, 1863-10-24
FROM CHARLESTON.
4 Southern Description OF the Attack
on the lr0ubidGs.

l.
One Of the most daring and gallant raTA
exploits of the war, distinguished bE tie
gleases1 ccolness, presence Of mind. and In.
tIepidlty OF the hr.ye men associated in the
enterprise, Kaa pG1t3fmed Monday night.
This ras ro lees than An attempt TO bloT up
The United States steamer Nex Irouside5,
lying off Morris Ieland. Though not fuuJ
meeting the expectations Of those who con-
ceiyed the plan, and those Who Carried 1t into
execution. 1t has called forth the unhoanded
admiration OF our citizens for tbs brilliant
hetoism of The actors In their dangerous but
patriotic and self sacrificing undertaking. 4
general feeling Of deep anxiety prevails to
"ent cut with the c1ptdi:ion. There Is every
nason 10 believe, however, that these gallant
nen, with the means ct safety abcut their
persons, ndtavo1ed to REACH shore, and have
been picked. up by some OF The enemy's
launches. We ga!he: the following particu-
lars from Other participants II the affair:
The torpedo steamer D.yid, with crew Of
four volunteers, consisting Of Lieut.. Wm. 7.
Glasec}l, J. FL. Tooalbs, chief engineer, and
Janes Sullivan, fireman Of the Eu1poat Chi
cora, with J. ~ Cannon, assistant pilot Of
the gupboat Palmet T. State, left South 4 Ian
Monday evening, for the purpose of explod-
Ing torpedo under that vessel near amid
shirs, and If possible blow her up.
The weather beiug dark and hazy, favored
tie enterprise. The boat, with IT'S galllnt
little crew, proceeded down the hasbof skirt
Ing along the shoals on the inside Of the
channel, until nearly abreast Of their formi-
fahle antogontst. The New Ironsfdes.
They 1e1ajnsd In Ills position for short
time, circliEg around On the large shoa1 near
the anchorage Of the object Of their visit.
eat in front Of Pilot Cannon. vho had cliarpe
Of lie helm. Chief Fnrineer Toomhs was At
:. Tie enp5ne. with the isTayn end undannfed
SpltiyaS. the Volunteer fireman. when sone,
thinE Nae The following conyeraasion en-.
sued: ..
Lieut. Glass ell--uIt ia row o'clock. sha1}
We strike her? ~''''~&~
Pilot Cannon--HT That is Whist we came fnr- /
I AM 1rsay.''
Engineer Toombs- Let rs 70 ut her then.
and do our best"
waiting. Go ahcadn
TIE bout Hcs now put bow on, and aimed
directly for the 1ronsides. As the little
steamer darsed forward, the lookout on the.
; 1rorsldes hailed them with Take care there
tou viii run into US. What steamer is that ?,'t
Lieut., Glassel replied By diacharging one b1r-
1elat she Yankee sentinel, and rendering the
gun to PIltt Cannon. told him there Wa
another Yankee. pointfDg to one with his
body halt over Tie bulwarSs, aud asked Can
non TO take care of hin with the other barrel.
The next moment tley had struck tho Iran.
sides and exploded tie toroedo abont TT fifteen item
feet from the keel. on the siarboard ri1e An
immense volume Of water was rhrown m
covering our little boat. and. Going fhrongf'
the smoke stack. entered the fnrnacs- com.
pletoly ertipruishipe the ira S' ~suA
In ad6ition In this niere. ~ the t,,5,ut hal
flllen il tic works ot the enriDs. renis1;nr tI
it uumnrapq.h]e NJ; that ffms ro1iav ,tsa2
ynlley of rIusktf+v frnm +ha craw ~ ~ T-,1 T.-
sires ond fn,a H., Iavnnha. ,.9n, - - 11s tson,
nnnn item Iiant fs1assa1l as.sa 80 ~ arr5axt -
hacE. Int It was f,nnG imnoss;h1c I,9e n this ~
cnn1;t;nn r;tH ~ eI.a1ta: s.t - tuas