, 1864-12-06

Tic Fortress Monroe correspondent OF the
N 7. Ford gives the following particulars
Of the sinking Of the pir4te Florida:
On the 18th instant the Florida, then lying
ut anchor in Hampton Roads, Was ordered by
the Navy Department to be taken up the
james river and anchored under the guns OF
the ram Atlanta, of Newport News Sho
Baker. who had crew Of ten men, and there
were besides Third Assistant Engineer Lan-
nan, an Acting Ensign, and four fremen.
--On the 18th the Florida went to Norfolk to
coal, and just before starting WIS run into BY
the'transport steamer Alliance and VERY scri-
ously damaged. The transport struck her On
her bow, knocking off her head -chnins aud
booms, and otherwise injuring her. She was
in Tery bad condition when captured, and all
the time since her arrival here sac has leaked
SO badly IS to keep the steam pump engaged
continually. The collision with the Alliance
which constantly poured into her, causing
her to fill at the rate Of eight inches M hour.
On the arrival of the Florida. at Newport
News an additional pump WAS secured from
the Atlanta, and the two were kept uninter-
ruptedly at work. The position Of the YES
three quarters Of a mile below the Atlanta.
Here she had remained since the Goth. 4
very strict watch had been kept day and
night, as it was supposed that measures might
be taken By the rebels to attempt her dc5truc-
tion from the shore.
the pumps on board suddenly gave out,
throwing III additional burden upon the ro-
manning one, though the water was for q
time apparently kept down as before. At12N
O'Clock Mr. Baker inspected the pump, and
observing that the water was mot then gain
neer in charge reported to him that he could
not keep the vessel clear, and that the water
was gaining constantly. The commander i'm
mcdiately called NIL hands, the deck pumps
Mcrc rlgEed, and they commenced bailing ac-
lively. The At1anta was also slgnallcd with
out delay, and two boats' crews were hurried
from the ram to the aid Of The sinking vessel.
before they arrived, however, the water Ind
risen considerably above the flrc-room floor,
SO that it was FUND necessary to put the fires
ont. The pump engine wns thus stopped, and
the water kept pouring in at fearful rate. It
was impossible, at any time utter it wasfound
the Inflated ship was sinking, to move her
toward the shore, as there was hut seven
rounds pressure Of steam-just sufficient to
work tho pumps. Neither were there means
at hand ior towing ler ashore. From the fact
that the boilers Of tho Florida were con-
structcd for burning soft coal, and there was
only hard coal on board, it took, under any
circumstances, long time to get up sufficient
steam to work her engines.
LII few minutes after sending the two
Atlanta, came himself on board to see what
could be done 10 keep her adoat. But it was
apparent that she must coon sink, and the
men were ordered to save their ciIrcts, and
prepare to leave her to Acr fatc. Tie Florida
kept raridly filling, SO that at Z o'clock the
water was q foot above the berth deck.
at the samc time that Mr.. Baker slgnaled
the atlanta he sent a telegraplic message to
Admiral Porter at this place that the Florida
vas sinking. The Admiral Immediately or
dcrcd the tug Page to steam up to the Fiori-
da, and t,w her into shoal water toward the
shore; Tue tug came alongside at 7:15, hut.
the Florida was by tLis time SO near sinking
that it was deemed dangerous to attach it, as
in going down she would take the tug along
will her. + few minutes after, with eight
feet Of water in her, she carccned over and
disappeared stern foremost. Mr.. Baker and
Capt. Woodward remained alongside in the
ting until she went under.
The FloIida had all her guns and every
thing on board, just as when she WAS cap
tured. The cause Of her sinking Is considered
undoubtedly to be the collision with tho
transport steamer, and It is supposed that the
Government will call upon the owner Of that
vessel Tor damages.