Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-06-30


When the T,ioket returned il was about i've
o'clock 4. NJ, and hardly had they 'bunked'
before the Atlanta was seen coming down the
river, some three miles distant. She was conf
ing at Il rapid rate ana was followed hy two
wooden gunboats.
TIE MONITORS PREPARE FOR ACTION.
No time was u be lost and the Monitors
were ready for action in less time than | can
describe it. Owing to its being fool time the
Monitors were not bow On that Is their
storms were towards the Atlanta. and it was
necessary for proper action thar they should
tlrn around and face the enemy. For fear
~ accoun, Of the ShalowncsS of the water
that he might run aground in executing this
manmuvrc. Captain Rodgers steamed down
the Sound. rs also did the Nai!ant. 10 deep
water. and having successfully turned. he
steamed up with all haste 20 meet the Allan
"a which was coming down upon him with
full speed intending beyond Il doubt tight.
WHAT THE ATLANTA '.rRopo>ED' To Do.
In order that ycu may fully appreciate the
sequel 10 this r.hcl adventure. will here,
while the Atant.; and the Monitors are APP
from the officers themselves. the object and
intention nf their expedition. TIL" following
was their plan:-'Th"y were il1 V aware Of
the presence Of the Northumberland Nahant in
Warsaw Sound, ln' they intended 20 engage
these Monitors and having captured them
to send them ur in tow If their gunhoats 10
Savannah. If. on engaging uuc Monitors
they found themselves unable - whip and
capture them. then t'roy intended t. run past
them and put out t. >ca. Having gained the
ocean they We're t" pr"rcrl immediately 81
Charleston harb"r. and rns#g" the bockading
fleet there i'll CON junction with the rebel rams
at Charleston. which were - come down to
"ur fret upon certain SIGNALS. which had al-
ready been agreed upon. hcin" made by tie
Atlanta.
Our blockadcrS having been anniiilatcl the
Atlanta and her "unS"r;- would proceed I"
" Wilmington and raise our blockade there i'll Il
similar manner. After these important vic
tories had been gained then IN indiscrimina,e
raid mp"n The Northern >c;l-b0arl towns and
cities wa: 10 hc maric. and general havoc en-
she upon the land and sea. This WAS their
intention, let Ia see how
The best Ibid schemes Of and mice gang nslee
But before detailing the engagement would,
for the amusement ufy"ur female readers, state
that the two wooden yulI-lr,ai> which accom-
panied the Atlanta Were crowded with Swan
nah ladies. VIII" had com" down To Src the
Yankees r"rriyr u severe r;..tiw;,-
ton. and wave their pcpIrn:i r;inlbri,.~ ut the
yicturinu~ Atlanta us III" proudly steamed ont
tn s'':t covered with glory. while they would
escort back u Charleston our disabled Mnni-
tors.
THE ATLANTA OPENS TIE TALL.
But VIZ left the Atlanta ~iram:mr ,lowntIp
our lIrnit"rS. while the latter especially the
Wcchawkcir. WAS making counter advances.
The Na!lant. Tor S5!n" reason ur uti."r did not
seem /" ret ai"n" Very well. AMI the Wrchaw-
ken soon let her some di>,;;nrr :l$:rrn. The
Atlanta. when sic arrived within six hundred
wards of the Wcchuw!irn ran aground. but
succeeded in immediately hlriin" oil anl re-
gaining her course. Blu; again. i> if some
strange fatality attended her size ran aground
thr second time. and in this condition opened
fire upon the Wcclawk"n. which was then
within four hundred yard, If her. Nu. off
Gers, however, did nos know that the Atlanta
WAS aground until the action WAS uycr The
first shot which the Atlanta fired was from
her pivot gum. but it fell s!,"r; nf the N'cchaw-
ken. and demonstrate" TIA, the gunner viii"
sighted that shot wa; n"yicc in til" arr.
TIE wErnAwKE,." Is c"rErEpt.s A> USUAL. |
Captain Rodgers himself anxious rs eyer TO-,
Il good beginning. sighted k< iitccn-ncI .un,
loaded with Il solid si.or. AMI AWAY wrnt this
huge missile against the shutter Of the star
board afr lort-h"lr. and -hiycrin~ il rs well IL
the iron and w"odwork adjoining. rl of into
the water without doing further in Jury. The |
Atlanta. i'll reply. fired another shot E:om her |
pivot %ul, which. like il predecessor fell
short
Captain Rodgers again sighted his fGc"n-
inch pot, AMI the solid ,ir,t hurled throu Il. the
air, carrying away i'll its fearful passage tho
pilot-ho,I>c ii the Atlanta. The !yIlin= iron |
and w"nL-w"ri woilnlrl severely two ont of |
the three pilots 80 that the Atlanta was NOT |
only with but one pilot. IN, also minus her !
i'ilGt-huusc.
Nothing haunted. however, she returned the
fire from her fore Starboard gun. but alas for
the AIM the shot failed 10 hit the Wcchawkcn.
Rodgers again sighted, and @razcd the wreck of !
the plut-hurI>c. The Atlanta did not return
the fire. and again. the Wcchawkcn sent forth
Il tiltcrn-nch which went completely through
the Atlanta Smokc-stack ~ this the Attain
Ia replied with her pivot gun. and her shot
fell within wv" feet OF the Wrchlwkcn. When |
within hundred yards of the Rebel craft |
Captain RODGERS Wishing to encourage such Il
Ia.llablr ambition on the part Of the .ltlanta'S
guns sighted his gun for The fifth shot. and
~; III went tho solid iiftccn-inrh bail against
the AtIanta side. in>tait oi the starboarI fore
port hole. lou can judge Of the velocity 81
This s!!n when | tell y"n it completely bent in
\ wrought iron armnr four inches dick. and ,
,liiyrrri int" fragments ii t"ur-inch thickness |
Of live OAK plank and four inch thickness 81
I;rorga pine plank. These flying fragments
struck tie men working the larh"ag'l fore run,
KILN" one and worinin" thirteen al them.
Tia" force 81 the blow ya> 80 great that every
man working The pivot gnn fell t" the deck
stunned. TIL" ball it>rlfrpllcd 81
the Atlanta side and fell in the Water.
THE "ATLASTA' SHOWS THE WHITE FLAG.
This last shot of tn" Wrchawkcn caused all |
visions Of Tie blockade. Charleston and VIII I
mingiolI. to rapidly fade from the mental vision
If the Atianil officers and Immediately tho
white ilag WAS seen waving from the wreck of
her plrt-hor;>c. The action was only Fifteen |
minutes duration and she fell Il prize to the
prowcsS. in twcnty-six minutes !
from the tir!r She appeared in SIGHT, and as
the white liag iluttcrrl from her deck the ST.
ronrah ladies were seen rapidly going up Viii
lnin.ton River To bear {" the people OF Sayan-
nah. not the gloriruS news Of victory. but the
sad ti'iimgs ii defeat.
iEysii.> or THE SrgGGHhLE.
Upon seeing the white Ila@ our men chCercd |
most Justify. anal Capt. hodg"S immediately de
spatrhcd Capt. Ilarmony.n of The Nrchawken. in
Il small boat to the Atlanta t" rrccvc the COM
mandcr's sword AMI take possession of her in
the namc Of the United States. As soon ;ls
Captain Harmony arrived on board he received |
the sword of Captain webb. hauled down the !
new Confederate flag which WAS flying at her
stern and ran up our own victorious ensign.
lie then went forward and was ordering his
men to cast anchor when Captain Webb cx-
claimed For Gods sake. Captain. don't cast
If these anchors: we have torpedo under
meath this bow" Captain Harmony turned to