The Portland daily press., 1863-02-10

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.
A bearer of official dispatches from the fleet
| off Charleston has arrived here. The follow
| ing is from Rear Admiral Dupont concerning
the rebel attack on our squadron oil that port.
FLAG SHIP WABASH,
Port Royal, February I'd, 1868.
Sir:-I have to report that about O'Clock
on the forenoon of the 3lst ult., during the
obscurity of thick haze two iron-clad gun
boats came out of Charleston by the main ship
channel uBperceived by the squadron, anu
commenced raid upon the blockading fleet
Most of the latter were of the light class of
purchased vessels. Two of the heaviest men
of-war, the Powhattan and Canandaigua, were
at this port coaling and repairing. The Mer-
cdita was the first vessel attacked. Her Off
GERS and crew had been particularly watchful
during the night to look out for suspected
vessels. AT three o'clock she had slipped her
cable and overhauled a troop steamer running
for the channel. by mistake. She had returned
to her anchorage, and Capt Stillwager had
gone to his room for a short time, leaving
Lieut.. Com. Abbott on deck, when one of the
iron. clads suddenly appeared Her approach
was concealed by the haze and mist OF the at
mosphere. The vessel was Immediately hailed
aud an order given to fire, but the iron-clad
being close aboard and lying low in the water,
no guns could be brought to bear upon her.
A heavy rifle shell was fired by the enemy,
which entering the starboard side passed
through her condenser aud the steam drum of
her port boiler, and exploded against her port
side, blowing hole in it some four or five feet
square, killing a gunner, and by the escape of
steam scaldng number of men, and render
ing her motive power apparently useless
Unable to use his guns, and being at the mer-
cy of the enemy, who was alongside on his
starboard quarter, all further resistance was
deemed hopeless by Capt. Stillwager, and he
surrendered. The crew and officers were
paroled though nothing was said of the ship,
the executive officer, Lieut.. Com. Abbott hav-
ing gone on board the enemy's gunboat and
made the arrangement
The iron-clad. leaving the Mercidita to her
fate to sink or not next engaged the Keystone
State, Com. Leroy, who was attacked by the
other. The fire was calamity returned, but
shell exploding in the fore hold OF this vessel
she was set on fire. Com. Leroy kept off I'M
ill the fire was got under, when he stood for
the iron-clads, having ordered on full head
of steam, determined to try to run her down.
The guns had been trained and depressed for
plunging fire at the moment of collision,
and the ship had acquired speed of twelve
knots, when a shell shot passed through
both steam chests, wholly disabling her boil
ers, and rendering her poweress. Ten rifle
shells struck the Keystone State, and two
burst ON the quarter deck, but most of them
water line. In the mean time the Augusta,
Com. Parrot, Quaker City, Com. Frailey, and
the Memphis, Act. Lieut.. Watnaugh, kept up
q fire upon the enemy, diverting their atten-
ton from the Keystone State, which was soon
after taken in tow by the Memphis, and drawn
away from the fire. The Augusta and Quaker
City were both struck in their hulls. The
Memphis was only struck in her rigging.
The Housatonic gave chase, and a shot
from her struck the pilot house, doing, il is
thought, some damage, and carrying away one
of her flags. The rebel vessels then passed to
the northward, receiving the fire Of our ships,
aud took refuge in the Sivagh Channel behind
the shoals. The only casualties were on the
Mercidita and Keystone State. On the latter
they are very large; about one fourth of her
crew were killed and wounded, and among
the former is the medical officer of the ship,
Assistant Surgeon Jacob ii. Gottweld, who
was scalded TO death whilst rendering aid to
one of the wounded men. Most of those who
died persisted from the escape of steam when
the boilers and steam chimnies were pene-
trated, and most of the wounded received
their injuries from the same cause.
As the Mercidita was the only vessel which
surrendered, / have directed a court of in
quiry to examine the circumstances of the
case, as well as into the terms under which
the surrender was made. This investigation
has been asked for by Capt Stillwager l re-
ceived this intelligence on Saturday at 3 F.
NJ by the Augusta, which ship Immediately
returned TO Charleston. The Mercidita soon
after arrived, also the Keystone State in tow
of the Memphis when the latter vessel was at
once sent back to her station. The James
Adler, Commander Patterson, was also towed
back. The Powhattan, through the COM
mendable zeal of Capt Gordon, was also got
ready BY o o'clock p. NJ; had the channel
and bar buoys lighted when she passed out
safely. / forward herewith copies of the re-
ports Of Capt. Stillwager, Lieut.. Com. Abbott
and Com. Leroy, also report OF the casualties
on board the Mercidita and Keystone State
On the Mercdita there were killed and
wounded; and on the Keystone State, 20
killed and 20 wounded.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ST DUPONT, Rear Admiral.
To. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Navy.
FLAG SHIP WABASH,
Port Royal. Feb. 3.
Sir-On Saturday, when l received infor-
nation of affairs off Charleston, referred TO in
my previous dispatch, No. 50, there were also
vague rumors that the gunboats holding Stone
Inlet had been engaged, heavy firing having
been heard in that direction. At O'Clock A.
NJ. LIST, Com. McDorough came into Port
Royal, and, regret 10 say, reported the cap
ture by rebel batteries of the U. S. steamer
Isaac Smith. 1t appears from Lieut.. Com.
Bacons reports, herewith enclosed, that on
the afternoon of the Both ult. he sent the Isaac
Smith up Stone river TO make a reconnois-
ance, as had been frequently done for weeks
previous. She passed some miles beyond Lee
ganville without seeing the enemy, and was
on her way back When about mile above
that place, and in bend OF the river, three
batteries, heretofore concealed, opened a con-
centrated fire upon her, firing heavy rifled
guns. Lieut.. Com. Bacon, who, with Com.
McDonough, was anchored lower down the
river, Immediately proceeded TO her assistance.
Soon after he had got under way, he discov-
cred that a white flag was flying from the
Isaac Smith, and that the firing from the shore
had ceased. On arriving abreast of Logan
vile she was seen to be aground about quar-
ter of mile above the bend in the river, and
two of her boats were observed going on
shore loaded with officers and men. The
Com. McDonougA stood up towards the bend,
with the intention of towing her off or de-
stroying her, but on reaching the bend she was
fired upon by battery half mile above the
bend, on st. John Island mounting six heavy
guns, and back and to the left of Leganvlle.
Lieut. Com. Bacon Immediately returned the
fire from his rifed guns, and by keeping his
vessel in motion, going ahead and backing,
succeeded in escaping injury from the enemy's
shells, which struck all around the ship. 1t
becoming dark he ceased firing, and dropped
down to the entrance Of the bar.
Lieut.. Commander Baker reports that the
Isaac Smith was under heasy cross fire. and
just before it ceased large cloud of steam
was ascending from her. which probably rem