, 1863-02-19
THE CHARL ESTON BLOCKADE,
In Official Refutation Of the
Rebel Statement that the
Blockade Was
Broken.
Dispatches from Admiral Dupont
and Officers Of the Block
aiding Squadron.

DISPATCH FROM ADMIRAL DUPONT.
F1AcsE1r WABASH, PonT norAL HAnnon. S. c.,
February II, 19G3
Sin: In my previous dispatch, No. 20, writ
len Just as the mail was closing, informed
the Department would send 4 refutation in
Official for,n Of the statement made in Gen.
adc d Charleston, published in tue
Charleston and Savannah papers, and
accompanied by assertions made with
thc apparent sanction Of certain foreign
functiunarics. -- The emphatic letter Of
Capt. Turner, (No. II the clear aud decided
settlement Of the officers, (No. - which he
forwarded, together with the previous inqui-
rlcs and examination Of log-books, made by
Capt Gordon. OF the Powlatan, ,{wlio was tic
senior officer present previous to the arrival
Of the New 1ronsidcs,) and whom + had dis
patched TO Charleston the day Of the raid,
leave ME nothing TO add, save to cali the es-
}rciai attention Of the Department to the
facts thus elected.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Rear Admiral commanding South Atlantic
blcckading squadron.
Hon GIDEON WElIRs, Sec. Of the Navy.
FROM CAPT. TURNER OF THE MARINES
Q. s. STEAM FE1aATE NEW 1eoSs1Drs,}
Orr CHAELEsToE, Feb. 70, 1868.
Rear Admiral S. F. Dupont. Com ding S. A. BIS.
ADA1RAl.: I have the honor to forward to
you ! certificate signed by au the command
ihg officers Of the vessels that we're lying off
Cllarlcston bar on the morning Of the attack
of tho rams upon this squadon, excepting
only three, ono Of whom is On duty at dis
tancc, and the other two the Commanders Of
the two Vessels which were sent to Port
Royal TO repair damages, and which were the
only two that were Injured, Notwithstanding.
the report Of the enemy in the Charleston
papers, as the result Of tic engagement, that
Two vessels were sunk, four Set on fire,
and the remainder driven away. Your
personal knowledge Of these gentlemen,
and your entire confidence i'll their
their statement the force that is necessary to
refnte satisfactorily and eftetually that which
has been given to the world by the authori-
ties ut Charleston, and their sympathizers. It
Is with unaffected pain that am called upon
to forward document rejecting SO severely,
hut Justly, upon the functionaries holding the
high position Of Consuls, and one Of them, if
this statement has hcen made by his author
ity, 1hc commander Of 4 vessel ofwar Of Her
Britannia Majcsty. Nor can I account for it
| in any other way ythan its being premcditated
| act Oil their part, with foregonc conclusions,
ca,ist: in the eyes of the world or that thesr
| events we're seen lty them with the distorted
| optics Of prejudice and pa, tisan witnesses.
The facts are so clear, both rs to thu dispo-
! sition Of the blockaling squadron, during the
day succeeding the engagement, and as tn the
amount Of damage done our vessels in it, thai
il does not admit Of doubt that these gentle
men have given the seal Of their high Office
to the version of the affair, which could moi
have been, by any possibility, either by in
ferclce or personal observation, forced upor
their convictions as truth.
have the honor to be, very respectfully
Your OBJ vdicnt servant,
T. TURNER, Captain