Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-13
ERoM THE NORTH.

Herald gives the suboined narrative oil the recent en-
gagement in Charleston har5or:
The iron steamer Princess Royal in charge Of Acting
Master Edward Van Sce has arrived Off the Navy Yard
She brings highly important intelligence, both as relates
her capture and the rebel attack on our bocksdng
squadron at Charleston showing conclusTey that there
is no foundation for the assumption of the rebels that
the bocsade Of Charleston raised by the de-
parure Of the United States fleet only vessels
1f the eight or ten having been disabled obliged to
leave.
1t appears from the statement Of an intelligent eye
witness that tue of this attack of the rebel
ON our squadron owing TO the capture OF the Prn
cess Royal the captain aud pilot Of that vessel having
escaped ashore during the darkness Of the night aud
communicated intelligence to the enemy. -
The Princess Royal endeavored TO run the blockade
oy way of Beach Inlet the 29th ult, but was dis.
covered by the piotboat Blunt. On signal being given,
the Unatla proceeded towards her and captured the
prize without other assistance II then discovered
that the captain and pilot had succeeded in getting
ashore by small boat carrying important dispatches
to the rebel Government Unadilla carried her to the
side Of the HousatoDc anu laid there ill daylight when
a thunder Of guns was heard accompanied by sharp
flashes Of fire. 1t supposed that our feet was en-.
gagged in making the Alabama Florida were en-
deayorng TO force entrance At daybreak two rebel
iron clads coming down from the direction OF
Stone Inlet towards our fleet
They attacked the Mercedita first. One ram struck
her on Che water ridge, keeling her over and at the
same time firing shot, which entered one of her boil
ers causing the death Of three persons including gun
ner by shot and steam. The ram then hailed the
aercedita and Captain Stelwagen lowered one of his
small boats after leaving Of the plugs out allowing
the water enter il. The answered our hail by
replying, Confederate ram Palmetto State. DO you
surrender This repeated three tines Captain
iiellwagen replying at each inquiry " am in a sinking
condition The rebels answered, "God dam YOU TO
hell, if you don't surrender will blow you out OF
water. Send your boat aboard"
The boat which Captain Stellwagen lowered then
conveyed his Lieutenant Executive officer to the side
Of the rebel ram and the officer asked be admitted on
BOARD. This was refused. The Lieutenant then re-
peated Captain Stelwagens statement that in a
sinking condition" The rebel officer rep!ed-"You
can't sink lower than the rail We cannot take you
aboard" The officer then gave his parole, as demanded,
aud returned his ship The rebels thus
Ills deceived TO the condition Of the Mercedita,
linking she was in sinking condition. She laid in
oal water and hence their reply that "she could not
sink lower than her rail1."
The ram then steamed toward the Keystone State
and sent shot through her steam drum, causing the
death Of tWenty-one persons-tweve By the shot and
uine by being scalded by steam. Fifteen were wound
ed aud are lying at Port Royal some in preclrious
condition. In the meantime the United States gunboat
uousatonc engaged the other ram, driving her away
At halEpast six o'clock in the morning both rams left
the scene and proceeded up to Charleston.
During this attack ON our fleet, the Princess ROYAL
which laid near the HousatOnic and the chief OBJ
ect Of contest both sides, succeeded in getting Off
mainly through the energies of third assistant engineer
Thurson who piled into her fires all the inhamable
erial at hand. Her escape is chiefly owing to his
deavors, well her safe arrival this port notwith
standing the gale which prevailed during the pas
sage from Port Royal. Although the coal anthra-
etc with which navy supplied she made zen knots
al hour her trip with in the heaviest storm.
Her usual rate is fifteen knots.
l,,a dos toD ,,:,..
with only one of her boilers injured She arrived safely
ut Port ROYAL and would be repaired in day.
The Keystone State was entirely disabled but was
towed down to Port Royal by the Memphis
The rebel statements that the Federal aeet had
trely disappeared from the port at Charleston
urely unsustaiued by the facts.
The fleet consisted OF the following vessels The
Unadila Housatonic, Augusta, Quaker City, Keystone
State, and Mercedt, besides the plOtbOAts Blunt Mem
phis and other vessels.
During the daytime our bOckading feet are not par
cuar as 10 keeping to tue station and on the day of
stone State to ascertain her condition. aud whether she
wanted any assistance This may account for their ap
parent absence the time Of the visit of the foreign
cousuls mentioned by the rebelpapers. Our vessels
"a usual resumed their position at dark.
Information is also brought by the Princess Royal of
the attack by the ron.cai Monialk on Fort McAliser
on the 2sth ultimO She not at all disabled. She
received seventeen shots in her side and twelve in her
turret without receiving any injury whatever. Al
though engaged for five hours she returned to her an
chorsge for want OF shells. 1t being foggy
ing she did not return to the attack.
The Princess Royal has aboard besides q large
amount of arms and ammunition complete machinery
for the construction of ironclad RAM also as pas
senger an intelligent English mechanic, who is well
verSed in the process of making aud hardening proec
tiles. Her value is variousy estimated, but she is
doubtless worth q million Of dollars Hcr possession
by the rebels would have been incalcnlable and well
worth the efforts they made to obtain her by the attack
on the blocknding squadron.
SCOTT NAEEs a sPEEcR-BuRSstnE FoLLows-HE SAYS A
TERRIBLE BATrLE At HAND.
The United States Christian Association which few
years ago held jubilee in Richmond lately in ses-
sion at New York. General Scott, being in pious
frame Of mind consented TO preside, and, while sitting
in the chair looked las well could be expected
The New York papers Tins report his speech
Fellow -citizensThe honor you have done in call
ing me to occupy the chair upon occasion of much
importance the present gladdens the heart Of old
soldier and fills with gratitude and love New York
city has sent forth her thousands and of thousands
cons Tn 6eht he of