The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-10-12
The Torpedo Trial I'm Charleston
HarbOr..Furthcr Particulars.

The fact OF an attempt to blow up the
Yankee trigate lronsides in Charleston
harbor Monday night, has been publish
ed by telegraph. The Charleston Courier
gives the following account Of this daring
excursion:
The torpedo steamer David, with crew
OF four volunteers, consisting of Lieut.. VIM.
7. Glasseli, j. IL. TooMbs, Chief Engineer
and James Sullivan, Fireman of the gunboat
Chscora, with J. w. Cannon, Assistant Pilot
Of the guaboat Palmetto State, LETT South
Atlantic wharf between g and o'clock OH
Monday evening, for the purpose OF running
out To the Ironsides, exploding torpedo
under that Vessel near amidships, aud II pos
sible to blow her up. The weather being
dark and hazy favored the enterprise. The
boat, with its gallant little crew, proceeded
down the hartor, skirting along the shoals
on the inside of the channel until nearly
| abreast Of their formidable antagonist, the
New IrOnsidcs.
They remained in this position for a short
time, circling around Oh the large shoal near
the anchorage of The object Of their visit.
Lit. Glasscll, with doubie-barrelcd gun, sat
in front Of Pilot Cannon, who had charge OF
| the helm. Chief Engineer To0GbS was at
| the engine, with the brave and unttaun ed
| Sullivan, the volunteer fireman, when somc-
thing like the following conversation Gu
sued:
1t Glassell -."it is now O'Clock. Shall
We strike her? -
Pilot Cannon-"Ihat is what we came for.
am ready"
Engineer Toombs--"Let us go at her, then,
| and DO oHr best"
Sullivan (dreman)-'I ain with you ali,
| and waiting, 60 ahead"
The boat was now put bow on, and aimed
I tlr for hn Ia
| steamer darted forward the lookout on the
| Ironsides hailed them, with "Takc care
| there, you will run into us. What steamer
| is that?" Lieut.. Glasseli replied by discharg-
| ing one barrel at the Yankee sentinel, and,
rendering the gun to Pilot Cannon, told him
there was another Yankee, pointing to one
| with his body half over the bulwarks, and
| asked Cannon to take care of him with the
| other barrel.
| Tie next moment they lad struck the
ironsides, aud exploded the torpedo about
| fifteen feet from the keel, on the starboafd
| side. An immense volume OF water was
! thrown up. covering our little boat, and,
| going through the smoke stack, entered the
furnace, and completely extiaguished the
| fire.
In addition to this, pieces OF the ballast
had fallen in the works OF the engine, ren
dering it unmanageablc at that time. VOilcy
| after volley OF musketry from the crew Of
| the Ironsides and from the launches began
| to pour In upon them. Lieut.. Glassell gave
the order to back, but it was found impossi-
bic. In this condition, with no shelter and
| no hope OF escape, they thought it best to
surrender aud hailed the enemy to that effect.
The Yankees, however, paid no attention to
the call, but barbarOusiy continued the fire.
1t was then proposed to put on their lie
preserve 6, jump overheard, aud endeavor to
swim to the shore. All but Pilot Cannon
L.
said he would stay and take his chances in
the boat. Lieut.. Glasseli, Engineer Toomhs,
and Sullivan, the fireman, left the boat-the
two first having on life preservcrs, and the
latter supporting himself on one of the
matches thrown to him by the pilot. Engi-
neer TOOmbs becoming embarrassed with
his clothing in the water got back to the
boat and was assisted in by Cannon.
The boat was then rapidly drifting from
the lronsides. He now fortunately found a
match, and lighting torch crcpt back to the
engine, discovered and removed the cause OF
its not working, and soon got it in order
They then commemorate run the gauntlet
of the monitors and launches. The latter
seemed inspired with Il seeming dread Of
something supernatural, and opened path
right and left for the little steamer. The
Ironsidcs fired two cleven-inch shot 1t the
party as they sped away, but tired completely
over them. The crews Of the monitors,
which the steamer was obliged to pass on
her return, were also out and commenced a
heavy lire Of musketry upon her rs she was
passing. The launches made way evidently
| from a wholesome regard for her explosive
| character Engineer Toombs and Cannon
| reached their wharf in the city about mid
| night, fatigued,> ,>and presenting worn out ap-
pearancc, but rejoicing at their fortunate and
narrow escape. The David bears the honor
able marks of thirteen bullet holes
With regard to the damage of the Iron
sides, nothing positive is known. At the
moment of striking there was great conster-
nation on board 1t Was reported that the
crew in gangs were hard at work at the
pumps all day yesterday. Small boats were
seen continually passing between the Iron.
sides and the monitors. At nigLttall, how
ever, she remained ut hec old anchOragcd