New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-10

were badly scalded; that the water was over the
fire room floor and that the vessel was sinking FAST
The ram had cut through at and below tne
water.lne ON one side, and the shell had Dufst on
the other side almost at the waters edge.
After the ram struck she swung around unqel Taf
starboard counter, her Prov touching us, anu nieu
" Surrender or I'll sink you. Do you surrender
After receiving the reports, l answered, can
The Rebel then cried out Z" Do you surrender 7
/ said Yes" having found my moving power
DESTROYED and that could bring nothing TO bear Out
lnuskets against his shot-proof coating.
He hailed several times " to send boat ana
threatened TO fire again. After some delay ooat
was lowered and Lieutenant-C Commander Aobott
asked il he should go in her and asked LOT orders
what TO say. IN
told him to see what they demanded and to tell
him the condition we were III. lie proceeoeu
aboard and according to their demand gave us pa
role on behalf Of himself and all tie oincers ana
crew. His report accompanies TINS.
The Ram having been detained hall hour or
more, now ran out for the steamer keystone State,
which vessel and three others we tined TO alarm oy
lights. >,
out inluring her. Saw the keystone State struck
several times. and saw the steam aud smoke blow
ing from her.
eastward, and was pretty brisk at the head OF Tue
line. / set everybody at work taking care OF our
About 6 a. m. got things in order to stop little
steam, and hove up anchor. The Stettin and fiag
seeing our condition, told them they might be
wanted 10 the southwark TO PICK up men, the hsls-
ing now being over.
In conclusion have 10 say that in the squadron,
where all the vessels cons icuous for vigilance,
this ship hes never been found wanting. Every
thing done that circumstances permitted, ana IN
q proper manner.
r, S. sTELLWAGEN.
LIEUT.. com. ABBoTT's REPORT.
The following is the report OF Lieut.-Com Alb
bolt, giving an account Of the proceedings on board
the Rebel ram and his reception on board that ves-
sell in regard 10 the disabled condition Of the Mer-
cedita;
SIR: Ia obedience 10 your order, proceeded TO
the Rebel ram, and was received by Lieuts Parker
and Phyrock, and conducted by the former inside OF
the hOlse where i was received by her captain.
His name did not learn. / told him had come IN
the name of Capt. Stelwagen to give up the U. ).
steamer Merceda, she be'iS 10 SINKING ana per-
ieetly deienseless condition.
They asked me about the condition Of our boats
and the number OF the crew. told them on, Doa's
were not large enough, nor 10 proper condition 10
carry our number Of crew.
Alter privately consulting with the Commodore
the Captain returned to me saying, " That they had
would pledge my sacred word Of honor that neither
or any OF the officers and crew OF the Mercedita
would again take up arms against the confederate
States during the war unless legally and regularly
exchanged as prisoners OF war.
Believing it 10 be the proper course TO pursue al
that time, consented. was then informed tha'
could return 10 the Mercedita.
will here state in this report that was on ueSs
at the time the smoke Of the ram was discovered,
and in less than two minutes she was into u.s.
Your order to lire into her could not be obeyed, as
no gun in the ship could be depressed or trained 10
hit her, though every effort was made TO do So she
being so low IN the water, and coming upon us
"quartering We had only time to get the watch
10 their quarters and before could slip our cable
we were without steam, a shell having passed COM
pletely through the ship and boilers.
Ian, very respectfully. ,,,u, 81. ,-.-,..
Cspt HsxAY S. s1RLLwAeKs. U. s. steamer MeTceIits
COMMODORE LEROY's REPORT.
Commodore Reroy Of the keystone State reports
10 Rear Admiral Dupont;
SIR: have TO report that abont O'Clock on this
day. Jan. 81 while at anchor of the main entrance
of the harbor Of Charleston the chip approached
by what was supposed TO be 4 steamer, but regard
ing her appearance suspciousj ordered the cable
slipped and fired gun, which was responded TO
by a she'll, when ordered the guns TO be fired as
they could be brought to bear upon the object. On
putting my head 10 the eastward it was discovered
tha, there was one Oh either quarter, and we made
them out from their peculiar construction to be iron
clads after the model Of the Merrmac
| Owing to fire in the hold we stood to the north.
ward about ten minutes, and shoalng water KEEP,
southeas about ten minutes, to enable TO subdue
the fire; and then / turned around and, under full
seam proposed attempting to run down the ram;
! but about g. NJ, shell from one Of them entered
on the port side under tie forward wheel house
guard passing through the port steam chimney, and
landed in the sarboard, deprving us Of our motive
power. Ten rifle shell struck the slip and two
burst on the quarter deck; most OF them striking
the hull being near and below the water line. Our
steam cbimneys being destroyed, our motive power
was Lost and Our situation became critical. There
were two feet of water in the chip, and leaking
badly, the water riGng rapidly and the freehold On
| fire.
Others of the squadron coming along, the ram that
had injured us 80 much altered her course, and be.
fore oar wheels entirely stopped, we were enabled
to get hawser from the Memphis, and were taken
In tow.
regret 10 report our casualties very large. Some
20 were killed and 20 wounded. Among the killed
have TO mention the surgeon Of the chip, Assistant
SURGEON Jacob III. GOtwoli, who was Killed while
in tie act Of rendering assistance to some OF the
wounded Capt. Watmaugh Of the Memphis kindly
gave us the services Of Acting Assistant Surgeon
Brown TO whom | feel much indebted for the atten-
ton he has exhibited in caring for the wounded.
Being unable 10 communicate with the senior officer
present personally or by signal / deemed it my
duty Commander Frailey advising the step, 10
make the best OF my way 10 fOIt Royal; Com
mander Fraiey, by my request, advising the senior
officer that l would leave IN tow Of the Memphis
unless he gave other orders.
Accompanying please find list of casualties. In
conclusion beg TO call attention TO the desire man.
Ifested by AL under my command to destroy tie
enemy, and particularly to the cool and efficient
manner in which / was seconded by LIEUT. ON
mander Thomas Ii. Eastman, the Executive Officer
of the ship.
/ an, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
VIM, y. LEROY. Commander.
Acting Assistant Surgeon Mason OF the Wercedta
makes the following report Of the killed and wound
ed on board that vessel:
KLLgp.-Jscob Aimee, gunner, BY shell James Gale