The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-09
fHE Loss OF THE COLUMBIA.
Smart Tilt Between Rebel Sand Bat
teHeS and Our Vessels.
NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN SAVED,
Oar Wilmington Correspondence.
Orr WmnINcros, N. c., Jan. 10, 1858.

Our Wilmington Correspondence.
Orr wLMScros, N. c., Jan. 10. 1858.
] send you tho following merely TO give you brief
OF OF tho remarkable naval affairs
recorded
January 10, carly In tho morning, tho vesaes block
aiding or Wilmington notified that the day previous
the United States Columbia wrecked near
hAsonboro. G. The OF hsr drifting on shore
have been able to learn 1t strange. strong
southsry wind blowing and the sea not worry rough
whom her sho lay head westward; but she is lost
now the hands Of the rebels Al eleven O'Clock
A. NJ. three Union gunboats had arrived TO rescue her
from the hands of Tho rebes-the Cambridge, Captain
Parker (senor oaacsr); tho Gsnesee, Commander Ma.
combs, and the Pcnobsoot, Lieutenant Commanding
10 haven. The Cambridge carries two light Parrot
guns Tho is the heaviest boat On this station
She carries tcn-nch Dahigren, one ono hundred
FOUNDER ride, four nne ch side guns and two twenty
four Founders The Penobscot carries eleven Inch
Dahlgren one thirty FOUNDER ride and two twonty four
pounders BY this time three officers and forty three
men a had sscsrsa from tbs wreck to u: su.Ss.s.
where tho Columbia was wrecked Still the gunboats
kept at distance Of about Ave ImIles from tho
faihons Of water strong westerly wind blowing
OF the land How encouraging for tho unfortunate CON-
ali the time expecting TO hear tho senior occr order the
sunboats TO engage tho rebel battery which at that time
consisted Of only one gun but contrary 70 our expecta
ons, orders camo for the Genesee and Penobsco 10
turn TO Now Inlet The Geneses alono Is able TO silence
any rebel sand battery yet constructed.
What could the commander OF tho Columbia do under
these raft to go out TO the
gunboats and blow up the vessel No but 90 shors
under flag OF truce and surrender hmRe 70 tho rebes
Early in tho morning OF January II tho gunboats Cam
bridge and lenobscot went down to the wreck. Tho
rebels were then board Of her, seeking plumber. by
this time the rebel battery consisted OF three small guns
two OF these, suppose, camo from the Columbia Tho
Penobscot opened fire tho wrecS at half nine NJ
and tho rebels left for tho shore The rebels returned tho
fire from their battery with accurate AIM shot srk
ing the Pen0bscot b mantopmast backstay Tbs Penob-
SCOT kept up the Are until hapast oeven O'Clock, when
her clsvennch carriage became disabled and the
two gunboats out ~ range the Ponobscot returning
New Inlet During the engagement tho Cambridge kept
firing Mt long range. which this case, that the
shots from her guns occasionally reached the Shore while
the rebes could not reach her. supDose tho rebels will
say that they with three small guns, drove away or
gunbOats.
Sunday morning (January 1s) the gunboat Genesee
proceeded towards the wreck with the intention OF de
stroyng IL, which had boon done before the Geneseo
rived Al half past two p d. tho Genesee began TO FIRE
making five heavy guns bear upon the wreck. Az the
time the rebels opened upon the gunboat with two
guns they Airing solid shot The firing continued about
hour when tho Genesee withdrew. The gunboat fired
thirty -four rounds eight OF which directed 10 the
and the the wreck. Tho rebels fired we'll
-Four shots passed tho GeDesee the rest fell short.
but In good line lhe rebels had only two guns.
sci going into four fathoms wator could easily she tho
town.