Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-09
Command Of the Potomac Army,
INTERESTING FOREIGN NEWS.
rnE CHARLESTON AFFAIR.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. s.
Ike iron steamer Princess Royal, in
charge Of acting Master Van Lyce, arrived
off the navy yard to-day. She brings
highly important intelligence, both as re-
lates to her capture and the rebel attack on
cur blockading fleet, at Charleston, show
ing eonclusively that there is no founda-
ton for the assumption Of the rebels that
the blockade Of Charleston was ever raised
by the departure of the blockading feet,
only two vessels out of the eight or ten
having been disabled or obliged to leave.
1t appears from the statement Of an in
telligent eye witness, that the cause Of the
attack of the rebel rams on our squadron
was 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 on the 29th, but was
discovered by the pilot boat Blunt. On
the signal being given, the Unadilla pro
ceeded towards her and captured her with
out assistance. It was then discovered
that the captain and pilot had succeeded
\ in getting ashore by small boat, carrying
important dispatches to the rebel Govern
ment.
At daylight thunder of guns was
heard, accompanied by sharp flashes Of
FIRE.
Il was supposed that our feet was en-
I gagged in making an attack, or that the
/ Alabama or Florida were trying to force an
entrance. At day-break two rebel iron
clads were seen coming down from the di-
rection of Stone Inlet, towards our feet.
They attacked the Mercedita. First on e
ram struck her on the water edge, keeling
her over, and at the same time firing a
shot which entered one Of her boilers,
causing the death Of three persons, inelud-
ing gunner, BY a shot and steam.
The ram then hailed the Mercedita, and
Captain SillwagoD 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 surrender p
This was repeated three times, Captain
| tSHllwagan replying at each inquiry: q
am in sinking condition The rebel
answered. % God damn you TO hell, if you
don't surrender, will blow you out Of th'
water; send your boat aboard Which
CAPTAIN Stillwagen lowered and then con
veyed his executive officers to the rebe
ram, and the officers asked to be admitted
This was refused.
The Lieutenant then repeated Captain
StilIwagon's statement, that we were in ,
sinking condition. The rebel replied
"You cant sink lower than the rails
We can't take you aboard" The Office
then gave his parole as demanded and re
turned to his ship.
The rebels were thus successfully de
eeived as to the condition Of the Mereedita
thinking she was in a sinking condition
She laid in shoal'water, and hence the reply
that she could not sink below her rails.
The ram steered toward the Keyston'
, State, and sents a shot through her steam
: drum. causing the death Of q persons, i
by The shot and by soalding. By steau
15 we're wounded and are lying at Por
Roval. some OF whom are in a precariou
E condition.
In the meantime, the gunboat Housato
/ mic engaged the other ram, driving he
awav Al half-past six in the morning
2 Both rams left the scene and proceeded u
: to Charleston.
I During this attack on our feet tn
Princess Royal, which lay near the Housa