Maryland free press., 1863-02-06
Important From Charleston.
4 NAVAL BATTLE.

Important From Charleston.
A NAVAL BATTLE.
nSrFrom Rebel sources, we have lnforiha-
ton of a great disaster to the biockaoins
SQUADRON off Charleston, S. G. The despatch,
es as published below, are from the kichmohu
Dispatch. .o.o
CHARLESTON, Jan. 81, 1858
This morning the gunboats Palmetto State
Captain Rutledgc, ,and Chitora, Captain L iuch'
er, accompanied by three small steamers-tne
General Clinch, Eliwan and Chesterheid-aii
under the command of Commodore lngraham'
made an attack on the blockaders, and succee-
ded in sinking to and crippling athird. -
The engagement commenced at four o'clck.
The Palmette State, with Commodore In
graham on board, opened fire upon the feder-
al gunboat Mercedita, carrying eleven guns
and one hundred and ffty-eight men, which
was soon sunk in five fathoms of water: Her
commander, Captain Stellwagen, with boats
crew. came on board and surrendered. One
shot pierced her boiler, going clear through.
Captain Stellwagen and crew were paroied by
Commodore Ingraham.
CAPTAIN Tucker, of the Chicora, reports
sinking another Federal gunboat and the dis
abling of the steamship Quaker City. The
latter was set on fire by the Chicora, and
hauled down her flag to surrender, but after
wards managed to escape, using only one
wheel She was very seriously damaged
The number of the blockading fleet outside
at the time of the attack WIS thirteen, with
two first class frigates, the susquehanna and
Canadaigua
The federal loss was very severe. 1t was
complete success ON our part, with not a man
hurt.
Our gunboats were not even struck.
All the blockaders have disappeared. There
is no one to he seen within five miles with the
strongest kind of glasses. Our boats are now
returning to Charleston:-1
THE REBEL OFFICIAL REPORT:
OK BOARD GUNBoAT PALMETTO STATE.
Invent out last night This vessel struck
the Mercidita, when she sent a boat on board
and surrendered The officers and crew were
paroled. Captain Tucker thinks he sunk one
vessel and set another on fires When she struck
her flag. The blockading feet had gone to
southwark and eastward out of sight.
D. N. INGRAHAM,
Flag Officer Commanding.
CHARLESTON, Jan. 81, 1868
Our gunboats Palmetto State and Chicora
have reached the wharvcs. They were cnthu-
siastically checred by an immeuse concourse
of citizens who had assembled to greet them.
Salutes were fired from the forts and batteries
Not man was hurt on our side, and our
runboats were not struck by the enemy. Oui
attack on the feet was complete surprise tt
the blockadersj each one running away with
out caring fof the others.
1t is supposed that nearly ali of the crew
of the Mercedita pcrished.
The Palmetto State, which engaged tn,
Mercidita, having no boats and fighting a
the time, could render her no assistance.
The Quaker City was struck twice, and ont
of her side wheels almost torn off,
CHARLESTON, Feb. 4, 1863
; General Beaurcgard and Commodore In
graham, rs commanders of the land and nn
y val forces, have issued joint proclamation
I dated January 81, Declaring the blockade q
Charleston raised, the entire hostile squodro,
, having been sunk, burned or dispersed by TIN
} superior naval forces of the confederacy.
!, 1cSlcfusi) ditcIhoou S-Ci-0Idt beduTcEdTt
. placed steamer at the disposal Of the fbreigI
Consuls to see for themselves that no blockade
!, existed.
The French and Spanish Cbnsuls, accom-
panied by General Ripley, accepted the invi
tation. The British Consul, with the Com
> mander of the Bfitish war steamer Petrol hat
I previously gohe five thiles beyond the tsua
Y anchorage of the blockaders and cottld see
= nothing of them with glasses.
1 Late in the evening four blockadefs reap
= peared, keeping far out. This evening larg,
e number of blockaders DIRE in sight, but keel
l steam up; evidently ready to run.
3 CHARLESTON, Feb. l. 1868.
, OFFICIAL PRocLAMTIoN
HEADou ARTERs, LAND AND NAVAL FORCES.
i CHARLEsTowN, S. c., Jan. 81, 1868.
t AT abont five o'clock this morning the Con
federate States naval force on this station
r attacked the United States blockading flee
off the harbor of the city of Charleston, ant
/ sunk, dispersed or drove off and out of sigh
r for the time the entire hostile fleet.
= Therefore we, the undersigned, commander
G respectively of the Confederate States nava
/. and land forces III this quarter, do hereb,
8 formally declare the blockade by the Unitet
States of the said city of Charleston, S. c., tc
s be raised by superior force of the Confeder.
ate Jtates from and after this 81st day of Jan
5 tary, A. D. 1868.
t G. 7. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
u. N. N.INGRAHAM,
Flag Officer commanding Naval Forces in
South Carolina.