Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-08


FROM CHARLEsToN.-Thef following ex-
tract from letter written by Lieutenant
Hopkins, of this city, now Executive officer of
the gun-boat Lehigh, before Charleston,
will be of interest to all:
&c On the Ist of November got polite
message from the Admiral, requesting me TO
make my adieus to my friends and comforts
in the Wabash, and to retire to the shades of
private life on board the U. S. iron-clad Le-
high. This very polite invitation was so
strongly expressed that to use a scriptursl
phrase, "took up my bed and walked" on
board her, where arrived very safely, at 5
o'clock Y.
"At $50 the Lehigh " took Up her bed (or
"a her her anchor) and walked" up on "piek-
ct duty" which means, she ran up within six
/ hundred yards of Fort Mouitrie, to look for
torpedoes, go, &c. When We went to move
at day light,we ran ashore within 500 yards Of
niHs batteries, Fort Moultrie being one of
them. As soon as the ooWardly rebels found
we were ashore, they opened on Us. "Tbere
was picture for q painter" One poor,
helpless iron clad, with some so guns play
| ing on her, and all her men and officers ex-
/ posed on deck, getting strong ropes out to
another iron clad, who was trying 70 help US
/ of. From half-past Eve in the morning un-
\ til about ten minutes before noon, We lay un-
| der the FIRE Of the rebel batteries. I did think
I saw some freing while I was in North Car
olina, but it was all ehild's play to the
pour ding we got on the 18th. We could not
| get of by ourselves, and all the officers and
men were out on the deck, getting lines run
to the Nahaut, (snother iron. clad who help
ed US of. The shot and she'll were striking
US, and bursting over US, at the rate Of about
/ 80, ND uroa ruFu hv5f Indl
| idence that we were not all killed. The Ad-
mirsl, when he saw how We were getting
pounded, sent all the iron -clads up to cover
| US, but although they fred at the batteries,
the rebs did not mind them but kept all their
guns pointed at us-for they saw we were
perfectly helpless. By George, how they did
| give it 10 US. Hardly man or an officer on
bosrd, but was hit, slightly, or severely
The Captain was struck in the face by a
piece Of she'll. I ives hit three times, by
pieees-tWiee in the head and once in the
right leg. None of my hits we're bad
enough TO keep me of the deck any Longer
than to have them bandsged up. They sls
now all well, but by the big boots, don't
want to have big pieces Of old iron
come flying around me again as they did
that day. The suiof clothes hat
on were completely cut to pieces
/ AAe MuOl1 odGh anu lAAlh u NVe
were cut of by one piece of shell thai
burst within few inches of me. Ali through
the terrible FIRE, our men and officers behav'
cd splendidly. As long as they had an Office
to lead them, the men would do anything
and go anywhere. They are fine lot fol
fighting. The Admiral came up in one o
THERON clads, and was go much pleased with
our behavior, that aftor We were pulled Of
and ell safe, be issued General Order, com
pIimenting Us all, officers and men, on GU
gRIlantry. (AhemD He says: 1t is
gratifying duty to observe and make known
the conduct Of officers and men, which Obvi
ously deservs such notice, particularly unde
fire. The Lehigh grounded yesterday, with
in good range ofthe ensmy, and during tn
whole forenoon was under very heavy FIR
of shot and shell from cannon and mortarE
The Hahsnt, in assisting her to~hoat, wa
also much exposed. can myself bear wit
ness that nothing could haze been better tha
the department of the commanders, officer
and men of both vessels, under these tryin
, circumstances. And I shall ais
make honorable mention of them to the Hon
orabIe Secretary of the Navy, as it is not /
my power to reward them suitably