Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-13

commander stellwagen, Of the.:Mercedita
Z. s. srEAMER MERcEDITA,
PoRT ROYAL, Jan. 81, 1853.
Rear-Admiral s. F. Dupont-Sir
have to report that at hslf-past four this
morning two iron-clads from Charleston,
in the obscurity Of thick haze, and the
moon having just set, succeeded in pass
ing the bar near the Ship Channel, unper-
ceived BY the squadron, and made an at
tack upon it, this ship being the first en-
oountered.
Particular vigilance was exhibited by
the officers and crew in the expectation Of
3 vessel to run the blockade.
At three o'clockin the morning we had
slipped our cable and overhauled q troop
steamer running for the channel. At four
o'clock laid down. Lieutenant Com
mander Abbott was on deck giving an or
der to Acting Master Dwyer, about recov-
ering the anchor, when they saw a smoke
and the faint appearance Of q vessel close
at hand.
heard them eXclaim, She has blsc'
smokeP Watch, man the guns -
the rattlep Call all hands to p. p. 2 2
Mr.. Dwyer came to - w Gai 'Ino Jaor
telling me A steambo0' -.e oaOi,i ahoovJ - }
49, re- 80 5HSi ST. e act of getting my pea
ont I in pped it on as followed him
a. an .nped to the poop ladder; saw
tI.- -.oke and low boat, apparently a
e, although I thought it might be lit
tie propeller for the squadron.
az sang out, Train your guns right on
him-be ready to fire as soon as 1 order
al hailed the steamer, iAhoy Stand
clear Of us and heave to. What steamer
is thatP then ordered my men to fire on
him. and told him You viii be into u.s.
What steamer is thatg
uHis answer to the first and second hail
was sHallooT The other replies were in
distinct, either by intention or from hev-
ing spoken inside Of his mail armor, until
In the act of striking US with his prov,
when he said, This is the Confederate
States Steam Ram
az repeated the order, 'FireP Fire :
Fire = but no gun could be trained on him
as he approached us on the quarter and
struck US Just abaft our after-mast with
82-pounder, and fred heavy rife through
US diagonally, penetrating the starboard
side through our Normandy condenser, the
steam drum of our pOr- boiler, and ex-
ploding ssainst the port side Of the ship
blowing . hole in its exit some four or five
feet square.
~The vessel was instantly filled and en-
yeloped with steam. Reports were brought
10 me THAT we were shot through both
boilers; that the fires were put out by the
steam and smoke; that q gunner and one
man were killed; that a number of men
were badly scalded; that the water was
over the ire-room floor, and that the yes
sci was sinking fast
"The ram had cut Us through at and be
low the water-line on one side, and th'
shell had burst on the other side almost a
the waters edge.
1After the ram struck she swung around
under our starboard counter, her prov
touching us, and hailed, Surrender or III
sink you. Do you surrender
HAfter receiving ereports,' 1 answered
Il can make no resistance, my boiler il
destroyed.
"The Rebel then cried out, DO you sur
renderg
al said Yes having found my moving
power destroyed, and that I could bring
nothing to bear but mUskets against his
shot-proof coating.
"He hailed several times to send {
boat and threatened to fire again
After some delay a boat was lowered snC
Lieutenant Commander Abbott asked if b.
should 90 in her and asked for orders wha
TO say.
al told him to see what they demanded
and tell him the condition we were in. 81
proceeded aboard and according to thei
demand gave his parole on behalf of him
self and all the officers and crew. His re
port accompanies this.
" The Ram having been detained an hou
or more, now ran out for the steamer Key
stone State, which vessel and three other
we tried to alarm by lights.
awe saw q shell explode as it strucl
the ram without injuring her. Saw tn
Keystone State struck several times, an
saw the steam and smoke blowing from
her.
"The firing then receded to the north
ward and eastward, and was pretty brisl
at the head of the line. I set everybod,
at work taking care of our wounded
pumping the ship, stopping leaks, examin
ing the engines, sc.
"About A. " got things in order +
stop little steam, and hove up anchor
The Stettin and Flag seeing our condition
I told them they might be wanted to tn
southwark to pick up men, the fighting
now being over.
ain conclusion, have to say that in tn
squadron where all the vessels were con
spicuous for vigilance, this vessel has neVe
been found wanting. Everything wa
done that circumstances permitted, and il
proper manner.
Very respectfully your ob't sery't
F. S.STELLWAGEN.''