Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-02-12
| GuMbOat burned-The Vicksbure Canal
project to be carried out.

and machinery are a total loss. The cause Of
the FIRE is unknown.
Vicksburg letters of the 31st ultimo. say
that the canal project is fully adopted, and that
the largest possible force will be kept night
and day at work upon it until it is completed.
1t must we wholly cut the required width and
depth, it having been demonstrated that no re-
lance can be placed upon the action of the
water washing it out. Some weeks must
elapse before the completion.
Troops continue to arrive.
From vicksburg.-The ssQueen Of the
West' Runs the Rebel Batteries.
Chicago Feb. 6.
A special despatch from Cairo to the Tri-
bune, of this city, says:
A despatch from Memphis announces the
arrival of the steamer Adeline from Vicks-
burg. She reports that the ram Queen of the
West ran the rebel blockade on Monday morn
ing at daylight.
One hundred heavy siege guns opened on
the Queen of the West as she steamed past
A rebel steamer also opened fire on her, which
was replied to.
The rebel steamer was crippled.
The Queen of the West was under fire full
three quarters OF an hour.
Rear Admira! Dupont's Official Report
of the Rebel Attack ON the Fleet off
Washington, Feb. 9.
A bearer of official dispatches from the feet
off Charleston has arrived here. The follow
ing is from Rear Admiral Dupont, concerning
the rebel attack on our squadron off that
point;
Flag Ship Wabash,
Port Royal, Feb 2.
Sir have to report that about four
o'clock ON the morning of the 3lst inst during
the obscurity of a thick haze two iron-clad
gunboats came out of Charleston by the main
ship channel, and commenced ia upon the
blockading feet.
Most of the latter were of the light class of
purchased vessels; two of the heavie st men
of-war, the Powhatten and the Canandaigua
being at this point, coaling and repairing.
The Mercedita was the first vessel attacked.
Her officers and crew had been particularly
watchful during the night to look out for sus-
pected vessels, and at three o'clock had ship
ped her cable and overhauled a troop steamer
running for the channel.
By mistake she had returned to her anchor
age, and Capt. Stelwagen had gone to his
room for a short time, leaving Lieut.. Com
mander Abbott on deck, when one of the iron
clads suddenly appeared
Her approach was concealed by the haze
and mist of the atmosphere. The vessel was
Immediately hailed and an order given to fire,
but the iron clad being close aboard, and lying
low III the water, no guns could be brought to
bear upon her. A heavy rife shell was fired
from the enemy, which, entering the starboard
side Of the Mercedita, passed through her con
.denser and the steam drum of her port boiler,
and exploded against her port side, blowing a
hole in its exit some four or FIVE feet square,
killing the gunner, and by the escape Of steam
scalding number of the men, and rendering
her motive power apparently useless Unable
to use his guns, and being at the mercy Of the
enemy, who was alongside on his starboard
quarter, all further resistance was deemed
hopeless by Capt. Stelwagen, and he sure"
rbonrh vmcers were paroled,
ST. nothing was said of the ship; the
executive officer, Lieut.. Commander Abbott
having gone board the enemy's aunboat
and :laue the arrangement. The iron clad
leaving the Mercedita to her fate, to sink or
not, next engaged the keystone State,
Commander Leroy. Their fire was CALAMITY
returned, but a she'll exploding in the fire hold
of this vessel she was set on fire. Command
er Leroy kept off until the fire was got under,
when he steered again for the iron clad hay
ing ordered on full head of steam, deter
mined 70 Try TO run her down. The guns had
been trained and depressed for plunging fire
at the moment OF collision, and the ship had
acquired a speed of twelve knots, when a shell
or shot from the enemy passed through both
the steam chests. wholly disabling her boilers
and rendering her powerless. Ten rifed shell
struck the keystone State, and two burst on
the quarter deck, but most of them struck the
hull nd baloyy tho linz
In the meantime the Augusta, Comma nder
Psmott the Quaker City, Commander Frai-
ley, and the Memphis, Acting Lieutenant
Motnough, kept up fire upon the enemy,
diverting their attention from the Keystone
state, which was soon after taken, in Tow by
the Memphis and drawn away from the fire.
The Augusta and Quaker City were both
struck in their hus.
The Memphis was only struck in her rig
cling.
The Housatonic gave chase, and shot from
her struck the pilot house, doing, it is thought,
some damage, and carrying away one of her
flags.
The rebel vessels then passed to the north
ward, receiving the fire of our ships, and took
refuge in the Swash Channel, behind the
shoals
The only casualties We're on the Mercidita
and the keystone State. They are very large
About one-fourth of her crew were killed and
wounded, and among the former is the medical
officer of the ship, Assistant Surgeon Jacob H.
Gelvled, who was scalded to death whilst rem
dering surgical aid to one of the wounded
men.
Most Of those who died, persisted from the
escape of steam when the boilers and steam
chimneys were penetrated.
The greater nu nber received their injuries
from the same cause
As the Mercedita was the only vessel which
surrendered, | have directed court ofinquiry to
examine into the Circumstance of the case, as
well as into the terms under which the surren-
der was made. This investigation has been
a ked for by Capt Stellwagen.
| received this intelligence on Saturday at
three, p. m, by the Augusta, which ship inn
mediately returned to Charleston The Mer-
cedita soon after arrived, and the Keystone
State in tow Of the Memphis, when the latter
vessel was at once sent back to her station
The James Adger, Commander Patterson, was
also towed back. She was just coming into
Port Royal, and was ordered back TO Charles
ton.
The Powhattsn through the comnendable
zeal of Capt. Gordon, was also got ready by
nine O'Clock, p. m.
| had the channel and bar buoys lighted,
when she passed out safely.
| forward herewith copies of the reports of
Capt Stellwagen, Lieut.. Commanding Alb
bolt and Commander Leroy Also the reports
Of the casualties on board the Mercedita and
the Keystone State.
On the Mercedita there were four killed and
three wounded
On the Keystone State there were twenty
killed and twenty wounded.
Very Respectfully,