Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-07-01
CAPTURE OF THE ATLANTA, OR FINGAL
TFrom the Port Royal New South1

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[From the Port Royal New SOUTH
We take great pleasure in announcing
this week the capture, in Warsaw Sound, OF
the celebrated rebel ram Atlanta, better known
| to many of our readers as the Fingal, concern
ing which the rebels have been long time
boasing, and about which some of our people
have had considerable fears. The fugal was
an English steamer, and was cut down, i-on-
| clad aud converted into very formidable ram,
by the rebels, at Savannah, where some two
years were spent in making of her a terror TO
the Federal fleets. She was completed last
winter, and has since shown herself many times,
in sight of Fort Pulaski, and elsewhere.
Some of her men had mania for desertion,
and frequent arrivals to our side, with other
sources of information, have kept us pretty
well posted as to her movements. Rear Admi-
raj Dupont has for long time had his eye on
her, and has of late been well informed about
her. Some ten days or twelve days since he
despatched two of our Monitors-tbs Weehaw-
ken, Capt John Rogers, and the Nahant, COM
mander Downes-to Warsaw Sound, to look
out for her. They have been cruising about
there since.
On Wednesday morning, the 18th while the
Weehawken was some distance up the Sound,
picket boat which had been sent up farther
reported the Atlanta to be steamiug down TO
w Wilmington River, Captain Rodgers immedi-
ateIy proceeded down the River, to decoy
the ram on, and to get into deeper water. SO
as he could man9uvre to- advantage. The
Atlanta came on, as if she feared prize were
escaping her, and soon fired on the Weehaw-
ken. When she had got within easy range
Captain Rodgers himself sighted the Weehaw-
kens Is inch gun, the shot from which struck
the top of the Atlanta's pilot house, smashing
the iron and woodwork, and wounding both
pilots severely with the splinters. Four or
five other shots were fired and four in all took
effect. One Is inch shot struck her about
half way from her grnwale to the top of her
iron plated house, completely smashing
through her iron and wood work, producing a
| large jagged hole, killing one and wounding
| twelve. The Atlana fired six or eight shots,
but none of them took effect. She finally
| run aground and surrendered with 195 prison
| ers on board, all told. The Nahant came
up to participate in the fight, but through 10
fault of her own, did not arrive until the At
lanta had surrendered. When the Weehawk-
en- fred the shot which proved most fatal to
the Atlanta she was within one hundred yards
| of her. The Atlanta was subsequently
| towed of where she grounded. She steamed
up here at the rate of six knots an hour. with
heavy sea on ,and was found to steer finely.
The prisoners were brought up on the Island
~: II
except the wounded ones are to be sent North
on the James Adger, which leaves this morn
ing. The rebel officers are very much de-
pressed.
We learn that the officers of the Atlanta
came out with the intention of engaging and
capturing the Weehawken. She was follwed
down by two wooden gun boats filled with
| ladies and other excursionists, who were to
witness the fight ; it having been arranged
that one of the gunboats should tow the Wee
hawken up to Savannah then the Atlanta was
to go to Ossabaw, capture a gun-boat, take
some batteries, entrap the Forty seventh New
7 ork, and leave force there to hold the bat
teries. Next she was going to Charleston, ,and
cooperate, by signal with some rebel boats in
she was to pay her respects to the Port Royal
squadron. This nice little programme was
very summarily changed.
The Fingal had two months provisions on
board, and am nuniton of the very best quail
ity. She was commanded by Capt. Webb,
formerly of the United States Navy. She
carried four Brook guns, two six-inch and two
seven-inch, and bow gun weighing over 49,
900 pounds. She had very choice sextants,
cbronometers, &c. She is quite formidable
| looking craft. She has cut-water in the
shape of an immense steel saw, with monster
| teeth; outside of that an iron frame with a
| torpedo attached, for damaging vessels; and
above an iron boom-like piece, for penetra-
ting anything on which she might run. She
draws fifteen feet of water.
Altogether the capture is one of the most
important since the war commenced and re-
fleets credit on all concerned in it.
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