, 1864-04-28
THE DI9ASTER AT PLY
.MOUEAH.
Sinking Of The Gunboat SoRkh1eld,
From the n. T. HeraIJ>l

Inc rebel ram It plymouth, North Caro-
llns, has had the effect OF not only aolns
great damage to our ihipping there bnt has
neHs re receive from there Il conflicting vel
painful. The ram Of which 60 much has beer
eald and precautiou taken to guard axajust,
ran past Fort Gray on Monday night, aftei
The moon Ind disappeared, Or the opposite
bank Of the Roanoke river, and thus eluded
the Vigilance Of our gunboats. This rebel
with the current After leaving the range d
Fort Gray her engines were set in motion,
and, bow on, she pushed for our gunboats.
and succeeded in the sinking Of the gunboat
southneld, q ferryboat carrying a battery OF
alx heavy Enns. The sou1hneld and Mani,
flasehip OF Captain Flusser, were chained to.
gethcr, to present lnosa formidable front to
the ram, and to keep the other ailoas in case
one Vas disabled. Tho ram shot past the
Miami and bored her PROV into the qua,ter
Of the SeutAflela with great force. The
crouchtng Of the saw like PROV Of the rebel
ram amcuE the timber wss fearful, aud the
ofi1ee crested thereby Has probably ten to
minutes after being attacked.
4 last shot bet ore sinking WAS fired BY the
crew Of the Sorthleld nto the rebel RIM.
by rur ming the 100 FOUNDER Parrott forward
the stern Of the boat having sunk frst-bat
the etdes' Of the rebel gnn.oat bstng ssslush-
r<boundeE back into the water.
Finding the Seuthfield gone, the ram made
for the Miami Captain Fiusser stood b7 tlo
large gun apd asked what charge it contained,
He was answered a shell, and he made the
remark, "Let us fire this, and afterwards We
Captain Flueser sighted the gun himsclt the
iron-clad being only half u length from him.
The shc1l fired Tas teu-second fuse, which
struck the roof Of the ram, rebouuded and
hit Captain Flusscr. In striking him. the
shell exploded md killed the gallant officer
Instantly, almost tearing him to pieces.
The Mtami retired below Plymouth, having
succeeded in picking up number OF tho OFT
GERS and crew Of the southfleld- Captain
French. Of the last named vessel, was also
On board. Tbs commanding officer of the
Miami considered 1t best to withdraw, as tie
men were perfectly frantic ut the fall Of their
commander, whom they dearly loyed. OF
course, the rebel ram had full sway for the
time being, but steers clear Of Gen Wcssels'
AQpouuuer PARROTS.
The attack OF the iron-clad on the Roan-
nke river On our fleet Ia couple with simul~
taneons one on Our land forces by some ten
to twelve thousand rebels It Is confidently
asserted that Longstreet's corps has again
come to North Carolina, and mad the attack
On Plymouth, and are also 10 undertake he
capture Of Little Washington, Roanoke Is
land and NcWbern. In my dispatch Of the
aoth 1stated that our pickete were driven IN,
and an engagement might be anticipated ii
anY moment; and so 1t has turned out.
a demand for the surrender OF Plymouth
YES made by the rebel commander, under
flag Of truce, to Rrigadler General Wesaels>
giring him half an honr te.:makc up his mind,
aud volunteering the Information that he 1.-THE
rebel commandtD had twelve thousand
troops opposed TO him. General Vessels
replied: Il do not need half second; my
mind is made up; Il you want Plymouth
come and take it.'' This vas the last heard
from them General Vessels Is q fine soldier
and every one has the ntmosf confidence ID
him He will hold out until rcinforcements
can reach him.
The casualties, as FIR rs can be ascertained,
are very light, We having heard Of no other
loss Of life except the gallant Flusser. Ad-
mfral Lee has been duly posted on Affairs, and
no doubt be has done everything In his pow
er to check further depredations By the rebel
iron clad.
The non.combatanta resident at Plymouth
were stnt away BY General Vessels On Sun
day. He has made erery preparation for
great struggle, and will not give up his posi-
lion until completely overpoHered,