Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-06-30
THE REBEL RAM ATLANTA.
HER CAPTURE BY CAPT. RODGERS
=. Full "Details Of the Engagement.

Especial Correspondence Of The Philadelphia Enquirer
PoRT ROYAL, S. c., June -, lSG%%.
You will recollcct that upon the 18th of
November, 1851. the Fingal, an English,
Clvde-built steamer, ran our blockade and
carried valuable cargo Of arms and ammumi-
ton in to the Rebels ut Savannah. She had
aboard of her. also. several batteries of the
celebrated Armstrong guns, which the Rebels
immediately mounted in Fort Pulaski, and
which fell into our hands when We capturC-l
that fort. In the following january, the Rcb-
els having loaded the Fingal. with IA cargo Of
one thousand bales of cotton. cndcavurrI To
rc-run the blockade, but were detected by our
cruisers, and driven back up the Savannah
river. After this occurrence the idea seemed
to occur to them that the Frugal might hc
converted into an irOn-clad, and to this result
they have industriouslv dcvotcd,thcmsclvcs for
the last fourteen months After she was near
completion her name was changed To the
Georgia.. and subsequently she received IL new
christening as the Atlanta. which name she
has borne for OYER six months.
ANOTHER ATTEMIT To ESCAPE To SEA.
From pcrrsal of her log-book, which was
captured, together with her other valuablcs. |
learn. by an entry made On the 9th day Of
january, 1863, that the Atlanta, then having
been fully completed, was ordered /" engage
our blockading squadron and Fort Pulaski,
and in the general fire run ont to sea. In az
c0rdancc with this programme she was fully
manned and equipped for her voyage, and her
sides slushcd for action Bur Admiral Du-
pont having been advised Of this intended
movement by dcscrtcrs from Savannah. mmr-
datcly adopted such precautions that the At
anta's officers, scrn. that their plans had
been betrayed, Immediately cave up their all
venture, although their craft was in sight
both of the blockaCling fleet and Pulaski. She
returned to Savannah. and attempted nothing
serious until lately. which adventure il the
subject of the present letter.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE At SAVANNAH.
On the It'll instant it was announced that
the Atlanta was about ~ achieve the most
signal victory of the war, and properly christ
en- the newly adopted Confederate flag. The
people in Savannah were iubilant, and assem-
.bled eM maSSc upon the wllarvcs 10 bid her il
suitable farewell. The Atlanta, owing to her
drawing fifteen feet of water when loaded for
the intended cruise and St. AuguStinc's Creek
not being deep enough to float her in this con-
dition, she only took on board her crew at Sa-
vannah, and steamed down the river. drawing
but eleven feet of water. Her provisions and
stores followed her upon some gunboatS be-
longing to Tatnall's mosquito fleet, and when
she had successfully passed through ST. Au-
gustine's Creek, which runs from Cran>t"n's
Bluff to the heal of the Wilmington river. she
then received on board all her stores. proy-
sions. ammunition, &C., and wa> made ready
for action 1t occupied six days in getting
her down safely from Savannah To the head of
Wilmington river.
HOW WE KNEW SHE WAS COMING.
We were fully appraised of this intended
excursion, by deserters, who. from time TO time.
have escaped from the Atlanta. and unbosomcd
their hearts to Admiral Dupont. From these
chiralic sons Amiral Dupon, learned that tEir
Atlanta was about to assume the offensive. and
initiate her worthy predecessor the Merrimac.
Accordingly, ten days ago he sent the Wee
hawken, Ca plain John Rodgers commanding,
and the Nahant. Commander Downs. to watch
the Atlanta and give her every satisfaction
which she mi ght demand. The Wechawkcn
and Nahant proceeded 10 Warsaw Sound and
took up their positions near the mouth Of the
Wilmington river, which cmptics into this
Sound.
THE ATLANTA sTEAMs INTO SIGHT.
Captain Rodgers stationed a picket boat
every night up the river, in order that he
might not be taken unawarcs, and the two
Monitors rode at anchor, anxiously awaiting
an introduction to their mutual enemy On
the morning of the 18th the picket boat, as
was its wont, had returned to the Weehawken,
and the men having reported no suspicion,
looking steamer, turned into their hunks,
where the rest of the crew were already en-
joying themselves in q sleep undisturbed ez.
sept, perhaps, by the vision Of sinking ram.