Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-02-09
FROM CHARLESTON

o " tTc Confederates on the blockadng squad
W., " IF Charleston It appears that there was
Iv' ontre loss Of Federal vessels as reported by
,bn Southern dispatches, nor was the blockade
narnanentlv raised iy the withdrawal OF the i1eet
HE runhoat Mercedita was damaged and the
ctaa,9er keystone State-not the Quaker City
~-.disaI,led but both had reached Port. Royai.
t IS stated that after the engagement the nect
Concentrated at the point where the heystone
State was lying, to ascertain what damages she
had sustained and If she needed help Ih1s
?noyement it is supposed, caused the Conted-
nrate commanders to believe that the blockade
had been raised, and the 11eet wthdraWn;
while. on the contrary, 1t IS said, all OF the
vessels returned to their anchorage the same
evening. The Federal loss IN the night v, was
twenty four killed and fifteen wounded. Inc
fonfg|erates, it will be remembered, report
that there were no casua ties on Their SIDE 1t
: believed by the Federal naval officers that
thn real object Of the Confederate attack was
fhe rec3 ptuye Of he British steamer Princess
Rovaj taken few days previously: while IN
the act Of running the blockade. Nothing Is
said of t]erumored movement against Charles
Ton.
According to the statement two Confederate
steam rams attacked the Mercedlta at day
break. one Of which struck Ter on the water
edge. keeling her over, and, at the same time
fired shot into her which exploded one OF her
boilers. Urder these circumstances, Capt: Stell-
vayon lowered his boat aud in insver to the de-
1uan,} Of the commander Of the Confederate ram,
declared that his vessel was IN sinking condl-
sion, The boat was then ordered to report,
aud his Lieut. and Executive Officer being
sent to the side Of the ram asked to he admit
ted on board The request being refused: the
Lieutenant repeated Captain StelWaSen sstate-
snent, that his vessel was Ill >lnhlng condl
zion, and was answered that the .Mercedlta
being IN shoal water, could not sink lower than
her rails. \ parole, was however, demanded
and given, ant thus, we are told, the Co'I1ed-
condition of the NIercedita, thinking, from
the declaration Of Captain Stellwagen and his
representative, that she was really going down.
The ram next steamed against the keystone
State, and sent shot through her team drum,
causing the death Of twenty one persons and
wounding fifteen others, who are lying at Port
hOyaiil u precarious condition. In the mean
1ime-so goes the report-the United States
gunboat Housatonic engaged the other steam
ram and drove her away, and at half past SIX
clock in the morning both rams left the scene
and proceeded up to Charleston The Mer-
cedita succeeded in making her escape, with
one boiler injured, and is now at polt Royal
undergoing repairs The keystone State was
entirely disabled, but was also towed down to
Port Royal. The reason assigned tor the alb
sence Of the blockadlng squadron, when the
forelgn Consuls steamed down the harbour to
verify the TACT, is rs follows During the
DAY time the bIockading feet are not particu-
lar as to keeping their station, and on the day
otthls assault most of the 1essels sailed toward
the keystone State to ascertain her condition
ana whether she wanted any assistance -
1Als: we are told, may account for their APP