The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-10-30
Yankee History of the Attempt t.
blow up the Ironsides.

Yankee History of the Attenut to
blow up the Ironsides.
\ Norris Island correspondent of the New
tx ribune gives that paper a graphic but
? 20 Get account of the attempt to blow up
tas lronsides. He says:
AT half past 9 o'clock of the night in ques-
ton, the quartermaster on watch on board
the 1ronsides reported to the officer of the
deck suspicious craft, with smoke stack, and
setting very low In the water, making direct
y toward the vessel. The night, although
clear and the sky studded with stars. was
nevertheless unusually dark. and but little
could be distinguished of the stranger except
the smoke pipe and her low hull the latter
extremely iudistinct; she appeared to be
steamiHg at speed of seven knots an hour,
How she could have passed our picket boat
was question to be considered for it was
just possible she might belong to us. and to
ire upon her without first determining her
character and intention might result in more
serious damage than if she were AN enemy.
90 she was allowed to come within Mailing
distance. More and more distinct she grew
as enc approached-a cigar shaped bull, after
the pattern OF Winan's gunboat. driving be-
gore NC through the water smaller object,
WHICH could hardly be distinguished; black
sneke pipe, from which issued 4 thin cloud
oi pisck smoke, but no other indications Of
the meetve power within, were visible Still
Sne gilded on, the object of her approach Ell
Sner che frigate itself or the Devils which Law
mooreu on the port side. Coming near enough
70 near, she WAS hailed and ordered to stop,
'bpt she 'neither made reply or obeyed the
summons.
All hands were piped to quarters; a gun
was bred, but the curious craft sat too low in
the water. and the ball passed over her.. A
second shot followed the first, with the same
result; then veHey of musketry lighting up
for naopent with fash the steamer, the
torpedo at her bows, and the figure Of a man
sitting astride Of the gar-shaped hall, engag-
ed in steering. This man, whose name ia
Toombs, and whoas now in irons on board
'the flag ship, fired a.shot in retaliation, which
severely wounded Ensign Howard, the Off.
Ger of the deck. he pretends to have been
sailing master Of the expedition, which he
undoubtedly was, and is man Of moderate
height, strong, muscular frame, dark wrin-
killed. skin, dark eyes, coarse black hair and
beard. There were three others with him, all
under command of Lit GIassell, formerly of
the United States Navy. He is said to he
man of superior talests and bravery, was
captured some time since and confined in Fort
Warren. but subsequently,, on heing released,
Tejoined the Southern army: he is now pri-
4soner on the Ottow.a
The masketry firing from the frigate after
the first yolley became rapid and continuous
but seemed in NO way to interfere with the
execution of the plan had in view by those
on board the steamer. as shs approached near
er and nearer each moment to the ironsides,
her bow pointing towards tue latter's side,
a:,nd run close thunder her guns. At this mo-
lnent terrific explosion took place, jarring
the great iron-plated hull Of the frigate and
sending into the air a huge column of water
that fell in torrents all round, and entering
the smoke pipe Of the little steamer immedi-
ately extinguished her Gres. When this had
subsidized, and the sea was agnin calm, nrtAing
whatever was to he seen ct her; the SUPPOSE
tion is that.she went down. But struggling
for. life we're two men, evidently members of
herscrew, whowere picked up by a boat low
creditor the purpose from the Ironsides. They
aresthe two | have already mentioned-the
seanan Toombs and 1t. Gla-seil; hat neither
of them can tell what happened in the time.
between the explosion Of the torpedo and the
snoment they found themselves battling with
steamer sunk or, rekindling her FIRES, moved
off in the direction of Charleston.
THE ORIGIN OF THE EXPEDITION. IS
This daring attempt, unprecedented in its
boldness shy anything which has happened
during the war; had its origin in the city Of
sGharleston, where the cost was raised by pub
die subscription, some Of the wealthiest citi-
nens subscribing largely. The steamer was
built there expressly for the purpose, the pat
tern of the AVinan's gunboat being adopted
as the one best suited for the accomplishment
8 of the object they had in view, the material
being Of wood The torpedo. which was Of
the largest size. and similar in shape some
what to the steamer, was exploded by means
Of a percussion cap at the further end, white
lead being used to render it. wlter-proof-
Large rewards were to be paid the men in
case thew succeeded in their desperate enter
prise and came off safe, they being sanguine
Of blowing up the. irigate, but never expect
ed to escape with their lives Both steamer
and torpedo were towed as far as Fort Sum
ter by another vessel; it was probably owing
to this that they escaped the notice of our
picket boats, these latter being engaged in
watching the movements of the convoy, which
steamed here and there on the water as if
bound on a mission of mischief Of her own be-
fore gliding back to Char lesion.
From the Kanavvaa valley.
We learn from the Lynchburg "Republi-
can" of Thursday, that there is. now but q
very small number of Yankees in the Kama