Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-06-24
Naval Fight IN Warsaw..s
der of the Iron.c!a;.. ..,.aaiL.

About 10 o'clockthis + renoaa, intelligence
reached the city which li;ie;! ever; hca; tw;:h
xegret-it was no less than lie log of the
splendid Confederate States iron rfal steamer
Atlanta, forme ly the Fiagal. lie ci-rrm-
stances under whici..l-;s -.-.su-.@ aiair
took place, are as. follows: -.
The Government has long desired to put
the Atlanta to active service, and to this end
were made the various official changes in the
Navy which have been noticed in this paper,
the out going officers and the Secretary of the
Navy differing regarding the capabilities of
the steamer. A few weeks ago Capt. Webb
was placed in command, and from that date
until now has been busily engaged in prepar-
ing the Att; nta for action. Everything being
in perfect order, and splendid crew, rs to ca
pacity on board, about daylight this Wednes-
day. morning, the Atlanta moved forward
into Warsaw Sound. When off Warsaw
Island she encountered two iron clad Yankee
monitors, lying close in shore.
The Atlanta fired first s":,t at ten minutes
to S o'clock, and second at five minutes after
S. The monitors replied. and the engagement
was kept up until the Atlanta had fired four
shots and the monitors FIVE. The latter lay so
close in shore, in shallow water, that our
steamer found it impossible, owing TO her
heavy draft, to get as near as she would. AT
81 O'Clock the firing ceased on both sides; at
Is minutes to 6 O'Clock small boats were seen
to pass from both monitors to the Atlanta,
and a wooden gun-boat down the sound was
.signalled to return, which she did. The enc.
my boarded the Atlanta OF ten minutes to s,
and at 6 80 the Confederate flag, which had
hoated over her until then, vas taken down
and the Abolition flag hoisted in It's stead.
One shot was seen to strike the Atlanta, it is
supposed near her stern, and a shell burst on
her deck. but with what effect is unknown,
The officers of the Confederate States
steamer I-ondiga-wbo were in sigat and
witnessed the entire engagement anu surrea-
der, state that the Atlapta appeared 10 be
aground S. veral times during the action. Thcy
think she was 81, ariy SO when the firing ceaS'
ed and perhaps bilEed, as her pumps were
actively ut work aud sic appeared soon attel
the surrender TO be GARDENING. &
Some suspicious exist. as to the hdeityo
the crewss II it is even rum,red thag dlaboli
cal threats were uttered by a portion of then
previous to tie departure of the vessel, hu
we doubt if. this is true;' at all events, W
shall do item the justice of whiting then
down as loyal and true until the contr"r,
shall have ben proved. Such, we are iufDrm
ed, is the o! inipn Of all naval u%firerS in port
We hear that Capt. Webb addressed tis mel
Just before going into action, and ihef re
sponded with the greatest enthusiasm g:in,
to their quarters With alacrity and 10 The les
of spirits. :.
The real csuse of the disaster wss. prcba
bly,, the int Efficiency OF The Atlanta, owirg Il
her heavy draft, to cope successfully With III
foe in our shallow waters. She was distrust
ed by most Of our naval officers on this &C
count and The weakness of her hull, compares
with the immense sal eliihcumbent weight {
iron. In crep water She is a far better crai
tlan any i~lotSclad put IN commission by III
enemy, thoagM ir,n' tie d iIicuiiy suggested
they will fad i, trouble to use her against Ia
She draws oyer fifteen feet Of water, and IL
ours imminent risks in going aground.
The crew II the Atlanta consisted ut Ii
officers emo men, al. told.-Savalinsh Repbi
can.
TIE Var in mississippi.