Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-02-13
VOL aXIV---NO. 29,

| Jail He chose the former, and crossed the
river Immediately. He was advertised 10 de-
liver political speech tonight, but was sum-
manly prevented by the Provost Marshal.
s'L' ot.j 10 a LOUISVILLE, Feb.7
I A dispatch from Glasgow, KY, says the
rebels, under Ferguson and Hamilton, are
across the river and again carrying otf cltl'
zcns and committing all sorts OF depredatlons.
| i lstjs5 IA :4ai.faess% !: ~ CAIRo. Feb. g.
The dispatch Boat Ike Hamitt arrived TO-
day from the Yazoo River, which place she
left on the Sd.
She brings full particulars Of the achieve
ment by the ram Queen of the West in rum
ming past the batteries at Vicksburg on the
I'd. She not only run by the batteries, but
stopped long enough on her way to butt the
gunboat Vicksburg, now fitting out ut the
landing, twice or three times. e7.fass,,G r.
The Vicksburg's upper works were terri
bly, shattered by these conclusions, and the
rebels attempted to set fire to the Queen by
throwing turpentine balls into her. They
succeeded in firing part of her cotton bulk
heads, which were quickly thrown overheard.
The Queen was struck by twelve shots from
he batteries, none of which touched her ma
1t was most daring and brilliant exploit,
and will give immortality to those who have
so nobly executed it. The advantages it
gives us in cutting off the supplies Of the reb-
els and in moving forces is immense.
1t is reported that two of our iron-clad gun
boats are ready to follow the Queen on the
first favorable opportunity.
Nearly all the squadron is now up the Ya-
ZOO - -,' si:f.ts t---- T ~
The Hamitt was fred into from the Ar
by several musket balls. ......... ,......4.
At Memphis the rebels are reported still at
work on two railroads below Holly Springs,
their advance being this side of Okalona.
The steamer Ruth, Capt. Pegram, on her
last trip to Memphis, took down thirteen
hundred tons of freight, three hundred head
of cattle, one regiment of troops, four hun
dred passengers and thirteen million of dol
lars. 1t was the most valuable cargo ever
afloat ON the Mississippi.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8.
The iron steamer Princess Royal, in charge
Of Acting Master Van Syck, arrived off the
Navy Yard to-day. She brings highly i'm
portant intelligence, both as relates to her
capture and the rebel attack upon our block
aiding feet at Charleston, showing conclu-
sisely that there is no foundation for the as
sumption of the rebels that the blockade Of
Charleston was ever raised by the departure
of the blockading fleet, only two vessels of
the light OF ten being disabled or obliged to
leave.
1t appears from the statement Of an intelli-
gent eye witness that the cause of the attack
of the rebel rams Oh our squadron was owing
to the capture Of the Princess Royal, the
captain and pilot of that vessel having es-
capped 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 the 29th
ult, but was discovered by the pilot boat
Blunt, and on signal being given, the UnadilA
la hastened toward and captured her, without
other assistance.
1t was then discovered that the captain and
pilot had succeeded in getting ashore in
small boat, carrying important dispatches to
the rebel government.
At daylight thunder of guns was heard,
accompanied by sharp flashes Of fire, and it
was supposed that our feet was engaged in
making an attack on the Alabana or Florida,
endeavoring to force an entrance.
At daybreak two rebel iron clads were seen
coming down from the direction of Stono In
| le', towards our feet. They attacked the
Mercedita first. One ram struck her on the
water ridge, keeling her over, and at the same
time firing shot which entered one of her
boilers, causing the death of three persons,
including gunner.
The ram then hailed the Mercedita, and
Capt. Stelavogen lowered one of his small
boats, after loosening the plugs and allowing
the water to enter. the ram answered our
hail by saying, "The Confederate ram Pal
metto State. Do you surrender p This was
repeated three times, Capt. Stellavogen re-
plying at each inquiry, II am in sinking
condition" The rebel answered, Cd
|d-n you to hi, if you don't surrender
we'll blow you out of the water. Send your
boat aboard" s, s- -.- as-
The boat which Capt Stellavogen lowered
then conveyed his Executive Officer to the
rebel ram, and the officer asked to be admit
ted on board. This was refused. The Lieu
tenant then repeated Captain Stellavogen's
statnment that "We are in sinking condi-
tion." The rebels replied, "You can't sink
lower than the rails. We can't take you on
board"
The rebels were thus successfully deceived
as to the condition of the Mercedita, thinking
she was in a sinking condition. She laid il
shoal water, and hence the reply that she
could not sink below her rails. ii
The ram then steered towards the Keystone
State, and sent o shot through her steam
drum, causing the death of twenty -one per-
sons-twelye by the shot and nine by steam.
Fifteen were wounded, and are lying at Port
Royal, some in precarious condition.
In the meantime the gunboat Housatonic
engaged the other ram, driving her away, and
at half-past six o'c ock both rams left the
scene and passed up to Charleston.
During this attack on our feet the Princess
Royal, which lay near the Housatonic, and
was the chief object of prize on both sides,
succeeded in getting off, mainly through the
energy Of Third Assistant Engineer Thurs
ton, who piled into her furnace all the in.
hammable material at hand. Her escape is
chiefly owing to his endeavors, as also is ner
safe arrival at this port. ae
The Mercedta steamed down to Port Royal
with only one of her boilers injured. She ar
rived safely at Port Royal and would be re-
paired ina day. eapE
The Key Stone State was entirely disabled,
but was towed to Port Royal by the Memphis.
The rebel statements that the Federal fleet
hid entirely disappeared from the Port of
Charleston are entirely unsustained by the
facts. During the day time our blockading
fleet is not particular as to keeping to the sta
ton, and on the day of this assault most of
the vessels sailed toward the Keystone State
70 ascertain her condition and whether she
wanted any assistance. This may account
for the apparent absence at the time of the
visit of the foreign Consuls as mentioned by
the rebel papers. Our vessels, as usual, re-
sumed their positions at dark.