Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-22
CAPTURE OF 'fBE CONFEDERATE SYEAMEP
ATLANTA

/
TIE Savannah Republican OF the 18th has the Il ov
ing account of the naval fight in Warsaw Soup and
the capture of the Confederate steamer Atlanta.
About 10 O'Clock this forenoon Intelligence reached
the city which filed every heart with REQ ret WAS no
less than the loss Of the splendid Conf ,dera re States
rou clad steamer Atlanta, formerly the Fin 1al The
circumstances under which this unforuns te affair took
| place, are follows:
The Government long desired 70 pt IT the Atlanta
to active service, and to this were f de the various
oci changes in the Navy which have ,eei noticed in
This paper the outgoing officers and th Secretary of
the Navy differing regarding the cap bTlities of the
steamer few weeks ago Captain w ebh was nlaced
in command, and from that date unit now has been
busy engaged in preparing the Altar II for a. on-
Everything being in perfect order and spleo1id crew
as to capacity, on board, about daylg ht this Wednes
day. morning the Atlanta moved forw AID into Warsaw
Sound. When of Warsaw Island she eneouoto ID two
iron-clad Yankee monitors, lying clio Sc ia shore
The Atlanta fired the first shot at ten minpto n 3
O'Clock, and the second at five m mules after The
Monitors replied and the engagcm ,n was L, mt nm ut
the Atlanta had fred four shots and the Mon, NE
latter lay so close IN Shore in 81 allow hat ur
steamer found it impossible, owl ~ 10 $500 dra t.
to get as she would at 81 i hsl h' h firing
ceased on both sides; az fifteen nj ' q o,,lock
small boats seen to pass from uu " IN the
Atlanta, and wooden guntonI JUN Sd ,v.s
gnaed to return, which sha III uUMh tno harded
the Atlanta at ten minutes 10 l. INC ' -, Cor
toIo Sone'oS 49,; $500 over her until then, was
o. bot ~ 80 20 styii, n flag hosted in its stead
80 - - snd CHI the Atlanta it is supposed,
- ~ 49, = burst on her deck, but with
l i9 onVeIs " 'u S. steamer Isondga, who were
III sis"'i "nu ~ tire entire engagement and sur
Ieuuei' s'A'e 'oA Atlanta appeared to be aground
sIveLai tunes ps~ the action They think she was
IHy 80 nsiH firing ceased, and perhaps bged, a.
nS[ pump sW4 actively work, and che appeared soon
"'t e. u" suPie' der to be careening.
oU e snsp cons exist as the fidelity of the crew,
It ID eye rumored that diabolcal threats we're ut
ed by s portion of them previous to the departure
# the Vqa ell but doubt if this is true at all events
we shat do them the justice of writing them down as
oya ard tru until the contrary shall have been proved
Such we are informed is the opinion OF all the naVa
offcr rs in por. We hear that Capt. Webb addressed
his men just before going into action, and they re
sp nded with the greatest enthusiasm going to their
o. ,orters With alacrity and in the best of spirits
The reed cause of the disaster was probably, the IN
efficiency of the Atlanta, owing to her heavy drait 10
come successfully With the foe in our shallow waters
She was dstrusted by most of naval officers on ns
account and the weakness of her hull compared with
the imme nse superintendent weight OF IRON In deep
water she, is far better craft than any iron clad put in
commission by the enemy, though, from the difficulty
surpesed they will find it trouble 10 use her against
| us Ste draws fifteen feet of water aud incurs
imminent risks 10 going aground. y
The evening edition of the Republican says;
In to the bour of going press have no further
developments regarding the sudden and mysterous sur
render of this vessel Opinions are still divided OF the
subject. some believing firmly that she tell victim 10
treason on board whilst Others including all tue oincefs
of the Navy, VIC believe, of the opinion that her
men were all true and she struck her colors SIMPLY BE-
cause she got into position where she was unable 10
fight The secret viii probably not be unioided until
we receive through the Northern press or the return
| of prisoners. cc,
It was stated tho streets Yesterday that Sonieue
rate and white flag aernated from the mast Tor some
time leading to the conclusion that there was strus
ole on board but on dilgent inquiry we could ma DO
| authority for the report
The Atlanta was armed with six large rifle guns 7
| heavy calibre and immense power We would mu'
refer to see them in hands rather than in the
lands of the enemy. We ave some reason to hope
that the vessel herself is badly damaged as to be use
less. a. -
The Atlanta had on board, including officers, crew
and other attaches some one hundred ard fifty persons
, Sbs was commanded by Capt Webb, an officer well
known for his loyalty and galantry We are WiiEg TO
guarantee that he gave up the ship SO long as
light was possible. He had made every preparation Tor
Successful fight, having secured formidable torpedo
I ON the PROV of his vessel by which he expected 10
blow IN one of the monitors and then engage the other
reconnaissance the night previous, by skillul pilots,
4 we'll acquainted with the Sound showed ample water
where the enemy we're lying, aud every other circum-
stance propitious. lie expected TO come upon thc.
| monitors by daylight but was somewhat belated in
getting down. aud when there found they had Che
their position to shallow water. Why he did not re.
turn on making this discovery, is unknown. lie deter
mined on the contrary to make the fight, and we hsy
the result, so far as it is possible to ascertain it.