Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-02-13


squadron off that port
Flag Ship Wabash, !
PoRr ROYAL Feb. ID. 1868, I
Sir, | have to report that about 4 O'Clock
on the morning of the Slst ult.. during the
obscurity OF thick haze, two iron clad gun
bats came out OF Charleston by the main
ship channel, uupereeived by the squadron,
and commenced a raid upon the bloskadias
squadron.
The most of our neet were OF the light
class OF purchased vessels, two Of the heav-
lest men-of-war-- the Powhattsn and Can
andaigua, heing at this port eosiins and re
pairing.
TIE Mereedita was the first vessel attacked
Her officers and men had been particularly
wa;chful during the night 10 look tor
suspected vessels, and at three o'clock had
slipped her cable and overloaded troop
steamer running tor the channel by mistake.
She had returned to her anchorage aul
Captain Sliilwager had gone to his room for
a short time, leaving Lieut. Com. Abbott On
deck when one of the iron-elais suddenly
appeared. Her appearance was concealed
by the haze ana mist Of atmosphere The
vessel was immediAtely hailed and an order
given TO fro. but the irou-clad being clos
aboard and lying low in water, 10 guns ceGid
be brought 10 bear upon her, \ h-avy ride
shell was fired from the enemy, which enter
ed the starboard side OF the Mervt1itA, PASS
Ing through her condenser and the drum Of
her port boiler, and expholAi against her
port sids, blowing a hole in il some lear or
FIVE faes square kIiiinga gunner and by the
escape Of steam, scaling numaer If men
and rendering her motive power apparently
useless.
Unable to use his guns and hsia- at thu
mercy OF the enemy, who WAS along vide o.
his starhoard quarter. all further resistance
was deemed hopeless by Captain Siiilwa-er
aud he Surrendered The crew AMI elkeers
were parolei, though nothing was SAID Of
the ship, the executive oaser, Lieut.. Galn-
mandins Abbott, having. gone on board
the enemys san-bas, II make the srraaS,-
ment. The iran clad leaving the MsroNii'A
TO her fate 10 sink Of not. next engaged the
Keystone State, Commander Lsroy, WIZ
WAS attacked hy the other. Their fre was
calamity returned, ba; a shell exploiting IN
the fore hold Of the Yss>el. she WAS -. Oh
fire. COMMANDER Leroy KEEP, eff until the
fire was got under, whel he stered again
70. the iron elads. hsyin. ordered on full.
head OF steam. determined - Try 70 -aa her
down.
The gus had been trained aud depressed
for plnngipg FIRE at the moment Of coils
siou and the snip had ae4aired sIsei # l.
knots, when a shell er shot passed through
both steam chests, wholly disabling her boil
ess. and rendering her plverl ~
Ten rlie shell struck the keystone State.
and two burss on the quarter deck. tn;
most OF them struck heg Aul!, very neal and
below the water line.
L., =
rott, Quaker City, ( m. Fralsin-. ana Mem
phis, Acting Lieut. Watnau.a. kelt up q
fire upon the enemy, Giyertla- their a;ien
soon taken in tow bv the Memphis, AMI
drawn away from tie FIRE.
The Augaria ana Quaker City were beth
struck in their hu.ls
The Memphis w.s aalv struck IN her Eis-
ging.
The Hasttonie gave chase. and a she;
from her straek the pilot house doing i; is
thought some damage, AMI carrying aaaE
one OF her AAss,
Tne rebel ve-S>eis then rasSoi u the north
ward. rees.vias tie ere q. car ships aa3
AMI took refuge in the SwAsh Channel. hs
hind the Shoals. TIE only casualties were
on the Aerceiita ani keYs tone State. On
the latter they are very large. About one
fourth o. her crew were kii.s-l aud wounded
and among the former : tie medical esSeer
ct the ship, sha VS. scaiaei - death whlle
rendering .arsita. al = oas i the o4a3 i
men.
Most oi thosa who 3iad. PEI sAei fr5:a tie
escape Of steam When TIE blile;S and seam
caiGReys wers Frustrated. ana asa20s tae
wOaudsd the greater number received their
Injuries from iae SINE clu>s.
As the Nerciiiia was tie on : ycsSel which
surrendered have 1irs,sel curt 81 ia l3-
~ 70 examine iR:o the circumstances d the
case as well rs ilt0 the terms under MA.ch
the surrender WAS made, Tais inyesta- CATION
has been asked for by Capt4in S;illwaser.
reserved tais intelligence on S4;47day
at 2. NJ, by the Augusta, which sap im-
meiiately rcturnsd to CAa-.e>sa Flv
Mercidita sooa alter arrived. and tue Ny
stone State, In i5w of the Nv@Th.s. wen
the latter vessel waa at JHee ssat taeS /
her station. The JAMES A3-e-, G5as Pa
tsrsan. WAS also toEei back SIC was jnSi
coming into PORT Royal aud Was c.lsrci
back to Clasl1s.oa. The PJwh2;toa, thr1'
eammen3ahle al of Cart Cord a. al>o =;
ready BY 9 P. u had tie channel and
bar oaoys lighted, waen she passei oGi sa;e-
ly.
forward herewith copies 81 the Isl ogts
of Captain StiiiwA-er. Lieu. Canrn4a e.
Abbott and Co;am4nder Ler9y. Ais r.
port OF casualties on board tue Mercedi;A
and Keystone STATE. Ca tae Merceii,a
there were tour kiici and four wouaied,
aud On the Keystone State - Killed aad ~
woan&ed.
Very respectfully, yoar cat serr't.
(Sisnedl ;. +. DIT PONT.
Rear Alu.rtl {. : y
To Hon, Gi3eoa We.lts, Secretary Of Navy
Nav YaR<, 9sA
Isaac COok Of Caieaso has sad uer4cs
Greeley for libel.
The Par, ROYAL New Stass # the SIS,
SAYS The steamer city oi B-sa has jass
arrived with troops.
The G.lhawha j. coming oyer tie t1-. 222
8 large feet IS waiting icr the IL; ~ lit. I.
eater the harhar.
DISPATCHES from ClsSrlaS;aa sss;e ,hat -
ports brought them Nv the British iFi<Ate
CadsnGs had alarmed tAt eitIssus, who HeEs
leayias very rapidly.
The rebel correspondent fsoA Frederieks
burg states that the YANKEE army : likely
- DC annihi.atei AZ any time - ss.ddcI
dash Of the Ecaels.
Nav Yakk, Qsh.
The Nv Orleans Piesyans u the lsi,
states thai Rio Gr4n3e advises Of Jan 81,
say the French bsve not occaplcd A-taug7r-
ss. Tamp5eo had baen er4Iua'ed BY th-
French, bot The pert Is s.ill black4dei.
A large number Of merchantmen were At
ts1o mouth Of tie RIa Jir-l.e with clrs ~