Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-05-26
coIrcsr nieuee Of the Journal aud st,lesmAn.
Interesting Letter from the South.
U. S. GUNBoAT CIMARRoN, }
Warsaw Sound, Ga, =
Nav 9th lSG3.


SIR According to promise, resume
my correspondence with you, trusting |
shall be able to give you from time to
time few lines, which will serve to in
tercst some your many readers, though
fear, from our location and the nature of
our occupation, | shall be unable to give
you much news in relation to the move
mcnts of our forces along this coast,
though you will OF course obtain that, in |
proper season, through the regular
channels
joined this vessel March 5th at the
| Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was
undergoing numerous repairs, occasioned
by the great quantity of green timber
used in her construction, and other delm-
qnencies on the part of her contractors,
who, ] believe hail from Bordentown,
New Jersey, and, | am sorry to say, are
building another vessel for the govern
ment. As this vessel was only completed
in June last, and after cruising on the
blockade about six MONTHS was compelled
to return North for repairs, is it not
shameful to have the Treasury robbed in
this manner, and the movements of the
| EuNtihiAtHl Ahho itNulutA
The "Cimarron" is a schooner rugged
side-wheel steam Gunboat, about two
hundred and twenty-five feet long and
thrty-siX feet beam, with tonnage OF
about nine hundred, and is sharp at either
end, with two rudders, so that she can
run either way with equal facility. She
has two large pivot guns and six broad
side guns, making quite ar effective bat
terry, with crew of about one hundred
and fifty all told
We left Philadelphia on Thursday,
April I'd, and anchored of Fort Mirin,
5 where we received our powder the follow
= ing day. and Saturday morning were
again under way, but n few miles below
Chester our steering gear damned, and
we were compelled to anchor again to
repair damages, which occupied the re-
mainder of the day On Sunday morn
!, ing, we moved down the river very nicely
y passing in view of your beautiful city
= about o'clock, a. M, and / assure you,
my heart was sad while | gazed upon il
$ and thought it might, perhaps, be many
i. long months ere | saw it again, or the
y. many dear friends residing there When
! GbHli llllta utlOM IOIl lJtluMultt OuI
steering gear again jammed, compelling
us to anchor, when we prepared to run
the other way, stern foremost, and, on
d Monday morning were again under way,
but very soon that gearing also ceased to
operate whereupon we rugged n tempo.
rary gear along the decks and put into
the Breakwater, and fearing to 20 to sea
J, in such condition, we returned to Phil
adelphia on the following day. which un
expected event was not at all unpleasant
to those of us having friends there, and
a. our sudden return afforded quite as mucl
pleasure to them have no doubt.
We again sailed from there, on Friday
r. the 10th, everything working well, and OIL
AT Saturday afternoon we discharged on
u pilot off the Capes, and were soon at sea
which was comparatively smooth and tn
weather beautiful but our vessel bein.
so flat bottomed and drawing SO it'll
us water, she of course rolled somewhat.
he On Monday night, we had n Sigh
On storm with Il heavy sea running, and i
was very difficult to keep our vessel OH
nd of the trough, in fact, she did get in
n. several times when, oh ! my, how sh
ms would roll and about three O'Clock. a
II m, our steering gear became iamned
IS when of course She became unmanaeabl
70 for short time, until we could shift t
as the other wheel and reverse the engine
Of during which time | really thought sh
as would have rolled over; and. | am YER
'o sure there were older sailors than mysel
bc that wished themselves on some othe
ed craft at least, if not back in Philadelphi,
Is. In the morning we found we had lost
ok part of our paddle-box and guard. AL
,o tering our course TO the Westward. "
w were soon ont of the Gulf stream. wber
in the sea was much more calm. and we 20,
of tinued our course until Wednesday aftcl
noon, when we made the land off i,eorg,
Pr, town, S. c.. and about five O'Clock cnm
'r to anchor about five miles from the LAM
rg, Early the following morning Il steam,
ai came ont from behind the Iirht IIouse
, whereupon, we Immediately nm ancb,
,S, and went to quarters, as We were n,
me- 4" aware that Georgetown was occunicd i
he our forces. She proved to be tie On,
led boat Conemaugh," one of tho san
Sil class as this vessel. and after exchonrin
"a. signals with her, we proceeded down III
ner coast to the fleet off Charleston. nrrivin
lis at anchor near the Ironsides . obont d
o,clocl, n m havino, a Ono ,,;ou, ~ II