Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-01-12
THE FIGHT IN sToNO RIVER, s. C
Particulars of Me Auack upon the GaaJoat Mar
bIeLegd

OtehedQ.
The following extracts of a private letter from
one of the engineers on the United States gun
boat Marblehead, dated in S'ono riv"r u 's'' hr p
% gives q graphic acceA-i NJ. lht it'',E .. iAe
rebels upon that vessel:
We had expected for some days to 60 to Port
Royal and the rebels probably hearing OF it,
determined to give us parting blessing. mad
the morning watch to- day, from 10 O'clock,
A. NJ, and was sitting in the engine-room, as
| usual, when one of the masters mates opened
the engne-room door and wished me " Merry
Christmas" This put me in mind oil nome !
aud while recurring iu memory to the many plea
sant Christmas days spent at home, htue
thought Of what was at hand. II was not long
before was startled by the shrek Of rifle shell
close over my head, instantly followed by the
loud summons of the officers Of the deck, GAN
hands TO quarters, we are attacked"
Instantly all wus confusion, as you may well
imagine. 1t was about 6 O'Clock, and quite dark,
so that we could not see from which side the at
tack came. l spread the fires aud started the
blower to get up steam quickly. We had hauled
the fires the starboard aud best boiler some
DAYS previous on account Of a bad leak, and so
had only half our power. But did the best !
could, and before the chief engineer arrived
everything was in readiness.
The cable was slipped, and one bell was struck
| to start the engine, which was donei but as we
were deprived of one boiler, and the fires wei g
small on the other, the pressure fell 30 rapidly
that the gauge showed only five pounds. All this
| time the shells were whizzlng past us in all dl'
rectious as fast as we could count, and OCCASION
ally one would strike, throwing the splinters in
all directions The cap ain, half dressed, sword
in hand, was rushing around the deck, encourag'
Jug everybody aud giving orders Tor hring hnu
working the ship.
me engine worked slower and slower, and the
captain came to the hatch every little while,
| sboutipp 0Give her more steam but All 10 no
| ,,urpuse there wa. no steam to be had. How
eagerly watched the steam gauge to note the
forward movement Of the pointer, and how long
| | watched in vain. The engine was barely mov-
ing aud the pressure diminishing The captain
sent for the chef engineer, and told him that he
'must have sieam !" but what could he do?-
Already we had been struck many times, aud ont
man instantly killed, while we could not bring
our guns to bear as We were not able 10 move
| the vessel.
The Pawnee was at anchor three miles below
in the inlet, and the rt bel batteries we're masked
At last the powerful blast Of our blower began
TO tell upon cur fires, and joyfully we watched
the guage as it gradually showed more steam -
But for long time our case seemed hope ess,
and we expected to get aground every minute =
As we were able to increase the speed, We could
man@uvre with more facility, and our thots sooI
began to fall thick and fast among the woods OIL
the shore near the village, and, exploding, creat
ed great havoc The captain showed the most
persistent bravery. AS soon as he found he
could work the vessel he refused to 60 down the
river, but said he would save the handful o
our troops stationed IN the village.
The eleven-inch gun was worked With mos
admirable precision and despatch, and its tre-
mendou- report was heard every few minutes
We continued to keep in motion, SO as to destroy
the enemys aim, and as We now had plenty oi
steam, we were able to move with great facility
The rebels also fired very rapidly and with dead
ly effect A shell passed through the main-top
mast, cutting away the shrouds, and scattering
tile splinters all over the deck and the engin'
room Whenever stepped up to the hatch, the
whiz of the shells was unusually distinct, SHOW
ing that the euemy were good gunners. Word
was new brought down that more men were XIII
ed, and tie carpenters came down tO sound th'
pumps. But although she had been hulled many
times there was no leakage, though we had ever
thing in readiness for such an event. The Cap
tain kept shouting GIVE il TO them, boys WI
are driving them aud showed no fear, onl.
dodging the balls, as we all did.
Al last our rapid broudside fire Of six gum
began TO tell and soon the gallant "ehiyalry
were in full retreat, leaving their guns in TN
woods. They could not stand our rapid ire, ant
soon vamosed We gave three cheers, ana wer
then relieved from quarters, after an engagement
of two hours All hands were called to music
nm the ouarter deck and officers and men, be
primed with powder, assembled round the binna
cle 20 hear the roll called. 1t was found that si
ala not answer 10 their names, and the corpse
On the deck aud wounded men on stretohers toll
the story -,
htAt th,s moment the Pawnee came up, closet
followed by the mortar schooner G. T. Williams
which. though sailing vessel, had come uOWl
from Folly river, some six miles, to our assls
; ,once and showed the most praiseworthy prompt
,ass altnoneh too late to participate in the en-
oapement The Pawnee never fl ed gun or re
rnived n shot The men " faced the music VII
,he most uuAincling heroism, and did Ihemseve
eredit The captain complimented l9em hlghiy
o,d said that the victory VAS all due to their el
torts. Two of the crew Of the ll-inch gun wer
,lmo st instantly killed by shells, and the cap
min (,s seamal) Of one Of the aft noWitzers wa
also killed by rife shot, which TOOK on tue 20
of his head One OF the cOnl-heayeTs was badl
snounded bv fraament OF the anchor Bit whic
was knocked to atom by shot, and two oih'
men we're quite badly injured, besides sever
others scratched by splnters. The enemy ne
nreeiilitately, leaving two large rlhe guns au
carriages, and many knapsaeks ana musAets'au
one dead body
We landed but CO uld not carry oil the gun
on account Of the marsh nnd 50 spike1 tuelu al
threw them into the river IL We ugu wv s.o'
cur ground SO well, the "rebs hou'u na'e VI
ured Leeareville and all our treops there al
would then have erected battery 80 as T. cou
mand the whole of the river. Our captain acI
nobly, aud we are all proud of him an hon
was shown to the brave fellows who zen III y
action while in the performance Of lheir uIH
Their corpses were laid upon the stal looh ,yit
Of the quarter deck, and carefully coy''' cnfs
the finest American ensign On the sniP P.,,ne@
were made for them on board tue -, I;
which they were laid. and they are now a%s'u ,S NJ
burial boat has just lea 'ne snip ~ 'ns my "a a
poso Vi 81 he nresent ut the burial, and o
onIS loo wiling to do the heroes honor.
The guns used BY the rebels were very very nrn Sr
rifled pieces, and were worked "ih s''
We were struck twenty times, every shot pa
a ing through the ship or masts, and the deeK
covered with spliniers and blood rlus
struck the ship at the steerage, and, pass
I'D through made perfect lumber room oil II.
hole through the ship was as large as nat