy throw a shell from a mortar, so situated
In an angle OF their works that it could not
bear"upon the iron-clad, at the gunboats.
which, bursting in the air would send its
fragments over our head with singing.
Kissing sound The large guns of the
wooden boats were fired rapidly. At one
oeiock the 4HOHtaMt was seen to be under
way, withdrawing in consequence of the
tide running out, and Capt Worden being
satisfied from its strength of position f
could not be reduced by the force under
him. Were 1t not for the distractions ir
the river the task would be easily accom-
Ialshed, for the .H1ttIui would then 90 up
Immediately under 1t, aud with grape an(
eannister from her large guns soon make
the position too hot for the rebels to re
inain IN 1t. In this fight the iron-clad wa
struck torty-six times, her smoke stack sho
through and throagh-and one flag sho
away. The pilot house, which surmount
the turret, was struck with such force a
co drive several bolts out of their position
WnHi6 hasya
tne NE OF every one in there at the time
Sapt. Worden, Lieut. Cushman and Mr.
Murphy, the pilot, made narrow escape
.hey were outside the turret taking sound
lngs, when the smoke from the rebel Gun
spdlcated shot from the battery and the
e'ep?ed behind the turrct till the she
should strike. It soon !came-strucl
enc smoke-stack and rebounding fell With
and ace OF these gentlemen, and rolled Of
az the side With the exception of looser
iagafew bolts and making some indentatioD
hpon Its surface the turFet is not affected
ana y as ready for action to-day as it wa
yesterday Take it all in all the IMontau
has come Out OF SO heavy fire rernarkabl
wen, .and vii no doubt Justify the mo.
sanguine expectations Of her. With III
exception OF hole through the lScnec6
decks, by piece of shell, no other darnra,a
wasHdone the fleet The injury to the res
els we have no means of ascertainino. bu
ron the number and size of the proiectile
landed IN their works, should Judge som
ggns % were disIaounted and somebody burt
whether another attack is to be made mo
the rebel position, or not, / AZ not I1p Lnog ,,pO
tespossession Of the Fort being Of ;tsalf sHT H.
little consequenee-the capture or st dest,,,1 =
ton ofthe M1shrls being the far mora r. :
portant desda-atua. ''i