The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-12
The nght at LegarevlIIe. $. O.
The ATTACK ON THE UNITED STAT
Gm-RoAT aMARBLEHEAD.n

The ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES
GUN-BoAT "MARBLEHEAD."
The Navy Department has received of
fetal information in relation to the at
tack upon the gun-bo at Mar6Iehead in
Stone Inlet, on Christmas morning, by
which Robert Brown, Lorenzo D. Shaw
and Joseph Phillips, were killed, and
Charles Moon, Alexander Henderson,
John Hackett and Charles Semms, woun-
ded.
Commander Balch, of the Pa,cnee, says:
AT $40 on the morning of the 25th of
December the enemy opened on the Mar
Jlehead, which was replied TO vigorously.
At 625 the PaOnee opened fire on the
enemy's batteries from her one hundred
pound rifle gun. At O'Clock the G.. p.
Williams, on hearing the firing, slipped
her cable and came down Folly River
under sail and opened fire handsomely;
the rapid FIRE from three vessels soon
caused the enemy to retreat, and at 100
the enemy had retreated in disorder,
leaving two of bis guns in the batteries
The PatCnee then proceeded off Legar-
esville Soon after this General Gordon,
commanding the troops at the south end
of Folly Island, came up and said that if
the Rq,Onee would cover the advance, he
would send an infantry force to bring of
the guns which the enemy had left
The force accordingly sent, and every
thing denoted that the enemy had made
8 precipitate retreat. The Marblehea d
was struck twenty times, and much in =
jured. Her officers and men stood to
the guns until the enemy had retreAted.
She has twelve shots in her hull, one be-
tween wind and water. Eighteen shots
struck in the upper works and aloft, and
one 80 FOUNDER she'll lodged in the steer
age, but did not explode, which shows
that the enemy had something more an
mere field pieces. The enemy's guns
were brought away by an expedition
from the three vessels"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A letter from an other officer of the
Aa,5lehead gives the following account
of the ssvere fghting:-
The Rebels had two batteries so placed
as to bring 3 cross fire upon US. We
paid no attention to the most distant bat
terry; but slipping our cable, made for the
nearest, and getting IS near IS we could
within about six hundred yards-we
went at it in downright earnest. The
scene was wild and fearful beyond de-
scriptiOn.
The aim Of the enemy was true, and
their shot and shell took effect upo nour
small vessel almost every time. Within
fifteen minutes three OF our men were
killed and six wounded; but the men
stood brsvely to their guns and fought
like heroes, whilst Captain Meade cheer
ed them ia . voice of inspiration. Too
much praise cannot be bestowed upon the
gallaD:Sy Of the crew; and young Wins
low, ga acting ensign, was conspicuous
for his conduct and courage, and received
the warm and hearty commentator Of
the captain.
We had but four guns to bear upon
their twelve. The Odds were great, and
we were made to feel it 50 severely that
our Captain looked anxiously for aid
from she Pal0nss. She came At last, and
- she fred the first enfilading shot the
enemy abandoned their guns and fed /
with precipitation. Ons-fifth OF the |
fighting men on deck were killed or
wounded, much greater mortality than