, 1863-02-19
STATEMENT OF THE FLEET OFFICERS.

OE< AHAAlEsIDS& r Cd. ~. 1cIj. ]
We, the undersigned, officers commanding
ron oif Charleston, have seen the proclanla-
tion IF Gcu. Beauregard and Commodore In
gralsll,, herewith appended, as also the re-
suits of the so-called engagement, viz: ''Two
vessels sunk, four set on fire, aud the remain
der driven away" and also the statement,
tlG1t the British Consul and the commander
Of Tic British war steamer Pctrel had pre-
viously gone five miles beyond the usual an
choragc Of the blockade, and could see notl-
ing OF them with tllcft glasses. We deem 1t
our duty 10 state that the so;called results arc
false in every particular. No vessels were
sunk: none were sci on fire seriously. Two
vessels alunc were injured Of consequence.
The Mcrccdita had her boiler exploded By 4
shell from the only gnn fired at her. wien
suri risca BY IN attack ut night. a thick haze
va; vas r!es1ilinEG: The steiner Key stone
moment Of attempting to run down one Of
tfe ranlE.
Tie Keystone State WIS at once assisted BY
the Memphis, which vessel exchanged shots
Will. the iron ram rs she was withdrawing to-
stone State, as did also the Quaker City. So
hasty was the retreat Of the rams, that, al
though they may h:lve perceived that the Key
stone State had received serious damage. 10
attempt WIS even made to approach her. The
stetsin and the Ottawa, at the extreme end Of
| position until after the firing had ceased, and
t the Stcttin merely saw the black smoke Ms the
| ram disappeared over the bar. Tic Flag Was
alongside the Mercedita, after, it seems, she
| had yielded to the r:im. supposing herself
sinking. The rams Withdrew hastily toward
| the lmfbor, and on their way were fred ut by
the l1ousatonic and Augusta, until both had
| got beyond reach Of their guns. They anchor
I'd uasicr the protection Of their forts, and Te.
! naiued there. No vessel, iron-clad or other,
passed out over the bar after the return Of the
runs; In short, the III Wna4illa :9 WAS, was not
commenced firing; when she moved out
toward the yesscT for her anchorage
The Housatonlc va. never beyond the usual
line Of the blockade. Thc Quaker City, in the
forenoon, picked NJ ler anchor, wl'icl. sl.e
firing. The Flag communicated with tho
seniar officer on board tho lIonsatonic, thai
forenoon, soon a1tcf the firing ended, and tht
blockade continued u before. No vessel ra1
IN or out of port that day, nor was E my at
stone State WAS, necessarily, ordered to Por
| ROYAL for rcpairs. The Unadilla returned Il
her usNal anchorage, after communicating
| with the senior officer, y here she remained
all day. Throughout the day, two small tug
boats remained, apparently in in. attendance q,
B-aurrgard. The prize steamer Princes
Royal, which lad been alongside the Housa
tonic, was dispatched 10 Port Royal one lou
and = lElf after the ram had retired to th
| cover If the tat cries, and the firing la
ceased, at abont !'30 Am. These are th
facts, and wc do not hesitate to stat
that no vessel did conc out beyond til
bar af,cr the return Of the rams at between
and ) clock a. 1n., TO the cover Of t.: fort
| Ne believe the statement that any vessel cam
: | anywhere near the usual anchorage Of any {
thu b1ockader*, or up to the bar affcr tn
, withdrawal Of the rauis, to be dclibcratcl
and knowingly false. If the statement ffol
the papers, rs now befora us, has the sanctio
8 Of The Pctrcl and tile foreign Consuls, NC ca
: onl, t7erlore that foreign officers can les
their official positions to tile spreading bcfo
q the world for an unworthy object, untrutl
: 1atcnt 10 every officer Of the squadron
WA. ROGERS fAr1oR,
: Ca1tain CoudG Q: $. steamer Housatonic.
: j. II. STRONG, )
, Com. Comdg U. s. steamer Flag
! JAS. MADISON FRA1LEr,
Com. Copld'g U. s. steamer Quaker City.
E. G. PAnRoTT,
= Com. Comd'g g. S. steamer Augusta
r. G. WAThoUGH.
ComdE U. 8. steamer Memphis.
!. c. J. VAN ALsr1sE,
t Comd'g U. s. steamer stettin'