Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-19
A Gallant Naval Exploit.
From the CHARLESTON Courier, 7th inst.

val exploits Of the war, distinguished by
the greatest GOODNESS, presence of mind
and intrepdity Of the brave men associa-
ted in the enterprise, was peri rmed
Monday night. This was no less than an
attempt to blow up the U. S. steamer
New I~ronsides, lying off Morris Island.
We gather the following particulars from
participants in the affair.
The torpedo steamer David, with a
crew of four volunteers, consisting of 1t.
Wm. r. Glassell, J. II. Tombs, Chief En-
pineer. and James Sullivan, Fireman of
the punboat Chichera, with j. w. Can
non. Assistant Pilot of the gunboat Pal
metto State, left South Atlantic wharf
betwe cen six and and seven o'clock on Mon.
day evening, for the1purpese of running
out to the I~ronsides, exploding q torpedo
under that vessel near ainidships, and if
possible blowing her up.
The weather being dark and hazy, ia
vorcd the enterprise. The boat proceed
ed down the harbor, skirting along the
shoals on the inside Of the channel an-
til nearly abreast of their formidl bile an
tagonist, the New Ironside.
They remained in this position for a
short time, c%ircling around on the large
shoal near the anchorage of the object of
their visit. Lieut.. Glassell, with a double
barrelled gun, sat in front of Pilot Can
non, who had charge Of the helm. Chief
Engineer T0omhs was at the engine, with
the brave and undaunted Sullivan, the
volunteer fireman, when something like
the following conversation ensued:
z.k Csoo.nll - t. - rO.u n nSolool-
Shall we strike her p
Pilot Cannon.-"That is what we came
for. | Am ready"
Engineer Toombs-"Let US go at her,
then, and do our best"
Sullivan (Fireman).-" am with you
all, and waiting. Go a head"
The boat was now put bow on, anC
aimed directly for the Ironside. AS the
little steamer darted forward the lookout
on the Ironside hailed them, with Take
care there, you will run into Us. Wha
steamer is that ?" Lieut.. Giassell replied
by discharging one barrel at the Yankee
sentinel, and rendering the gun to PHO
Cannon, told him there was another an
kee, pointing to one with his body hal
over the bulkwarks, and asked Cannon
10 Jake CAIt VI Ullh WiCl Al OGAC DoA
D.. rel.
The next moment they had struck tn,
Ironside, and exploded the torpedo abou
fifteen feet from the keel, on the star
board side. An immense volume of wa
ter was thrown up, covering our LITTLE
boat, and, going through the smoke stack
entered the furnace, and completely ex-
t~fngufS1sa tt1e
In addition to this, pieces of b bailas
had fallen in the works Of the engine
rendering it u~nmanageable al that time
Vollev after volley of musketry from tn
crew of IronSides and from the launch
es began to pour in upon them. Lieut.
Glassell gave the order to back, but
was found impossible. In this condl
ton, with no shelter and no hope of es
cape, they thought it best to surreEde
and hailed the enemy to that effect.
The Yankees, however, psid-no atFentio
to the call bat continued to fire. 1t Wa
then proposed to put On the life preServ
ers, Jump overheard and endeavor t
swim to the shore. All but Pilot Can
non consented. The latter being unabI
to swim, said he would stay and take b
chance in the boat. Lieut.. Glassell, En-
RlDeeT IOOulDS allu OuIilNah, CuS
left the boat. The two first having Q
life prcssrvers, and the after suportir
himself on one. of the matches thrown
him by the pilot. Engineer Toombs be
coming embarrassed with his clothing
the water, got back to the boat and W;
assisted in by Cannon.
The boat was then rapidly driftir
from the Ironsides, He now fortunate
found a match, and lighting a tore
crept back TO the engine, discovered ar
removed the cause of its not working al
soon got her IN order. They then commeIl
ed to run the gauntlet Of the Monito
and launches. The latter seemed inspi
ed with a seeming dread of somethil
supernatural, and opened a path rig
and left for the little steamer. The Iro
sides fired two eleven inch shot at t
party as they sped away, but fired cor
pletely over them. The crews Of t
Monitors which the steamer was oblig
to pass on her return, were also out a
commenced a heavy fire of musketry up
her as she was passing. The launch
made way evidently from a wholeSo
regard for her explosive character. +
gineer Toombs and Cannon reached tn
wharf in the city about midnight.
With regard to the damage of the lr'
sides nothing positive is known.
the moment Of striking there was gr
CONSERVATION on board. ltwaS repor
that the crew in gangs were hard
-...l.- krAL. .,-.,-. Ill l@,y .-aCfor1o "