, 1863-03-11
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
NASHVILLE.
GALLANT ACHIEVEMENT OF
THE MONTAU.R.
FULL DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
Correspondence n. +. Tr1bunc.1.
IffTn% 3r4n March I

HILTON HEAD, mdfc0 !, 1oo1.
It will lie remembered that eight months
have elapsed since the Nashville managed to
run the blockade, and find refuge in tue VA
tiers that now close orer hcr wreck. After
discliargfng her cargo, she was first loaded
With thousand bales Of cotton, In expccta-
tion Of an egrcss rs successful rs her entrance.
The keen watcl, however, the blockadcrs
kc1t over her movements resulted In as many
failures as she made attempts to escape to
sea. Dcspairing of that venture, the rebels
finally converted lcr into an armed vessel,
with a view to her use for rfratical purposes.
In TINT character she appeared at the mouth
Of the Ogeechcc River under the protection
Of the guns OF Fort McAllister, some weeks
ago:
The wooden b1ockadins vessels. however,
kept her ut bay until the adsent Of the Mon
tauk, upon whose appearance she inconti-
nently retired beyond reach some miles up
the Ogecchee. Here she lay until last Friday,
when, emboldcncd no doubt By the Alontalk's
failure to dc1nolish the for, and taking advan-
taec Of thick fog, she cssaycd again to lind her
way past the blockaders and out to sea. But
what the enemy expected to serve as u means
Of lis unobserved escape, was destined to
prove the cause Of her destruction. She got
aground IN the fog, within short distance in
r:nge Of the fort, and was discovered in that
predicament from the Montauk. CAPTAIN
Norden at once proceeded to avail himself Of
tie unexpected turn Of good fortune that had
placed the object Of his long solicitation at hl5
mercy.
After giving the orders required by the oc-
easion to tho wooden vessels, be stood
promptly toward the rebel steamer. He ran
his Monitor as close to the distractions rs
practicable, and found himself able, to his
great delight, to come within 200 yards of
his prey. As soon as the Montauk Ind got in
l':o;ion the fort opened furious fire from all
its guns. But her commander, without re-
%N z%nn1
to the distractions. While the Montauk was
stcan1ing ahead, the wooden gunboats CON-
enee tie diye2Eien Of w the ' re1e1 end 'adfe fIse
courtcd by them, she brought her
guns to bear upon the Nashville. The
first two Or three experimental shots missed
the mark, but the proper range being obtain
| cd, she soon sent one after the other Of her
1:!-inch and 15-inch shells into the doomed
steamer. The fourth shell, 15-incli, burst
in her and set her on hr. The flames spread
rapidly and speedily heated her guns SO as to
cause their charge to explode, Soon another
sEeli vent crashing through 1,cr side, pcnc.
tratlng to her powder magazine and causing o
destruction. ~
Such is the substance Of Cant. Wordcn's
ohc1al report to Admiral Dupont, brought
RGse oer st nign p ths EanSoat
Ing up Of the Nashville to have 6ceD a sieht
grand beyond description. Let the praise IF
Justly due for this brilliant success, Be equit
ably mctcd ont to Admiral Dupont who ney
CT for moment since last summer, forgot th,
eunken steamcr; to Capt. Worden for fh'
promptness with which be improved, aud t.
lie officers and men Of the Seneca, Wissa
lickon, and the other blockading vessels, 70
tic faithfulness with which they prepared th
opportunity for the destruction Of the rcbe
ants. might have become no less severe
sceurce 70 our commerce than the Alabama