The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13
OUR SPECIAL DISPATCHES
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
Special Dispatch to The Saint Fa" f'o'eer.
Pu,ADELPHIA, Feb. 8

The iron steamer IElnOo0o As0Je'A, AZ
charge of Acting Master Van Lice, arriv-
ed off the Navy Yard to day. She brings
highly important intelligence, both as re-
lates to her capture and the rebel attack
on our blockading fleet at Charleston,
showing conclusively that there is no
foundation for the assumption of the reb-
els that the blockade of Charleston was
ever raised by the departure of the block
aiding fleet, only two vessels out of the
eight or ten having been disabled or obi
ged to leave.
1t appears from the statement Of an in
telligent eye witness that the cause Of the
attack of the Rebel Rams on our squad
ron was owing to the capture Of the Prin-
cess Royal, the pilot and captain of that
vessel having escaped ashore during the
darkness of the night and communicated
the intelligence to the rebels.
The Princess Royal endeavored to run
the blockade by way of Beach Inlet on
tAe AJll, pub was uiSoo'eleu ny luo Pllot
boat Blunt. On signal being given the
Unadlla proceeded toward and captured
her without other assistance.
1t was then discovered that the pilot and
captain had succeeded in getting ashore
by a small boat, carrying important dis
patches to the Rebel government.
At day light a thunder of guns was
heard, accompanied by sharp flashes of
fire. 1t was supposed that our fleet was
engaged in making an attack, or that the
Alabama and Florida were endeavoring to
force an entrance.
At daylight two rebel iron-clads were
seen coming down from the direction of
Stone Inlet, towards our fleet. They at
tackled the Mercedita. A ram struck her
on the water ridge, keeling her over, and
at the same time firing shot which enter
ed one of her boilers, causing the death of
three persons, including gunner, by a
shot and steam. The ram then hailed the
Mercedita, and Captain Stellwagen lower
ed one of his small boats, after leaving one
of the plugs out, allowing the water to en-.
ter it. The ram answered our hail by the
confederate ram Palmetto State, 'Do you
surrender 2" This was repeated three
times, Captain Stellawagen replying at
each inquiry, 81 am in sinking condi-
ton" The rebels answered, "God d--n
you to h-ll. if you don't surrender We
will blow you out of the water. Send
your boat aboard" The boat which Capt
Stellawagen lowered then conveyed his
executive officer to the rebel ram, and the
officer asked to be admitted on board.
This was refused. The Lieutenant then
repeated Captain Stellawagen's statement
that we were in a sinking condition. The
rebel replied, "You can't sink lower than
the rails. We cannot take you aboard"
The officer then gave his parole as de-
manded, and returned to his ship. The
rebels were thus successfully deceived as to
the condition of the Mercedita She was
in sinking condition. She laid in shOal
water, and hence the reply that she could
not sink below her rails
The Ram steered toward the Keystone
State and sent shot through her steam
drum, causing the death of 81 persons
twelve by shot and nine by scalding by
steam. Fifteen were wounded and are
lying at Port Royal some in a precarious
condition
In the meantime the gunboat Housa-
tonic engaged the other Ram, driving her
away. At half-past six in the morning
both Rams proceeded up to Charleston.
During this attack on Our feetthe Prin-
cess Royal, which lay near the Housatonic
and was the chief object of prize on both
sides, succeeded in getting off, mainly
through the energies of the third assistant
engineer, Thurston, who piled into her fires
all the inflamable material at hand. Her
escape is chiefly owing to his endeavors, as
well as her safe arrival at this port.
The Mercedita steamed down to Port
Royal and would be repaired in a day.
The Keystone State was entirely dis
abled, but was towed to Port Royal by
the Memphis.
The Rebel statements that the Federal
fleet had entirely disappeared from the
Port of Charleston are entirely unsus-
tanned by the facts. During the day time
our blockading fleet are not particular as
to keeping to their stations, and on the
day of this assault most of the vessels
sailed towards the Keystone State to as
certain her condition and whether she
wanted any assistance. This may account
fos their apparent absence at the time of
the visit of the foreign consuls as men,
toned by the rebel papers. Our vessels
as usual resumed their positions at dark.
The New Ironsides arrived next day to
IL IT,