Daily national Republican., 1863-06-23
THE BATTLE WITH THE ATLANTA.
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List Of OfRcerS on Board the Rebel
Ram.

The Navy Department received to-day from
Admiral On Pont the report OF Capt. Rodgers,
commanding the WeehSwken, OF bis engage
ment with and capture Of tho rebel ram At
lRntR, which we print below. He also trans
mits the report of Commander DownCs, of the
Nahsnt, which gunboSt accompanied tho Wee
hAwken but did not take part In the action.
us g. wEEHAwEEN, WARSAW souND, Ca, n
sIR: have the honor to report that this
morning at 40, an iron-clad vessel was dis.
covered coming down at the mouth Of VII
lihington river, also, two other steamers, one a
sideLwheel and the other propeller. 90
Beat to quarters and commenced clearing the
ship for action. At 4.20, shipped the cable
and steamed slowly down towards the north
east end of Warsaw Island. At 4.30, turned
and stood up the sound, heading for the IRON
clad, which at this time was discovered TO have
the rebel flag flying. The Nahant, having no
pilot, followed In our wake. At 4.55, tho
enemy, being about oae and half a miles distant,
fred a ride shot, which passed across our stern
| and struck near the Nahant At this time the
enemy was lying across the channel waiting
our attack. At 6.lb, being distant from him
| abOut 800 yards, we commenced firing.
At $50 the enemy hauled down his colors
and hoisted the "white fSg," we having fred
| Eve shot, steamed near the iron-clad, and or
dered boat 10 be sent alongside. At b.45
Lieut.. Alexander came on board to surrender
the Confederate iron-clad Atlanta. He reported
the vessel aground on tho sand spit that makes
to the 8. Z. from Cabbage Island. Shortly af-
terwards Capt. W. A. Webb came on board
and delivered up his sword. Sent prize crgw
| to take charge of the vessel, under the COM
mand Of Lieut.. Com'd'r D. D. Harmony, Of
the Nahant; sent also Lieut.. Com'd'r J. ].
Cornwell, Of this vessel, and Act. First Asst.
Eng'r J. G. Young to take charge Of the en-
| gine. T..
On examination 1t wa found that the enemy
had been struck four times-frst on the in
clned side by 15-inch cored shot, which al
| though fired at an angle of so degrees with her
| keel, broke In the armor and wood backing,
strewing the deck with splinters, prostrsting
| about 40 men by the concussion, and woundlng
several by broken pieces Of armor and splinters.
One man has since died.
The second shot, l1-inch solid, struck the
edge of oyerhang, (knuckle,) doing no dam
nge except breaking plate or two.
The third shot 15,inch cored, struck the top
of the pilot house, knocking II OF, wounding
4 two pilots, and stunning the men at tho wheel.
The fourth shot, supposed to be the 1l-inch,
struck port stopper In the centre, breaking II
In two and shattering It very much, driving
many fragments In through the port.
At $50 the engine Of the Atlanta was secured
by englneerJ. g. Young, and the vessel backed
OF into deep water where she was brought to
an anchor.
The wounded-16 in number-were removed
to the steamer Island City, which had been
kindly brought over from Fort Pulaski by Col
Barton, U. 3. A.
The officers Of the vessel were sent to the tug
Oleander, and n portion Of the crew TO the
United States steamer Cimarron for tTanspor-
tation to Port Royal.
The Atlanta was found to have mounted two
6-inch and two finch rifles; the G-inch in broad.
side, the '7-lnch working on pivot, either as
NaeA A hs.VUv
large supply OF ammunition for these guns,
and other stores, said to be OF great value by
some Of the officers OF the vessel.
There were on board at the time Of capture,
as per muster roll, 81 officers aud 124 men, in
Guiding % marines.
The captured Confederate officers told me
that they thought we should hnd the speed OF
the Atlanta reach ten knots. They believe her
the strongest iroh-clSd In the Con federacy, and
confidently anticipated taking both the Nahant
and the Wechawken.
The behavior Of the officers and crew was
admirable.
Lieut.. Commander ]. ]. Cornwell did his
duty Zealousy and efficiently. Acting Master
Benz. W. Loring, whom recommended for
promotion for gallant behavior under the fire
Of Fort Darling, served the guns admirably, as
the result shows. His energy and coolness
were everything that could be wished. Execu-
tive Officer, Lieut.. Commander j. J. CoTnwell,
Informs me that on the berth deck the powder
, and shell divisions, under Acting Master @. c..
Kingsbury, wore the aspect of exercise so COM
pletely, that no one would have thought the
: vessel was In action.
The engine under the direction of Acting
First Assistant Engineer James O. Young, al
ways In beautiful order, was well worked. Mr..
Young has, hope, by his participation in this
+. action, won the promotion for which, on ac-
L count of his skill and valuable services have
already recommended him.
In word, every man in the vessel did his
= duty.
r have the honor TO be, your ob't serv't,
q JOHN RODGERS, Captain.
To Rear Admiral 8. +. DU PoNT, commanding
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
The following is a list of officers of the late
: Confederate lron-clad steamer Atlanta!
e 'William A. Webb, Commander.
y. w. Alexander, LIST Lieutenant.
: 'AlfousO Barbot, I'd Lieutenant.
G. H. Arleage, Sd Lieutenant.
> p. l.. Wrag, Master.
"A. L. freeman, Surgeon.
: l.. l.. Gibbs, Assistant Surgeon.
r j, Macon, Paymaster.
h &c. II. Johnson, LIST Assistant Engineer.
W. f. WorTell, I'd Assistant Engineer.
= l.. g. King, I'd Assistant Engineer.
o J. s. West, Midshlpman.
= Il. j. Peters, Midshipman.
Wm. McBlair, Masters Mate.
7. b. TraVers, Gunner.
: Il. j. Thurston, lst Lieutenant Marines.
G. w. Casey, Paymaster's Clerk.
'Late of the U. S. Navy.
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