Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-31
GENERAL N OMMAND.
FROM WAeHINGrnN-

Admiral Dupont, in a dispatch to the
Navy Department dated the 21st instant,
attaches much Importance regarding the
destruction of the large English steamer
Georgiana, which, he says, was brought
over by q retired British officer, and which
was intended for the Confederate Navy.
to be differed in Charleston. On the
night Of the 18th she attempted to run
into Charleston, through Months channel.
The alarm was given by a yacht attach
ed to the Wabash, which fred into her. and
the steamer W~issahickOn perceiving her.
opened such a heavy FIRE on her that her
Commander hailed to say that he surren-
dered. Upon this the Wissahickon ceased
firing, but the Captain Of the Georgiana
taking advantage Of the cessation Of our
IRE, pointed his vessel towards the shore,
which was quite near, and succeeded in
running her aground. All on board es-
capped to the shore. The rebels brought
their guns to bear from the beach; Cap
tain Dayers being of the opinion the YES
sci could not be saved, determined to de-
stroy her, which he did by setting her on
are.
The Navy Department up to to I o'clock
to-day had received no eOnfrmatory dis
patches of the late report from Cairo that
six iron-clads and twenty transports with
~l5,O0Omen, had passed through the Vicks-
bnrg cutoff, and hat Fort Greenwood had
been surprised and captured, etc.
A semi-Oficial account Of the naval en-
gagement says that after the arrival Of the
army from Baton Rouge, and the Skin
mishes Of Saturday P. NJ Admiral Farra-
CUTS feet, which was at anchor 5 ore
miles below Port Hudson, prepared to
pass the batteries. The signal for the sd-
vance was made at half-past nine o'clock,
q beautiful starlight night The Hartford
with the Albatros alongside took the lead,
and successfully passed the batteries but
with what damage we are not informed,
as there has Of course been no communiea-
tion with them since their passage.
The Richmond and Genessee followed.
The Richmond was exposed to the fire Of
all the batteries and received a shot through
her steam drum and was obliged to fall
back out Of range. Her loss was three men
killed and seven wounded.
Lieutenant Commander Boyd Cummings
was MORALLY wounded. A shot from the
batteries took of his left leg below the
knee, and the same shot passed through the
smoke-staek of the gunbOat. He died on
the 18th, at New Orleans.
The Monographs and Kinneo went up
next in order. MoKinstry, Of the MonOn-
gahela, was standing on the bridge when
it was shot away from under him and he
seriously injured It is generally re-
ported that in his case the amputation Of
one leg will be necessary.
The entire loss Of the Monongnhela was
seven killed and twenty-one wounded.
The Kineo was under severe fire, her
rigging was badly cut her rudder post
shot away, a haWser was entangled about
her propeller, and she became ~unmanage-
able, and was obliged to back out Of the
FIRE. Tho Monographs also fell back. The
loss on board the Knee, if any, was not
reported.
The bide-wheel gunboat Genessee was
somewhat damsged, and also fell back.
The amount Of damage on board this boat
isnot known.
It appears that the Mississippi was the
last in the line Of the feet which attempt-
ed to pass Port Hudson on the night of the
18th. In going up she was struck by three
or four shot and only slightly damaged,
but when near the center Of the range Of
the batteries, the smoke and steam Of the
vessels in advance, and the batteries, so
enveloped the ship that the pilot lost his
bearings and tie frigate grounded on the
right bank of the river.
For forty minutes she wal exposed to q
terrific fire from all the batteries, turning
three times. She fired $50 rounds, but her
guns became nearly all d~ismouuted. Her
portfolios on the starbOsrd side were all
knocked into me-. Twenty-Five or thirty
men having been killed, and forty wound
ed, and the ship riddled with shot, and no
prospect Of her ever floating again, Cap
tain Smith gave orders for her abandon
ment. During all the time she was under
FIRE there was no particular excitement on
board.
The crew was told to load and fire at the
batteries as rapidly as possible, and did so
as long as there was q gun to FIRE.
After the order to abandon her, boats
we're lowered and the wounded men put in
first and the crew filed the boats. Many
Jumped overheard expecting to swim
/ ashore. Many were picked up BY boats
and few are supposed to be drowned- Those
who reached the levee were taken of BY
the Essex, to the number Of fifty or sixty.
When the crew we're all of the ship, Capt
Smith and Lieutenant Derby sprinkled
turpenline in the wardroom, setting il on
fire. The captain Of the fore hold fired
her forward and the captain and lieuten-
ant pulled for the Essex. The Mississippi
was soon wrapped in flames and the fire
presently reaohod her magazines, blowing
i her M.