Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-02-12
From the Charleston Courier, Sd inst



From the Charleston Courier, Sd inst
The Capture of the Isaac Smith,
The presence of the hateful gunooats 10 the waters
the Stono has been source OF Vexatlon ano mor'uc
ton to brave troops stationed on the lsanos WASH
ed by that stream. The impunity with when those
hostile vessels had steamed aDd sailed and rode az
anchor on the bosom of that river, had emooldened
them such degree that they took exquisite
in throwing their immense shot and smell at every PcaeI
who made his apes rance, and very often Ihe omcefs
and men would rega!e themselves On the luscious oys
ters that grow and ftten in the mud beds near the
shore.
Having enjoyed that blssful condition of security for
80 long tme the blue coated vandals imagined tnat
the river was THEIRS and confident of their ability
TO retain possession OF it the rebels attempted
to expel them therefrom.
It was while looking at ,everal of these gunboats
riding gracefully at anchor on the smooth surface OF
the Stono that General Ripley discovered the easbi-
ty of putting an end to their pleasant dreams lhat
skilul and energetic officer devised scheme on tne
spot which be communicated to Lieutenant Coionel
Yates and Majors Lucas and Brown. Inc plan re-
ceived the hearty approval of these able officers and ar
engagements were Immediately adopted for carrying 1t
into execution.
The command of the expedition was entrusted to
Colonel Yates and that officer displayed great skill IN
the selection of localities and praseworthy energy III
carrying out the admirable plans that were executed
with such brilliant success.
The attack which resulted in the capture OF the
Isaac Smith, was made by the following Companies :,
The Siege Train, Companies n and B, commanded
respectively by Capt. B. q. Webb and Lieut.. L. w.
Wilson, and commanded by Major Charles Aston, Jr.;
the Chestnut Light Artillery, OF Major Whites Bat
talion under the charge of Capt F. o. Shulz; Compa.
nv D. lst Regiment S. q. Artillery, with battery OF
II FOUNDER field guns, Capt. F. FL, Harleston, com
manding one Parrot gun, in charge of Lieut. T. E.
Gregg Company |, lst $. c. Regular Artillery, and
Companies and |, 10th Regiment 5. o. Volunteers,
commanded respectively by Captain S. M Roof and
Lieutenant R. M. Gunter acting Sharp shooters,
and stationed along the shore Johns Island from le-
cares to Grimba's
The right wing of artillery commanded by Lieut..
Col Joseph A. Yates. the left by Major Charles Ais
ton r and the Sharpshooters were under the charge
of Capt. j. o. Mitchell
A detachment of Major j. jonathan Lucas Bat
talon of Regulars was stationed at Grimball's on
James Island, under Captain John Gary with three
twenty -four FOUNDER rifle guns These guns were about
one hundred and fifty yards apart, and about four hun
hundred yards from the bank of the Stono. The gus
were manned by detachmepts from Companies A, B
and C. and were commanded respectively by Lieuten-
ants w e. Oger, f. b. Calhoun, and Captain I. Is.
Hayne.
Father down the S ono posted battery OF two
rifed guus with detachment of Sharp-shooters from
the 8th Georgia Battalion, under command OF Major a.
Wesmsn BrOwD
On Friday afternoon at half past four O'Clock, the
Isaac Smith passed up the river, all ignorant OF the
evil in store Tor her. Her confidence was not Interrupt
ted by the batteries under command of COL ates and
reached point in the river opposite the residence OF
Mr.. Thomas Grimball. She was making arrangements
to lower boat in which the Captain of the doomed
steamer going to pay visit to the Island for the
purpose of shooting a crane. but at that moment,
while the gentleman mind was dwelling upon baggng
a ueuber OF the stalking race, Captain Gary ignorant
of the designs against the existence of the harmless
bird, shocked his sporting propensity, and frightened
awav the pleasing purpose by discharge from his
batteries The shots the rife guns struck the side
of the guuboat with crashing sound One shot passed
through the magazine tore eff the arm of the second
engineer and killed three men, and another shot pierced
the boat hanging from the davits and played havoc
| with the steamers upper works.
The crane must have taken flight scared by the
whzziDg sound At any rate Lieut.. Conover dropped
the intention of securing of the white winged iced
era fish, and slipping bis cable mmedlatel began TO
retrace his down the river, rng furlousy and
with great accuracy while retreatDg. Her guns belch
ed forth grape shot and shell, with rapdy, but with
out doing any harm his assailans One grape shot
struck the gun of Company g. leaving its trace ong-
tudnaly.
On her way to the bend of the river the gunboat
came within range of Col Yates batteries, which open
ed upon her in splendid STYLE the hostile vessel replying
with spirit aud accuracy. All the batteries on the lett
now poured shot and shell into her with mercess ra-
pditV and terrible effect But still the gunboat kept
on her course until her machinery was so injured that
she was compelled to surrender.
By order of Col. Yates the officers and crew were
sent ashore in boats belonging to the captured vessel
and she was taken OF oy detachment O. our
The Isaac Smith is an important addition to oar
naval force. She iron screw steamer OF 453 tons,
and her armament consists OF one inch 30 FOUNDER
Parrot gun and eight inch Columbiads.
The officers and men who participated in that
sessf engagement deserve the highest praise tor their
Skill GOODNESS and galantry. They were entirely ex-
posed to the fierce and rapid fire of the heavy guns Of
the Isaac Smith but the perilous nature of their duties
only served to make their minds OF Che more firm and
their aim the more accurate.
But the surrender of the disabled gunboat did not
put an end to the work assigned to our brave troops
side " eel steamer coming up the river for
tire purpose OF rescug her unfortunate sister from the
bar d. of the reb s Major Brown allowed Der to come
within easy range of his batteries before he opened re
Sure of AIM he let loose his No. l. yclept the Gen
Ripley aud that gun did honor to its by tearing
one of the brave vessels small boats from its fastening
She also struck by the second shot, and finding the
spot somewhat dangerous, that enemy in black took
sober second thought and ncontinenty abandoned the
purpose of recapturing the Smith. Ii she had not been
actuatcd by high degree of magnanmity, she would
have retreatd before for she persisted long in her
purpose that she came we'll nigh sharing the fate of her
unlucky consort. Having satisfied herself that she
beyond the range of Major Browns guns the unfrend
" stranger poured furious storm OF shot and she'll in
to the woods the opposite bank of the river. hen
weary of that costly and harmless exhibition of bad
temper, she weighed anchor, and driftcd down the
stream
river for the purpose doubtless of firing into the tugs
employed 10 getting of the Isaac Smith, and may be
with the intention of retaking that vessel. She
painted white looked like the Huntress, and carried
four guns. The third shot from Major Browns guns
struck ,her little beyond midshps The fourth struck
her wheel house. and" says correspondent to whose
kindness indebted for much of this narrative,