Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-09

Cbarie,ton haa been received at the Navy De-
partner: from Com. Dupont:
FLAa-sHIr WABASH,
Port Royal Harbor February 9, f-S1f
SIR: have the honor TO report that about
O'Clock on the morning of the 3ist ult, during
tie ob.curity OF a thick ha@, two iror-clad
suntcats came cut VI Charleston by tho mia
ship channel, unperceiyed by the squadron,
and comma ed n raid on tho blockading fleet.
Most Of the latter Were OF the Ii INT class OF pur-
chased vessels: TWO of the heaviest men OF war
(the Pow hatsn and Cananiaigua) being at this
port coslipg and repairing.
The Mercedita was tho first vessel attacked
Her officers and crew had been particularly
wa'chful during the night, TO look out for sus-
Iectrd vessels, ard at O'clock a. m. slipped
catle and oyerbauled a troop steamer rxnnlsx
for the channel by mistake.
She had returned 10 the anchorage and Cant
Steil wagon had gone to his room a short time,
cone OF the iron-clads suddenly appeared Her
approach was concealed by the haze and mist
Of the atmosphere. The vessel was immedi-
ately hailed and an ordrr given to fire, but the
irt n-clad being close aboard, and laying low in
the water, no guns could be brought to bear A
heavy rifle she'll was fired from the enemy
viii, n entering The starboard side of the Mer
cedita, passed through her condenser and ,ba
seam drum OF her port boiler, and exploded
against the port side, blowing a hole in its exit
some four five feet square, kilIiny the gup
ner and by the escape Of steam scalding q num-
her Of the men, apd ordering her Is uti We power
~ rartnliy useless. Iatbie 20 use his guns,
and Icing at tie mercy OF the enemy which
vas lag iTg alongside Oh his s,arooard quarter,
Ill furtheT ~ siStInce " as deemed hopeless, by
apt SieilWagtD. aHG le surrendered Tn,
- ~ l.H
Wus sad Of 1Ee ship, the executive officer
Lieut.. Commander Abbot, ha ing gone on hoarG
ne 'neliys Guntodt and made the arrange.
IL, mt
h irOn-clad leaving the Mcrcedita to her
i&'F, 10 SILK or not, next engaged the keystona
state, tcnlnanc"r l." Roy, who was also az
lacked by he ether. Their fire was CALAMITY
returned. ut she'll exploding in the forrho.i
OF this V, sse1 she SIT Oh fire. 1
Command lie Roy kept OF until ii was got
ErCcI, " Zen lie steeTed again tor one of th,.
iron c;ads. ordered fun ST. an and determinnd
10 t'y 20 ruin her down. The guns h,ld baen
trained aid depressed for plum ging fire at ih.
mon' at uf collision. and the ship had ACQUIRED
so al OF ~ knots, when a shell Or shot from
th' NJ ny pas through both the steam chests
wholly nisatl'n g her boilers ana rendering her
loVfrirss. Ten rifle shell struck the Keystnua
stare; TWO burst or her Quarter eek hny nj
Of t!''rn struck he hull, being near and below
the water line.
Ia the mean ime the Augusta @ .nman Q
Ianctt; me Quaker City, ComrlaIu.r FraI,,.y:
end tE" memphis, Acting Lieut. Wat.3ough,
kept up fire upon the enemy. diyer,ing tha;r
aftrh'ion ircm the Keystone state, which was
socL after taken iii tow by the Memphis and
drawn away from the fire. The Augasta, and
QUAKER City were both struck on their bulIs.
h. NJ mphis y "a l;rr rigging.
and a shot fro n her struck the pilot hons. of
cn" of the ir n-Ciads, doing it, II is thought,
some damage and carry Ing away one of her
HAS. The rebel vessels tHen passed TO the
ncrthward. ricrivIng the fir. of our ships. and
took refuge in tie svash channel, behind the
shoals.
TIE only casualties were on the Mr-,adjta
ana tie keystone State. On the keystone State
beS wfre, very large. About one fourth of her
former inc M dlcai officer of The shin "Tnong the
surgeon Jacob III. Gotwcrt!I-who was scaIded
the wound q men ~ 'o Va
Nlne OF iEose who died persisted from the %.
cape OF ste;'m when the boilers and steam CHIN
n-y were penetrated and among the yFonnd.d
'ne tfta'er number received their injuries from
the same cause. LAWN
is the Mercedita was the only vessel which
.ullsnoered q, nave directed a court of ina uiry
10 "> ANN In o the circumstances of nm. 80
as we'll as INTO the terms under " hich TIA sur
r. noe wa MADE This investigation has been
asked for by Capt. S:eIlwagen. VOL"
1 rrcsiv this intelligence on SATURDAY. al =
u. m. by me Augusta: which ship iinmpdiatgIv
returned TO Charleston. The Nero edIta s,,c1
aiier arrived, and the Keystone State in tow OF
The memphis; when the latter vessel W. a
OEcP sent hack TO the station "
me JHmes Adger, Commander Patterson. was
M lowed back as sha was coming into Port
Eoyai, and ordered to Char nston: and th. Poy,
n;itsI,, 'hfcngh the comm 'ndahle zeal of Can.
GoGon, was got ready by O'Clock D. 10. 7 had
thr channel and box buoys lighted, hen shs
passed ont safely. ''
- forward herewith copies Of the reports of
tapt SieiIwaRrn, Li@ut. Commander itbot.
ana capt LeRoy. Al>o, the reports of the cas
uaites on bard the Mercrdita and the Keyston.
STATE. TN Inc Mersedita there were ! ki,I.d
ard wounded; on the keystone State. % kiiIed
and 20 wounded. ~
Very respectfully, your ob-t serv't,
r DUPONT, Rear Admiral &c
To Hon. GIrEOH WRLLHs,
Secretary of the Navy, &c.