The New York herald., 1863-12-12
Mr.. GaDCn n. Osborne's Despatch.
UMID STATES TRANSPORT FuIror,
orr CHARLESTON Dec g. 1g63

Mr.. GaIon H. Osborne's Despatch.
UuID STATES TRASsroar Fu1ros,
orr CHARLESTON Dec. 8, 1868.
AT two O'Clock on Sunday afternoon, while . furious
wind prevailed from tho northwest the ronclad Wee
hawken lying at the entrance OF Charleston harbor,
unaccountably to the bottom carried with her, to
horrible death beneath the waves four Of her engineers
and twenty six Of her crow.
saturday had been a bright and beautiful day. with
scarcely breath Of ar astr and with calm, uurufcd
sea During the night breeze sprang up, the wind
blowing freshly at daylight Sunday increased by noon
TO q violent storm.
The iron clad 1eet lying meantime at lie usual on
chorage The frigate New Ironsides was stationed Off
Norris Island at distance Of about mile due east
from Fort Wagner-or il called, Fort Strong
North Of the lropsides lay the flagship Philadelphia dis
tant about four hundred pyards. Inc weehawken was
next line anchored three hundred yards the
northward Of the flagship. The Montaak was on picket
duty, between Fort Sumter and Fort Aoultre Asterp OF
the Ironsides lay the Nahant and Passache latter far
thest away from the flagship, and nearer than any
other vessel to the Morris Island shore The South Caro-
lima and the Home rocking restcss tide some
ave or six hundred yards astern Of the ron-c -clads
The above the position Of the feet the nrst
signal Of distress made from the weehawken, ut
few minutes before two O'Clock The signal was seen
shu ennWoieu " oy inc uhgsnlp WnlCn
boats despatched TO her assistance and by South
Carolina which sent Of her boats TO the weehaw.
kens aid The tugs Dandeon and Iris also at once
called up, and with them Commander Duncan, Of the
Weehawkop, who CHANGED TO be on the flag
chip, and ~ ooDvarsation with the Admi-
raj, when the signal was made, proceeded i'm
medatey, with the hope Of running his vessel on the
beach He had scarcely left the Admiral when the officer
Of the deck made out from the weehawken new signal
and Immediately reported her 70 be sinking
moment after sbe settled swiftly down by the head
careened slightly TO starboard and disappeared be-
Depih the waves.
il s impossible 10 convey any idea Of the appalling
nature Of TINS disaster. 1t with the suddenness Of
thunderbolt. When the FIRST signal OF distress was
made no one OWNED how serious the danger and
when a, length, the vessel went down. II dcut for
those who saw her disappear TO credit the evidence
OF thor The confusion the flagship sris
Ing mainly from the dcaly OF launching her boats and
tho desire OF both officers and 10 be fret In them
was most intense aud painful. The wind was now blow
ing with great fury and the boats which hastened from
oil sidee 10 the scene encountered great peril picking
up from tie water the few who bad succeeded 10
getting away from the weehawken before she sank
Almost at Tho moment shc went down come twenty
or more sprapg 10 ,he boats and succeeded IN
getting away. Az many others were rescued from the
Carolina and the tugboats nandeon ard Iris. Thirty
perisbed
All day the weehawken had laborsd heavily 10 the sea
which kept her decks constantly submcrgsd and which
frequently swept huge volumes into her orward hatch
towards noon the crew commenced paying out chain
ease her, but accustomed they were in every gale
70 The shipping Of such seas, 10 believed that they
bad grown confident and careless Of danger, and
paid heed 20 the encroaching waters unit
II WAS too late 90 resist them. They dreamed
OF peril TN the had fairly yawned to swallow
them. Then, when 1t known for certainty TINT the
vessel was TO be lost panic Of fright and fear bepumbsd
them and the terror r-strchen crew below had little
power 10 help themselves There men 10 irons BE-
tween decks, aAd the alarms rushed antcay
away 70 release them roor fellows, they all went down
There invsds In the sick bay, and 10 their relief
the surgeon steward Who returned. There
were nrsmen the furpsoes 10 whom vain sbreks for
helping hand Al the prmps we're made few Of the
conGden, rushing TO their quarters 10 save
their effects, ostiing the md their way 10 the deck
to thsmselvee II was 10 the mIts, Of scescs like
sbces that the weehavken went down.
believe tba. none Of the ofhcers psrlsnsd save Tho
four assistant engineers, Who were overaken by the
food before they could make any EFFORT to escape Com
msnder Duncan had only taken command Of the Wee
hawken Saturday, having been detached from tho
Paul Jones 70 relieve Commander Calhoun. The ocers
clothing, The paymSters funds and ibe papers Of the
shp sank with her
The yeoslan was brought alive board the fssship
! but died In spasms few moments afterwnd Various
parties were picked up and taken the nearest vessels
where every provision madc for their comfort and
restoration Those Of the crew who were saved now
scattered in small squads throughout the 6eeL IL i'm
possible TO procure present the Of those who
were Lost
To Fleet Captain Bradford, Captain Ammen, and In fact
TO all the officers and men Of tho nasshr, grca, credit
10 due for Their heroic exertons 10 their fra boats
for the Of the unfortunate crew. They exposed
themselves to great dangers 10 their Efforts TO render
assistance 10 others. Commander Ammen acting under
the orders q Admiral Dahgren particularly risked him
se IN the conveyance Of orders and precautionary In
,,rucions 10 tho remaining Kouiors, performing The
perilous duty in a small boat
rbe weeharkcn y iynl % I've 'nittus of wattr, ard