Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-09
LATEST NEWS.
FROM OUR CHARLESTON pLOCKApERs.

FROM OUR CHARLESTON BL0CKADERs.
That Rebel Report COrrected-Our Fleet
Not Driven Away-Only Two OF the
Vessels Attaelxed-The MercIdita Not
sunk and but Little Injured.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb S.-The iron prize
steamer Princess Royal, in charge of acting
master Edward Won Lice, arrived off the navy
yard to-day She brings highly important
intelligence, both as relates to her capture,
and to the rebel attack on our blockading
squadron at Charleston, showing conclusively
that there is no foundation for the assumption
ofthe rebels, that the blockade at Charleston
was ever raised by the departure of the United
States fleet, only two vessels out of eight or
ten, having been disabled or obliged to leave.
1t appears, from the statement of an intelli-
gent eve witness, that the cause of this attack
of therebel rams on our squadron was the cap
ture of the Princess Royal, the captain and
pilot of that vessel having escaped to the shore
during the darkness of the night, and COM
municated intelligence to the enemy. The
Princess Royal endeavored to run the block
ade, by way of Beach Inlet, JAN 2S, but was
discovered by the pilot boat Blunt. On signal
being given the Unadilla proceeded toward
her and captured the prize, without other as
sistance. 1t was then discovered that the
captain and pilot had succeeded in getting
ashore by small boat, carrying important
dispatches to the rebel government.
The Unadlla carried her prize to the side
of the Housatonic, and lay there till daylight,
when thunder of guns was heard, accompa-
ia1 bv sbur Aasb p,fG ra + cd
that the outer fleet was engaged in making ex-
periments, or that the Alabama or Florida
was endeavoring to force an entrance. At
daybreak two iron-clads were seen coming
down from the direction of Stone Inlet to-
wards our fleet They attacked the Merce-
dita first. One ram struck her on the water
ridge, keeling her over, and at the same time
firing shot which entered one of her boilers,
causing the death of three persons, including
gunner, by the shot and steam.
The ram then hailed the Mercedita, and
Capt. Stellwagen lowered one of his small boats
after leaving one of the plugs out allowing
the water to enter 1t. The ram answered our
hail by replying 1.-THE confederate ram
Palmetto State. Do you surrender?' This
was repeated three times, Capt. Stillwagen
replying at each inquiry, 81 am in a sinking
condition" The rebels answered, Good
damn you to hell, if you don't surrender we
will blow you you out of water Send your
boat aboard" The boat which Capt. Stell-
wager lowered then conveyed his lieutenant
executive officer to the side of the rebel ram,
and the officer asked to be admitted aboard.
This was refused. The lieutenant then re-
ported Capt Stellwagen's statement: eve
are in a sinking condition" The rebel officer
replied, "You can't sink lower than the rails;
we cannot take you aboard"
The officer than gave his parole as demand
ed, and returned to his ship. The rebels
were thus successfully deceived as to the
condition of the Mercedta, thinking she was
i'll a sinking condition. She laid in shoal
water, and hence the reply that she could not
sink lower than the rails. The ram steered
toward the Keystone State, and sent shot
through her steam drum, causing the death
of q persons, u by shot and 8 by being
scalded; Is were wounded, and are now ly-
ing at Port Royal, some in a precarious con-
dition. In the meantime the gunboat Housa-
tonic engaged the other ram driving her away.
AT six and a half o'clock in the morning both
rams left the scene and proceeded up to
Charleston.
During this attack on the fleet the Princess
Royal which lay near the Housatonic, and
which was the chief object of prize on both
sides, succeeded in getting off, mainly through
the energy of third assistant engineer Thurs
BILE material at hand Her escape is chiefly
owing to his endeavors as well as her safe ar
rival at this port, notwithstanding the severe
gale which prevailed during her passage from
Port Royal. Although the coal was the an
thracite with which our navy is supplied, she
made 10 knots an hour with ease in the heavi-
est storm. Her usual rate is 10 knots.
The Mercedta steered down to Port Royal,
escaping with one of her boilers injured She
arrived safely at Port Royal, and would be
repaired in day. The Keystone State was
entirely disabled but was lowed down to Port
Royal by the Memphis.
The rebel statements, that the federal fleet
had entirely disappeared from the port of
Charleston, are entirely contrary to the facts.
The fleet consisted of the following vessels:
Unadilla, HOusatOnic, Augusta, Quaker City,
Keystone State, and Mercedta, besides
the Pilot boats Blunt, Memphis, and sew
eral other vessels. During the daytime
our blockading feet are not particular as
to keeping to their stations, and on the day of
this assault most of the vessels sailed toward
the Keystone State to ascertain her condition,
whether she wanted any assistance This
may account for their apparent absence at the
time of the visit of the foreign consuls as men
toned by the rebel papers. Our vessels, as
usual, resumed their positions at dark. The
New IronsideS arrived the next day to REIN
force the blockade.
The following are the officers aboard the
Princess Royal: Acting master Edward Van
Lice; LIST assistant engineer II. c. Victor;
acting assistant engineer W. ID. Bates sur
geon DIR. Bacon; Sd assistant engineer r. II.
Thurston; acting masters Charles M. Hall
and Charles Myers. Dr. Bacon leaves to-
night for Washington with special dispatches.
Information is also brought by the Princess
ROYAL, of the attack of the irOn-clad AOntauk