Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-02-12
IMPORTANT FROM OFF CHARLESTON.

FLEET.-NoNE OF OUR VESSELS SUNK
AND ONLY ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED
THE REBEL RAMS DRIVER oFF.-THE
BLocKADING FLEET DIP Nor RETIRE.
The ATTACK ON FoRr McALLIsTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9.-The iron
steamer Princess Royal, in charge OF
Acting Master Van Sice, arrived off the
navy yard to-day. She brings highly
important intelligence, both as relative
TO her capture and the rebel attack on
our blockading fleet at Charleston,
showing conclusively that there is no
foundation for the assumption Of the
rebels that the blockade Of Charleston
was ever raised by the departure of the
blockading feet, only two vessels out
Of the eight or ten having been disabled
or obliged to leave. It appears from
the statement Of an intelligent eye
witness that the cause Of the attack Of
the rebel rams on our squadron was
owing to the capture of the Princess
Royal, the captain and pilot of that
vessel having escaped ashore during
the darkness of the night, and COM
municated the intelligence to the rebels.
The Princess Royal eDdeavored to run
the blockade by way Of Beach Inlet on
the 98tb, but was discovered by the
pilot boat Blunt. On signal being
given, the Unadilla proceeded toward
and captured her without other assis-
tance. 1t was then discovered that the
Captain and pilot had succeeded in
getting ashore by small boat, carrying
important dispatches to the rebel Gov
ernment.
At daylight thunder Of guns was
heard. accompanied by sharp flashes Of
FIRE. 1t was supposed that our feet
was engaged in making an attack or
that the Alabama or Florida were en-
deayoring to force an entrance. At
daybreak two rebel iron-clads were
seen coming down from the direction
Of Stone Inlet, toward our fleet. They
attacked the Merciditta first; one ram
struck her on the water ridge, keeling
her over, and at the same time firing a
shot which entered one of her boilers,
causing the death of three persons, in
cluding a gunner, by a shot and steam.
The ram then hailed the Merceditta,
and Capt. Stellwagen launched one Of
his small boats, after leaving one oil the
plugs out, allowing the water to enter
it. The Tsm answered our hail, by
Confederate ram Palmetto State, "Do
you surrender" This was repeated
three times; Capt. Stellwagen replying
at each inquiry, al sm in a sinking
condition." The rebels answered, "God
dam you to hell, if you don't surrender
we will blow you out of the water.
Send boat aboard"
The boat which Captain Stellwagen
lowered, then conveyed his executive
officer to the rebel ram, and the officer
asked to be admitted on board. This
was refused. The Lieutenant then re-
peated Captain Stallwagen's statement,
that we were in sinking condition.
The rebel reply: "You cannot sink
lower than the rails. We cannot take
you aboard" The officer then gave
his parole, as demanded, and returned
to his ship. The rebels were then sue
cessfully deceived as to the condition
Of the Merceditta. She laid in shoal
water, and hence the reply that she
could not sink below her rails. The
ram steered toward the Keystone
State and sent a shot through her steam
drum. causing the death Of tweDty-one
persons on the spot, and scslding nine
by steam; fifteen were wounded and
are lying at Port Royal; some Of them
are in a precarious condition. In the
meantime the gunboat Housatonic en-
gagged the other ram driving her away.
At half-past six in the morning both
rams left the scene and proceeded up
to Charleston. During the attack on
our feet the Princess Royal, which lay
near the Housatonic, and was the chief
object of prize on both sides, succeeded
in getting off mainly through the ener-
gies of the Third Assistant Engineer
Thurston, who piled into her fires all
the inhammable material at hand. Her
escape is chiefly owing to his endeay-
ors, as well as her safe arrival at this
port. @
The Mercedita steamed down to Port
Royal, escaping with only one of her
boilers injured. She arrived safely at
Port Royal, and would be repaired in
day.
The Keystone State was entirely dis
abled, but was towed to Port Royal by
the Memphis. .
The rebel statements that the Fede-
raj fleet had entirely disappeared from
the port Of Charleston are entirely un-
sustained by the facts. During the
daytime, our blockading feet are not
particular as to keeping to the station,
and on the day Of this assault most Of
the vessels sailed toward the Keystone
State to ascertain her condition whether
she wanted any assistance. This may
account for their apparant absence at
the time Of the visit Of the foreign con-
suls, as maintained by the rebel papers.
Our vessels as usual resumed their po-
sItion at dark. The new Ironsides ar
rived the next day, to reinforce the
blockade. Information is also brought
by the Princess Royal, Of the attack by
the iron-clad Montauk on Fort Nc
Allister, on the 28th ult. She was not
at all disabled. She received seventeen
shots in her sides and twelve on her
turret, without receiving any injury
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