Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-12
Importantfrom off Charleston.

Importantfrom Oft Charleston.
Arriuol of a Prize Vessel nj Plaladelphia
from tie Biociadin0 Fieef--Mjne Of our
Vessels Sunk and 0nW one Seriously in
jured-7he Rebel Rams driven oG-The
Blockqdiag. Fleet dbl not retire-Thel
Ahackon En McAAlter- Our Iron clad
not Injured 1'-.
PHiLADELpriIA, Feb 8.--The iron steam.
ct Princess Royal In charge Of Acting Mas;
ter Van Slice, arrived off the navy yard TO.
day. She brings highly important intelli-
gence, both as relates to her capture and
the rebel attack on our blockading feet at
Charleston, showing conclusively that there
il no foundation for the assumption of the
rebels that the blockade Of Charleston was
ever raised BIZ tho departure of the block.
aiding feet, only two vessels out of the eight
or ten having been disabled or obliged to
leave. Il appears from the statement Of
an intelligent 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 Captain and pilot Of that vessel
having escaped ashore during the darkness
of the night, and communicated the intel.
ligcnce to the rebels. The Princess Royal
endcavored to run the blockade by way Of
Beach Inlet on the 29th but was discover.
ed by the pilot boat Blunt. On signal be
ing given, the Unadila proceeded toward
and captured her without other assistance.
1t was then discovered that the Captain and
pilot had succeeded in getting ashore by
small boat, carrying important dispatches
to the rebel Government.
At daylight thunder Of guns was heard.
accompanied by sharp flashes of fire. It
was supposed that our feet was engaged in
making an attack or that the Alabama or
Florida were endeavoriDg to force an en-
trance. At daybreak two rebel iron clads
were seen coming down from the direction
of Stono Inlet, toward our feet. They at
tackled the Mercdita first; one ram struck
her on the water ridge, keeling her over,
and at the same time firing shot which
entered one of her boilers, causing the
death Of three persons, including gunner,
by shot and steam. The ram then hailed
the Mercedita, and. Capt. Stellwagen launch.
ed ono of his small boats, after leaving one
OF the plugs out, allowing the water to en-.
ter it. The ram answered our hail, by Con-
federate ram Palmetto State. do you
surrender?" This was repeated three
times; Capt Stellwagen replying at each
inquiry, II am in q siuking condition. -
The rebels answered, God damn you to
he'll, it you don't surrender We will blow
you out of the water. Send boat aboard. :"
The boat which Captain Stellwagen low.
cred, then conveyed his executive officer to
the rebel ram, and the officer asked to be
admitted on hoard. This was refused. -
The Lieutenant then repeated Capt. Stell
wagons statement, that we were in q sink
ing condition. The rebel replied: "You
cannot sink lower than the rails. We can.
not take you on board" The officer then
gave his parol, as demanded, and returned
to his ship. The rebels were then success
fully deceived as to the condition Of the
Mercedita. She laid in shoal water, anc
hence the reply that she could not sink be
low her rails. The ram steersd toward the
Keystone State and sent shot through
her steam drum, causing the death Of TWEEN
ty. one persons on the spot, and scaldin,
nine by steam; fifteen we're wounded anC
are lying at Port Royal; some of them ar,
in precarous condition. In the meautim,
the guubOat Housatonic engaged the othsl
ram driving her away. At half past six il
the morning both rams left the scene an,
proceeded up to Charleston. During tht
attack on our feet the Princess Royal, whiol
lay near the Housatonio, and was the che
object of prize on both sides. succeeded il
getting off, mainly thro ieh tha energies a
the Third Assistant Engineer Thurston
who piled into her fires all the infiamma6l
material at hand. Her escape is chiefly ow
: ing to his endeavors, as well as her safe ar
rival at this port.
The Mercedta steamed down to Por
Royal escaping with only one of her boil
. .. ers injured. She arrived safely at POI
Royal, and would be repaired in day.
The Keystone State was entirely disabled
but was towed to Port Royal by the Mem
phis.
The rebel statements that the Fedora
4 feet had entirely disappeared from the pot
- Of Charleston are entirely unsustancd b.
g the facts. During the daytime, our block
: aiding feet arc not particular as to keeping
). to the station, and on the day Of this IA
!, sault most Of those vessels sailed towar
. the Keystone State to uscertaine her cond
y ton whether she wanted any assistance.
~ This may account for their apparent absenc
j. at the time of the visit OF the foreign consul
as maintained by the rebel papers. D,
vessels as usual resumed their position
Q dark The New lronsides arrived the mel
Z, day, to reinforce the blockade. Inform
Il tion is also brought by the Princess Roys
b, OF the attack by the iron clad Montauk
i Fort McAllister, on the 2Sth ult. She W
I'd not at all disabled. She received sevente,
Q. shots in her sides and twelve on her turr.
without receiving any injury whatever,
" though engaged five hours. She return
Ia to her anchorage for want of shells. 1t /
-, ~ ing foggy next morning she did not retu
~ tr~ tka aktaoG N