Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-10
the Attack on Our BIockaaers ofr
charleston

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8.-The iron steamer
Hhncess Royal, in charge of Acting Master Van
oice' arrived OH the navy yard to-day. She
brings important intelligence both as relates 10
ner capture and the rebel attack ON our blocka.
ding feet at Charleston, showing conclusivelv
thas there 10 no foundation for tho assumption
OF The rebels that the blockade of Charlsston
was ever raised by the departure of tho blocka-
ding fleet, only two vessels out of the eloht
or ten having been disabled or Obliged TO leave.
IL appears from the abatement of an int.lli-
gent eye witness, that the cause of the attack of
the rebel rams on our squadron, was owing to
the capture Of the Princess Royal, the canaan
and pilot OF that vessel shaving escaped ashora
durTug the darkness of the night, and comma.
nicated the intelligence to the rebels,
Inc frlncess Royal endeavored to run the
nicckade by way of Beach Inlet, on the 2sth,
but was discovered by the pilot boat Blunt. On
signal being given, the Unadllla proceeded
toward and captured her without assistsnoe -
it vas then discovered that the captain and nilo,
mad succeeded In getting ashore by small boat
carrying important dispatches to the rebel Gov.
ernment.
AT daylight thunder of guns was heard &C.
companied by sharp flashes of fire. 1t was
supposed that cur feet was engaged in making
an attack, or the Alabama or Florida was en-
oeaVoring to force an entrance. At dsybreak
Two rebel iron clads were seen. coming down
rom tue direction OF Stono Inlet toward our
heet' They attacked the MeFoedita first. One
ram struck her on the water ridge, keeling her
over ana OF the came time firing shot which
entered ono Of heT boilers, causing the death of
snree persons, including gunner, by shot aud
steam Inc ram then hailed the Mercedita,
and Capt. Stellwagen lowered one of his small!
poa's ai'er leaving one OF the plugs out, allow
Ing the water to enter 1t. ~.
Iho ram answered our hail by the Confeder-
ave e ram Palmetto State: "Do you surrender -
This was repeated three times, Cant. Stell-
wagen replying at each inquiry, al am In a sinL.
ing condition " The rebels anavered. nGod
damn you to hell; if you don't surrender. We
VIII blow you out OF the water, and send your
boat aboard"
The boat that Capt. StellWspen lowe,ed tha,
conveyed bis executive officer to the rebel ram
and the officer asked to be admitted on hoard
This was refused. The Lieutenant then reneat-
ed Capt Stellwagen's statement, 'thst we we're
In sinking condition." The rebel replied =.
"you can't sink lower than the rails; we oan't
take you on board" The officer then gave hin
parole as demanded and returned tc his shin.
The rebels were thus successfully deceived as
to the condition Of the Mercedita, thinking sbe
was in sinking condition. She laid in shoal
water, and hence the reply that she could not
sink below her rails. 80 -
The ram eteertd toward the Keystone State,
and sent shot through her steam drum, cans
ing the death OF twenty-one persons-tWelye by
the SHOT and nine by the scading steam. FIJI
teen were wounded and are lying at Port Roval
some In precarious condition
In the meantime the gunboat Housatonic en-
gagged the other ram, drivinr sr away at half
past six in the morning. ,lh rams left The
scene and proceeded to Charleston.
During this attack on our feet the Princess
Royal, which lay near the Housatonic, was the
chief object OF prize on both sides. She ana.
ceeded In getting of, mainly through the ener
gies of Third Assistant Engineer Thurston.
who piled into the fires all the infIammahle.
material at hand. Her escape is chiefly OWING
to his ondeavors, as we'll as her safe arrival at
thia port. The Mercedita steamed down To
Port Royal, escaping with only one of her boil.
ere injured. She arrived safely at Port Royal
and would be repaired in day. The Keystons
State was entirely disabled, but was towed to
Port Royal by the Memphis. -
The rebel statements that the Federal feet
had entirely disappeared from the port OF
Charleston, are entirely unsustained by the
facts. During the daytime our blocksdinr
feet are not particular as to keeping to the
station, and on the day Of this assault, most of
the vessels sailed toward the Ksystcne State,
to ascertain her condition, and whether she
wanted any assistance. This may account for
their apparent absence at the time Of the visi.
OF the foreign Consuls, as mentioned by the
rebel papers. Our vessels, as usual, resumed
their position ct dark. The new Ironsides ar
rived the next day to reinforce the blockade, 4.
Information ia also brought by the Princess
Royal Of the attack by the iron clad Mon,auk,
on Fort McAllister, on the 2Ssh ult, She was
not at all disabled. She received seventeen
shots in her sides and twelve on her turret with.
out receiving any injury whatever, although
engaged i've hours. She returned to her an
chorage Tor want OF ehells. 1t being foggy the
next morning, she did not return TO The attack.