Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman. (Wilmington, Del.) 18??-18??, 1863-07-03

but one one Of them striking alongside Of one Of
the ports SCATTERING il very much and thereby
.wounding most of the crew of the gun at that
port, another struck the pilot house wounding
very severely both the pilots the other shots did
little damage though leaving their marks.
Owing to the pilots being wounded the vessel
soon got aground which fact caused her surrender
much sooner than would otherwise have been the
case, presume.
The casualties on the "Atlanta" we're two
killed and fifteen wounded, whereas on our
vessels no one was injured or any damage sue-
tanned by the vessels.
Her general appearance is that of the cele-'
brated 'Merrimsc." the defects in which they
presumed to have remedied in the construction
of this one, but from the effects Of feic Of our
fifteen inch shot Oh her they will have to exercise
their utmost endeavors and ingenuity If they
wish to cope successfully with our invaluable
-iron-clads.
She draws sixteen feet of water, has power
full double engine, propeller style with surface
condenser, has three ports on each side and one
| ut each end but has only four guns mounted
one each side and one at either end on pivot
80 as To be worked Mt the port GU ench side as
well as at the end, they are what is known as
the Brooks rifle gun, seven inch bore.
AT her bow, was arranged on hinge, a kind
of arm or lever, extending some feet under the
water and some ten feet or more ahead OF the
vessel on the end of which was torpedo, which
would Of course be very destructive to anything
it might come in contact with.
She had on board very large supply of am
muniion and provisions and some thirty thous-
and dollars OF confederate money, and is repre-
scented to have cost ever million of dollars.
| She was commended by Captain Webb, for
merry Lieutenant in the u. S. Navy, had egh-
teen other officers, with q crew of one hundred
and thirty-four men principally English and
Irish the wounded having received every at
tention from the surgeons Of our vessels, they
were transferred to the steamboat Island City.
which had come over from Fort Pulaski with
some army officers, upon hearing the firing, and
conveyed to Port Royal; Captain Webb with
several others Of her officers with some sixty Of
Che crew were transferred to us, and we proceed
ed-wth them to Port Royalwhere we arrived in
the evening.
The following afternoon the "Atlanta" came
into that port under steam, alone, gliding
through the water at a fair speed with the stars
and stripes waving in triumph from the staff
over the rebel flag, which was Of the style re-
Gently adopted by them, consisting of white field
with a red Union, with blue stripe extending
from the upper to the lower corners of the same
crossing in the centre, where there is one large
white star, with three other smaller ones in each
arm Of the cross, making in all thirteen. She
anchored neur the flag ship and of course attract
ed much attention. One of our engineers was
detailed to her to assist in taking her to Port
Royal aud states that she worked very well and
did not appear to be at all affected by the sea.
We learned from some of her officers that theii
intention was, to first attack the iron clad.
which they felt positive they could defeat with
out much difficulty, then attend to the "Cimar
ron" and capture or destroy her and proceed tt
sea leaving the clearing up Of affairs to the tive
| a Taft n tha rivar which m inlppl
have been pleasant programme for them ic
think Of, but as the boys say tive didn't see it,
and | presume Commodore Tatnall will hesitate
sometime before he attempts another such bold
though fruitess excursion.
The defeat and capture Of this Ram with al
on board is of inestimsble Importance to oui
government, for IL il had been otherwise sh,
would have, ere this, been at sea and being, a,
already proved, asen going vessel and having
stores and ammunition sufficient for some month
use, it is impossible almost even to imagine TIL
great damage she would have done to our block
aiding feet along the coast and hope our peo
pie will fully appreciate the great victory.
Too much praise cannot be awarded Captain
John Rodgers of the Weehawken for the ab
manner in which he conducted the engagement
throughout and trust the appreciation of 1t vii
be manifested in q suitable manner.
The officers of the Ram expressed lhemselve
as being much pleased as well as surprised, witt
, the kind manner they were treated throughout
as they expected very different treatment fron
u.s. probably their cohsciences told them they wer
not deserving of such good treatment.
/ 1t is generally believed that the whole udlus
, this prize will be distributed among the vessel
capturing her contrary to the custom in mos
prizes, she being au armed vessel of such magn
tude, and it is estimated she will be valued Q
nearly half million of dollars as she stands
: Having already written quite lengthy epistl
l will now close, hoping may be able to Civ
sou something else interesting ere long.
r Respectfully Yours, &C.,
! G. W. G.