Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-13
AFFAIRS OFF CHARLESTON.
Official Report of Com. Dupont
THE FACTS REGARDING THE
MERCEDITA.

The following official report of the
fight off Charleston has been received at
the Navy Department from Com Dupont
FLAGSHIP WABASH,
PoRT ROYaL IIAnBoR. February >, 1868
Sri have the honor to report that
about 4 O'Clock on the morning of the 3 lst
ultimo, during the obscurity of thick
haze, two iron clad gunboats came out of
Charleston by the main ship channel, un-
perceived by the squadron, and com
menced a raid on the blockading fleet.
Most of the latter were of the light class
of purchased vessels two of the heaviest
men of war Ohe Powhatan and Canaan.
daigua) being at this port coaling and re-
pairing.
The Mercedita was the first vessel at
tackled. Her officers and crew had been
particularly watchful during the night to
look out for suspected vessels, and at 3
O'Clock a. NJ. slipped cable and overhaul
ed troop steamer running for the channel
by mistake. She had returned to anchor
age, and Capt. Stellwagen had gone to
his room a short time, leaving Lieut.. Com
mander Abbott on deck, when one of the
iron-clads suddenly appeared Her ap-
proach was concealed by the haze and
mist of the atmosphere.
The vessel was Immediately hailed and
an order given to fire, but the iron.clad
being close aboard, and laying low in the
water, no guns could be brought to bear.
A heavy rife shell was fired from the enc
my, which entering the starboard side of
the Mercedita, passed through her con
denser and the steamdrum of her port
boiler, and exploded against the port side,
blowing a hole in its exit some four or five
feet square, killing the gunner, and by the
escape of steam scalding a number of the
men, and rendering her motive power ap-
parently useless, Unable to use his guns
and being at the mercy of the enemy,
which was laying alongside Oh his star
board quarter all further resistance was
deemed hopeless by Captain Stelwagen,
and he surrendered. The crew and Off
GERS were paroled, though nothing was
said Of the ship, the executive officer,
Lieutenant Commander Abbott, having
gone on board the enemy's gunboat and
made the arrangement
The iron-clad leaving the Mercedta to
her fate, to sink or not, next engaged the
Keystone State, Commander lie Roy, who
was also attacked by the others. Their
hire was gallantly returned, but shell ex.
ploding in the forehold of this vessel, she
was set on fire.
Commander lie Roy kept up until it
was got under, when he steered again for
one of the iron-clads, ordering full steam
and determining to try to run her down.
The guns had been trained and depressed
for plunging fire at the time of collision,
and the ship had acquired a speed of I2
knots, when shell or shot from the enemy
passed through both the steam chests
wholly disabling her boilers and render.
ing her powerleSs. Ten rife shell struck
the Keystone State two burst on heI
quarter deck, but most Of them struck
the hull, being near and below the water
line.
In the meantime the Augusta, Com.
mander Panott; the Quaker City Com.
mander Frailey; and the Memphis, Act
ing Lieutanant Watmough, kept up fire
upon the enemy, divirting their attention
from the Keystone State, which was soon
after taken in tow by the Memphis and
drawn away from the fire. The Augusta
and Quaker City were both struck on theil
hulls the Memphis only in her rigging
The Housatonic, Captain Taylor, gave
chase, and a shot from her struck the
pilot-house of one of the iron-cads doing
il, it is thought, some damage, and carry
ing away one of her flags. The Rebe
vessels then passed to the northward, re-
ceiving the fire of our ships and tool
refuge in the swash channel, behind the
shoals.
The only casualties were on the Merce-
dita and the Keystone State. On the
Keystone State they were very large
About one-fourth of her crew were killed
or wounded, and among the former the
medical officer of the ship-Assistant Sur.
geon Jacob Ii. Gotworth-who was scald.
ed to death whilst rendering medical aid
to one of the wounded men.
Nine of those who died perished from
the escape of steam when the boilers and
steam chimney were penetrated, and
among the wounded the greater number
received their injuries from the same
cause
As the Mercedita was the only vessel
which surrendered, have directed court
OF inquiry to examine into the circum-
stances of the case, as well as into the
terms under which the surrender was
made This investigation has been asked
for by Captain Stellwagen.
l received this intelligence on Saturday
at 3 +. M, by the Augusta, which ship
Immediately returned to Charleston. The
Mercedita soon after arrived, and the
Keystone State in tow of the Memphis,
when the latter vessel was at once sent
back to the station.
The James Adger, Commander Patter-
s9n,. was also towed back as she was
4 coming into Port Royal, and ordered to