Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-09
LOSS OF THE IRON AGE.

Particulars Respecting The Loss Of The "Iron lgs.n
NopFoLK, Va, Friday, Jau. 29.--The circum-
stances attending the loss Of the Iron Age, of
Wilmington harbor, arc as follows =
On the morning Of the 9th, she received or
ders 10 proceed in connection with other vessels
OF the blockading squadron, to L9ckwood's Folly
Inlet for the purpose Of getting off the blockade
runner Rendigo, which Lad been run ashore
The Iron age, drawing the least water was Or
dered In to make fast her liawscr to the stranded
vessel, which she did, aud on the same evening
herself and the Montgomery made II fruitless at
tempt to drag of the blockade runner. Further
proceedings were discontinued until high wa,er,
at 4j A. NJ of the 10th, when second attempt
was made by the Iron age, Montgomery aud
Daylight to got the vessel off, While engaged in
this, the current drifttd the other TWO vessels
so much to the GO stward tun, ,.be Ion Age un-
fortunately grounded.
This, however,, would have been Of little corr
sequence had not tue fouling OF the propel!ers Of
the Daylight nnd Montgomery by hawsers pre-
vented their coming to the mmediatt aid Of tic
Iron Age She was, therefore. Obliged to remain
on the sands over one tide, and II must be geuerl-
ly known that there is more or less quicksand on
that coast, which caused the Iron Age to mbed
herself to such an extent as to preclude the
possibility OF being extreated from her perlous
position Capt. Stone, however, did not give up
NJ, when he received orders from the Admiral
to prepare to abandon the ship. This was now
unavoidable, As the enemy had commenced the
erection Of batteries on the Shore not bali
mile Distant and at low water the magazine Of
the vessel would be entirely exposed to their
fire.
The question now arose whether au attempt
should be made to save few hundred dollars
worth of Government stores, at the risk Of being
blown up, or whether the vessel should be fred
at once, 10 prevent it from falling into the hand.
Of the Rebels is only those that are intimate
ly acquainted with the old regular naval service
who can appreciate The emotions Of Capt Stone
when he felt called upon to apply the torch ic
this his first command. That he decided rightly
and that his course will be jusutle by the Navy
| Department, there cuu be little doubt.
AS adovo stated, orders were received on ia,
( evening of the 10th to abandon the shi, bat no
positive Instructions we've given 10 set her Oh fire.
The weather, however, had meanwhile become
threatening, the wind increasing, with rising
sea from the sou Inward, and it was evident "a
Captain Stone that the batteries of tho enemy
bshind the sand hill, would TIC completed b,
morning. The first act OF Captain Stone vas t.
slYo and place out Of danrer the sick nu,
wouuded, which he did--as well as, subsequently,
the majority Of the officers and men--by send
ing Them into the boals in a bowhne around
| hawser outside OF the serf. Retaining five inei
in whose judgment he had confidence, at precise
| ly A. Al. he ordered the ship TO be fred in thl
yoeman's store room, engineers store room, ware
room and cabin, which being satisfactorily don,
he entered his gig, aud passing through the sur
reported on board III Gov. Buckingham. Fear
ing that some accident might happen to proven
the Simultaneous ignition OF all the powder oil
board, Captain Stone had previously ordered al
the powder tanks to be uncovered which causel
one OF the most magnificent pyroteehnio display
ever Witnessed
The Iron Age was one of those vessels pur.
chased by the Government from the Pembertol
Iron Works in Maine, and was of about fou
hundred and twenty tons burden, and CARRIE
x S-iucl guns, together with three 30-pounde
riff $.
THE Iron Age left Boston on the 4th of Septem
Der last, since which time she has been instru
mental iH the destruction of the blockade runner
Arabian, Venus and Douro.
After the destruction of the Iron Age, Capta
Stone was ordered to distribnte his officers an
men among the vessels Of the squadron in net
Of reinfOrcemeuts, having done which be repair
ed to Norfolk, to await the command Of Admira
Lee. q