Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-02-12
THE CHARLESTON AFFAIR.

ia and Keystone State Cripled
Mt Sunk.-Federal Loss Twenty
Five Killed.--The Blockade Not
Raised.
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 8.--Thc iron steam
er Princes Royal, in charge of Acting
Master Van Size. arrived off the NAVY
Yard to-day. She brings highly impor-
tant intelligence both as relates to her cap.
turc and the rebel attack ON our blockad
ing fleet at Charleston, showing conclu.
sively that there as no foundation for the
assumption Of the rebels that the 6iockade OF
Charleston was eeer raised by tie deoarture
Of tie 6!ockading feet s.nHh
Only two vessels ont OF the eight or ten
were disabled or obliged to leave.
1t appears from the statement of nm in
tclligent eye witness that the cause of the
attack of the rebel rams on our squadron
was owing to the capture Of the Prince.
Royal. the Captain anil pilot Of that yes.
sci having escaped ashore during he dark
ness OF the night. AMI communicated the
intelligence 10 the re! els.
The Princess Royal en,leavored to run
the blockade by way of Bach Inlet on tn,
18th but was discovered by the pilot boat
Blunt. On signal being given the Una I'LL
la gave chase and captured her withou,
other assistance. 1t was then discovered
tina: the Captain and pilot had succeeded
in getting ashore by a small boat. carry
ing important dispatches to the rebel Gov
eminent.
AT daylight laundering Of guns wa,
heard. accompanied by sharp flashes OF
fire. 1t was supposed that our fleet was
engaged in making an attack. or that the
Alabama or Florida were en,leavoiing &c
force an entrance. AT day break two rebel
iron clads were seen coming down from
the direction Of Stone Inlet, towards our
fleet. They attack the Mercedi,a FIRST.
One ram struck her near the waters
edge. keeling her over. and at the same
time firing shot which entered one of her
boilers causing the death OF three persons,
including gunner. by the shot and steam.
The ram then hailed the Msrcedita.
Capt Stcllwagen lowered one of his small
boats. after leasing one Of the plugs out,
allowing the water to enter it.
The ram answered our hail with Con
federate ram Palmetto State. Do you sur
render?" This was repeated three times,
Capt. Stellwagen replying at ach inquiry,
Il am in sinking condiIion." The reb.
els answered, "God damn you to hell, IL
you don't surrender we will blow you out
Of the water. Send our boat aboard. =
The boat which Capt. Srellwagen had low
cred then conveyed his executive officer to
the rebel ram. and the officer asked to BIZ
admitted on board. This was refused.-
The Lieutenant then repeated Capt. Stell-
wagons statement. that we were in a sink
ing condition. The rebels replied You
can't sink lower than the rails. We can
not take yon on board.' The officer then
gave his parole. as demanded. and return.
ed to his ship.
The rebels were thus successfully de.
ceived as to the condition Of the Merrcidi-
ia. thinking she was in sinking conii-
ton. She laid in shoal water, and hence
the reply that she could not sink below
her rails.
The ram stored towarl the Keystone
State and sent a shot through her steam
drum. causing the death Of twenty -one
persons--twelvc by the shot and nine by
scalding by steam. Fifteen more were
wounded. and are lying at Port Royal,
some in . precarious condition. In the
meantime, the gunboat Housatonic engs-
ged the other ram. driving her away. At
half-past six in the morning. both rams
left the scene and passed up to Charleston.
During this attack on our feet the Prin-
cess Royal, which lay near the Housaton-
ic. and WAS the chief object of prize on
both sides, succeeded in getting of, main.
ly through the assistance Of third engineer
Thurston. who piled into her furnace all
the infiammable material at hand. Her es-
cape is chiefly owing to his endeavors, as
well as her safe arrival at this port. tss
The Mercedita steamed down to Port
Royal and with only one of her boilers in
jured. She arrived safely at Port Royal.
aud would be repaired in . day.
] The Keystone State was entirely disa-
bled, bnt was towed to Port Royal by the
Memphis. ,.,a. e- - -.
The rebel statement that the Federal
feet had entirely disappeared from the port
Of Charleston are entirely Unauthorized by.
the facts. Sc ~ 'ef1ei. -
The new Ironsides arrived the next ,l.v
to reinforce the blockade.
Information is also brought by the Prin.
cess Royal. Of the attack by the iron clad
Montauk. on Fort McAIlis.er. the 18th
ult. She was not 1t all disabled. She |
received seventeen shots in her sides. and |
Twelve on her turrst. without receiving any
injury whatever, although engaged five
hours. She returned to her anchorage for
want Of shells. 1t being foggy next morn
ing. she did not return to che attsck.a I
Wan ted wanted!