The New York herald., 1863-06-27
Oar Fortress Monroe Correspondence.
FoRranss Mossos June 25 1858.

Oar Fortrsss Monroe COrrcspondeaee.
FoRranss MosRos, June rs. 1883.
Tho United States gunboat sumter loss
briefly aotced the teegraphc dispatches vas ordered
on the special business which she engaged a the
time Of her loss on Sunday morsng, the 14h instant
She was thsn lying a Yorktown. Va. In nour after
the receipt Of his orders BY telegraph Captain Peter Hays
at sea. bent close and scrunizng watch along
the outside Cape Henry He had therefore
but week and few days this special duty when the
unfortunate collision happened which resulted 10 the dc
sruction Of the Sumter Tho loss Of such old worth
less vessel would not be in itself very serious loss TO
the Navy Department but the accident which deprives
tho country 1t this tmewhen pirates nfesting
coastof the services OF Captain Hays and his oicers
must be deeply felt and may be productive OF evil the
quarter OF the coast committed to their charge.
We have received tho following particulars OF the
tastrophe;--
At twenty minutes 10 one O'Clock on Wednesday
ing the Path inst the officer duty reported Captain
Hays light ahead. which he supposed to be that Of
steamer, and asked he should for her The captain
ordered him to in the direction indicated Close
but merely sufficient 70 ascertain what the supposed vessel
was. This accordingly done the oacer ordering the
wheel 70 port and having the bell for greater speed
minutes elapsed when the captain determined to lc0S
after the matter himself and he just turning out
when he heard the bell STOP aud the next Instant he
thrown from his berth 20 tho floor He then upon
deck and saw the vessel with which his own had just
co!ded BY this time the two vessels somewhat
apart the stranger having dropped OF on her quarter.
The captain at hailed the stranger demanding her
name. This was not answered, but, in return. the
captain from the other vessel inquired q What
steamer is ,hat,' The United states steamer
Sumter " was the response To the next hail "who are
yous the demand for boat. Captain iays fear
ing the vessel had been crippled and that probably she
manned. This was promptly executed the officer being
cnoined 70 hail at once for assistance Necessary
The officer Of the boat 60, alongside, and was inormei
Ia AuA IA au-t n IN a. Tle mia m
CURED what steamer that wa. aud again was Informed
that i was the Sumter on which he said that he had
served ON the sumter himself. He also inquired 1t
q volunteer officer who was in command. and being
answered in the Affirmative he sad, 81 though, there
was damned secession officer on board there" Finally
the officer ascerained that the vessel the General
Meigs, government transport from New York for Port
Royal The vessel thcn went ahead. without inqurng
ascertAning IL the sumter needed any assistance Capt
Hays In the meantime instituted examination into
she was as, settling by the head one of the oncers
who had gon. below reported that he discovered large
hole in the wood ends The captain himself hurried below
ordering oil the main hatch and the water rushing in
from hole apparently in the bow He then went TO the
yoomans room and there too, he saw the water rushing
in IN great force through rent from foot to nfteen
inches In extent. Knowing the unsafe condition of the
vessel. he ordered all hands 10 prepare for leaving
her. The sick first put iDio a boat. and the
irons stricken on cuprit who at the time undergo
ing Punishment. The captains principal fear that
mSn,css,on with the magazine and was ,mpsrs,y. to
abandon her from The Of water which
promptly secured and taken into the boats The
captain and twenty six in boat, tho
under command OF ofhcers. In hve minutes
after they cleared the vessel her bow was
for smith. Island light. when these sscsrained
ships light was seen, towards which the boats
pulled This turned out 70 he Night board the
schooner jamestown. Captain Ietterett Captain Hays
board and stated what had occurred asking TO
have hssef and men taken TO the Capes would pre-
ier first by hrs vessel TIL daylight. All this
Captain Letorett consented todo beng then quite calm
With the return of light was ascertaned that the sum
haA an. ate Eer head tear
northeast with her masthead her foreopsal and fore
yard out Of the water smiths Island light buoy bearing
then IN six or seven faib water Captain Bsy. III.
ocers aud ibcn brought by Captain Letteret
Admiral =. r Lee commanding North Atlantic blocssd
ing squadron who has ordered inquiry 10 be held
the storcsbip Brandywne captain Glassen and officers
are dong all they can TO render them as comfortable ~
The following n list Of officers attached 10 the steamer
Sumter al that time-all saved =
Aoi.nS rouH,,y Lisu'e"ont, cemmene,n0-Pe,sr Bsy,.
Acf,na Ercp. and Eyscutt, Ctlrer-6eo A. Patterson.
Acin9 AssistaM Payn,nt,r-A. y Robinson.
Acting Asstadni Suyseon--wm. Nelson. Jr.
Ao'n9 Enron and Selling xastsrs-Jsctb Hays 7.
G. Hsrgs and r. W. spencer.
Aefno AsiaaE, r. E'g're.rs-second, VIM eon Third,
Chss. Bennett, John Van Hogan ana Richard Thali
John J. Allen, Jr., Geo. Van Duzer and chas. n Nell
CaIta,ns ctei-G. y Randall.
PoymaSe,', ci,yk-wm. A. c. stark
Surseons S'eyayd-fIubert Nielsen
The United stale .tcsn.r rgyshogs Captain John
McGowan. arrived here last evening. having been
cruise after the rebe prysteers rseony ana Coquetc
The o the shows th,t she has boarded
one hundred vessels. but none of them proved " b.
the sought Captain Mciowsn rut In here 'or
coal and, hav taken board sufficient quantity, Will
proceed ". morrow sea 10 continue he search
The propeller Plane, arrived his morning with hun
drsd and seventy psroed rebel prisoners their to
CITY Point, to be exchanged.
We have from the front 20 day
The United states government transport = X >pagd.
ing Captain Sol Bowes, arrived in ihis bsrbor a. four
o'cock, from Beaufort having 90 board the Forty