The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-02-07

successive AailS IS b |;Sk nas fred to-
bring her %, bpt I'LL staas]ed head on to the
Mr. did, and bcf0re second round Of shit and
shell could be, azed sganst her, she struck the
l1fsi5edita Ii e aids crushing mas readily as.
| IL if had bae1 81 The fscoil sent the:
rebel fssr u 81 81 alssed % bs, some distance
Of, and Gre 81 8used into lot invunerable sides
s. tae MsrcsSl dntil rnrg with the clatter.
Tie ra:n 1t tAe saine time opened fire on the gun
boat ana mi 81 rife shot through one
Of i1cr boiicrs, killing two and wound
ing two or three byz the scalding water and
steam. The projectile itself exploded On the other
side of the ship, and killed the gunner Mr.. AIMEE,
in his state room. The Mercedht was at once
disabled, and began rapidly to sink from the water
running into her through the ragged and yawning
hole in her side caused by the Prov Of the ram.
The ram having taken her position under the quar-
ter of the Mercedia, where the guns could not be
brought to bear upon her, demanded the laters sur
render After some parley, this demand was ac-
ceded to, and in compliance with an orderfrom the
rebel, boat was sent to her from the MercedHa,
in charge of Lieut. Com. Abbott, the executive
demanded for the officers and Of the Merc.dita,
and returned to his ship which was supposed to be
in sinking condition, beyond all help. The ram
having concluded matters with the Merced la, stood
out to meet the Keystone Slate, Commander Le-
Roy, which had observed the Mereeditas signals,
and was coming down like bird upon the wing, to
run the audacious rebel down. Her guns were in
full play and well directed. The rebel replied
sharply, and succeeded in hitting the Keystone
State, when within five hundred yards Of her, and
coming at the rate of twelve miles an hour, head
on The riAe-shot did the work, and checked the
Keystone State full in her course, by blowing up
one of her boilers, and scattering death and de-
struction about il. The Keystone Stale, having
lost her motive power, stopped, and the water
rushing out Of one Of her boilers, she keeled over
almost on her beams end, in which position the reb
ell ram fred upon herfor nearly twenty-five minutes
striking her rapidly and occasioning considerable
loss. AN the guns that could be worked we're
kept uninterruptsdy at play by the Keystone STATE,
against the iron-cad, but without avail. She was
evidently getting the worst of the affair, crippled
and helpless as she was, when the Memphis and
Housatoaic closed down, the former taking the
Keystone State in tow, out of immediate danger,
and the latter opening with heavy guns on the ram.
The latter, not fancyng the aspect of affairs, turn
ed TAIL and ran into Charleston Harbor. The Hou-
saioase drove her of, and saved the Keys~ne State.
The rebels eonsort, still larger ironcad, laid off
at commendable distance, and engaged the feet at
hong taw, doing no damage. Both retreated to
the cover of their batteries, safe for the present
against attack. The casualties On the Keystone
State were killed, 90; wounded 81; among the
former was the surgeon of the ship. On the Mer
cedfa, three were killed or have since died and
three wounded Both ships We're towed to this
port where they will undergo necessary repairs to
boilers and hulls. The New Irons,des (lronclad