The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-22
Correspondence N. Y. Tribune.
The Siege of Charleston,
The Rebel Attempt to Blo,o up the
Neso Ironsides soith a Torpedo
The Rebel Craft Sinks Her Greco
Made Prisoners.

CHARLEsrox, Oct 10 1868.
At halfpast nine o'clock on Monday
night the Quartermaster on watch |
aboard the New Ironsides reported to
the officer of the deck suspicious
craft, with smoke stack, and very low
in the water, making directly toward
the vessel. The night, although clear
and the sky studded with stars, was
nevertheless unusually dark, and but
little could be distinguished of the |
stranger excep. the smoke-pipe and
her low hull, the latter extremely indis-
tinct; she appeared to be steaming at
a speed of seven knots an hour. How
she could have passed our picket boats
was question to be considered, for it
was just possible she might belong to
us. Aud to fire upon her, without first
determining her character and inten-
ton, might result in more serious dam
age than if she were an enemy so she
was allowed to come within hailing dis
lance. More and more distinct
she grew as she approached-a
cigarshaped hull, after the pattern of
the Winans guD5oat, driving before
1t through the water smaller, object,
which could hardly be distinguished !;
q black smoke pipe, from which issued
q thin cloud of black smoke, but no
other Indication of the motive power
within, were visible. Still she glided
on, the object of her approach either
the frigate itself or the Devils, which
lay moored on the port side. Coming
near enough to hear, she was hailed
and ordered to stop, but she neither
made repy or obeyed the summons.
All hands were piped to quarters; a
gun was fired, but the curious craft sat
too low in the water, and the ball
passed over her. A second shot fol
lowed the first, with the same result
then volley of musketry, lighting up
for moment, with it's flash, the steam
er, the torpedo at her bow, and the
figure of man, sitting astride of the
-cigar-shaped hull, engaged in steering.
This man, whose name is Toombs, and
who is now in irons on board the flag
ship, fred a shot in retaliation, which
severely wounded Ensign Howard,
the officer of the deck. br
He pretends to have been sailing
master of the expedition, which he IN
Hdoubtededly was, andris a man O
moderate height, strong, muscular
frame, dark wrinkled skin, dark eyes
and coarse black hair and beard
There were others with him, all under
command of Lieut.. Glassel, formerly
of the United States Navy. He is
said to be man of superior talents
and bravery, was captured some time
since and confined in Fort Warren Blu,
subsequently, on being released, rejoineG
the Southern army; he is now pris
oner on the Ottawa. The musketry
} firing from the frigate after the frs
volley became rapid and continuous
but seemed in no way to interfere will
the execution of the plan had in view
by those abroad the steamer, as sh
approached nearer and nearer eacl
moment to the "Ironsides," her bov
pointing toward the latter's side, an,
run close in under her guns. At thi
moment terrific explosion took place
Earring the great ironplated hull of tn,
frigate, and sending into the air hug
column of water that fell in torrent
all around, and entering the smok,
pipe of the little steamer immediatel,
extinguished her fires. When this hat
subsidized, and the sea was again calm
nothing whatever was to be seen o
her; the supposition is that she wen
down. But, struggling for life wer
two men evidently members of he
crew, who were picked up by boa
lowered for the purpose from the Iron
sides. They are the two / have al
ready mentioned, the seaman Toombs
and Lieut.. Glassel but neither of then
can tell what happend in the time be
tween the explosion of the torpedo am
the moment they found themselves bat
Ting with the waves, or say confiden,
ly whether the steamer sunk, or, re
kindling her fires, moved off the diree
ton of Charleston.
Very little injury was done the Iror
sides ; in truth, | may say, with the e,
ception of few dents, no harm wha,
ever was sustained by her. She is
noble ship, and worth all the Monitor
= together. The prisoners state that tn
people of Charleston have very littl
faith in the capacity of the latter to re
duce the Notifications leading to tn
harbor, but hold in great fear the te
rible batteries of the New Ironside
To prove the endurance of the ship,
would add that the shock she receive
was so severe that huge chest ws
thrown from its place in the lower hol
against one of tie stanchions, complet,
ly crushing the leg of seaman VIII
was unfortunate enough to be standin
there. Twenty tuns of water entere
her decks.
This daring attempt, unprecedente
in its boldness by anything which hs
hssSSSrened during the war, lad its or
gin ia the city of Charleston, whel
the cost was raised by public subscril
ton; some of the wealthiest either
subscribing largely. The steamer WI
built there expressly for the purpos
the pattern of the Winans gunboat b
ing adonieda as the one best suited fl
the accomplishment of the object the
had in view: the material being