Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-09


PHILADELPHIA, February S-The Sunday
Transcript has dispatch from Washington
which SAYS:
There is no enemy in force at Fredericksburg;
most of them have been sent to the Blackwater
or vicksburg. The only force left behind is
about $4,000 an ample number to prevent the
passage of the Rappahannock at this season.
From deserters and other sources it has been
ascertained that the railroad communications of
the Rebels are perfect In seventy-two hours the
entire army of the enemy can be transported from
any point in the South to Fredericksburg, SO they
can well afford to spare the great body of their
army from our front.
During the past week the President has deter
mined upon calling Gen. Mcclellan to the CON-
mand OF the army again. Upon the announce
ment being made in a Cabinet council there was
great taring up. Secretary Chase at once
threatened to resign. as did also the rest of the
radical members. For this and other reasons the
President determined to make no change for the
present. Within two weeks however, there is
scarcely doubt that the command of the army
will be rendered to Gen. Mcclellan. Tho APP
pointment of Gen. Hooker to the command is
merely temporary. 1t was made against the
judgment OF the President, and even the Secre-
tary of War. His soldierly qualifications are not
doubted, but his ability TO handle such an i'm
mense body is seriously questioned by his friends.
Nothing Of Importance is expected from Vicks-
burgh for at least thirty days. 1t will take that
time to complete the canal and to bring our forces
effectively to bear against the Rebel stronghold.
Ii may be that circumstances may precpitate
battle. but the general impression is that it will
require month at least to capture the place.
The prize steamer Princess Royal arrived at
the navy yard to-day from off Charleston. She
brings partial confirmation of the attack on our
blockading fleet at Charleston. The Keystone
State had twenty-three killed, and the Mencedita
four. Our vessels were all driven off. but none
were sunk.
There is no foundation for the assumption of
the Rebels that the blockade of Charleston was
ever raised by the departure of the blockading
fleet. only two vessels out of the eight ten
having been disabled or obliged TO leave.
Itappears from the statement of an intelligent
eye witness that the cause of the attack of the
Rebel rams on our squadron owing to the
capture of the Princess Royal, the Captain and
pilot 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 the 29th but
was discovered by the pilot boat Blunt. On sig
ual being given the Unadila proceeded toward
and captured her without other assistance. 1t
then discovered that the captain and pilot had
succeeded IN getting ashore by small boat car
rying important dispatches TO the Rebel govern
ment.
At daylight the thunder of guns was heard ac-
companied by sharp flashes OF fire, and it was
supposed that our feet was making an attack, or
the Alabama or Florida endeavoring to force
an entrance.
AT daybreak two Rebel ironcIads were seen
coming down from the direction of Stone Inlet,
toward our feet.
They attacked the Mencedita first One ram
struck her on the water ride, keeling her over
one of her boilers, causing the death of three
persons, including gunner by shot and steam.
The ram then hailed the Mencedta and Captain
Stellwagen then lowered one of his small boats,
after leaving one of the plugs out allowing the
water to enter IT, The ram answered our hail by,
Confederate ram Palmetto State. Do You sur
render?" This repeated three times, Capt.
Stelwagen replying at each inquiry Il am in
sinking condition" The Rebels answered, "God
damn yon to hell, if you don't surrender we will
blow you out of the water. Send boat aboard"
The boat which Capt Steelwagen lowered thsn
conveyed his executive officer TO the Rebel ram
and the officer asked to be admitted on board
This refused The Lieutenant then re-
peated Capt Steelwagen's statement that we
were in sinking condition. The Rebel replied,
"You can't sink lower than the rails. We can
not take you aboard"
The officer then gave his parol, as demanded,
and returned to his ship.
The Rebels were thus successfully deceived as
to the condition of the Mercedua, thinking 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 twenty one persons the spot; nine
were sealded by steam and fifteen wounded.
The wounded are lying at Port Royal, some in
precarous condition.
In the meantime the gunboat Housatonic en-
gagged the othes ram. driving her away ATTY
in the morning both rams left ii and pro
ceeded up 10 Charleston. During this attack on
our fleet the Princess Royal, which lay near the
Housatonic and the principal object of prize
on both sides, succeeded in getting off. mainly
through the energy of Third Assistant Engineer
Thurston, who piled into her fires all the in
hammable matetial at hand Her escape is
chiefly owing to his endeavors, is also her safe
arrival at this port.
The Mencidita steamed down to Port Royal,
escaping with only one of her boilers injured.
She arrived safely at Port Royal, and will be
repaired in day. The Keystone State
tirely disabled, and was towed to Port Royal by
the Memoirs