The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-08
TIE TIE Siege Of Charleston.
EIE) HGEII4 20 - a>-4
THE FIGHT IN ST0NO RIVER.
Further p rticulars of the Attack Up
40 on the Gunboat Marblehead.

40 on the Gunboat Marblehead.
The following extracts Of aprivats letter
from one of the engineers on the United
States gunboat Marblehead, dated In Ssono
river, December 25th, and published in the
New York Post, givss graphic account OF
the attack of the confederates upon that
vessel ..r...s.1s e, s-y-- ~
no THE ATTACK.
sWs had expected for some days to 60 to
Port Royal, and the rebels probably hearing
of it, determinedto to give US parting bless
ing. had the morning watch to-day from
4 to 8 O'clock A. NJ, and was sitting in the
engine room, as usual when one of the
masters mates opened the engine.room
door and wished me "Merry Curistmas." "
This put me in mind Of home; and while
recurring in memory to the many pleasant
Christmas days spent at home / little
thought Of what was at hand. 1t was not
long before was startled by the shrek OF
rifle shell close over my head, instantly
followed by the loud summ 1ns of the Off
GERS of the deck. sAll hands to quarters,
we are attacked -.
wnstantly all was confusion, as you may
we'll imagine It was ABOUT six o'clock,
and quite dark, so that we could not see
from which side the attack came, Ispread
the fires and started the blower to get up
steam quickly. We had hauled the fires
On the starboard and west boiler some days
'evious, on account of bad leak, and SO
had only half our power, But | did the
best could, and before the chief engineer
arrived everything was in readiness.
PELILoUs POSITION
"The cable was slipped, and one bell
struck to start the engine, which was done;
but as we were deprived of one boiler, and
the fires were small on the other, the pres
sure fell 50 rapidly that the gauge showed
only five pounds. All this time the shells
were whizzing past us in all directions, as
fast as we could count, and occasionally
one would strike, throwing the splinters in
all directions. The captain, half dressed
sword in hand, was rushing around the de k
encouraging every body, aud giving orders
for firing and working the ship. The engine
worked slower and slower, and the captain
came to the hatch every little while shout
ing give her more steam! but all to no pur
pose; there was no steam to be had. How
eagerly watched the steam gauge to note
the first forward movement of the pointer.
aad how long watched in vain! The en-
gine was barely moving, and the pressure
diminishing. The captain sent 70: the
chief engineer, and told him he must have
steam;' out what could he do? Alreadywe
had been struck many times, and one man
was instantly killed, while We could not
bring our guns to bear, as we were not able
to move the vessel.
THE Pawnes was at anchor three miles
below in the Inlet and the rebel batteries
were masked. At last the powerful blast
of the blower began to tell upon our fires
aud joyfully We watched the gauges as it
grad Ially showed more steam. But for
long time our case seemed hopeless, and We
expected to get aground every minute
As We were able to increase the speed, we
could mauoeuvre with more facility and our
shots soon began to fall thick and fast among
the weeds on the shore near the village, aud
exploding, created great havoc. The cap
tain showed the most persistent bravery
As soon as be fund be could work the
vessel ho refused to 60 down the -iver, but
said he would save our troops stationed in
the village.
HEAVY FIRING.
"Th eleven inch gun was worked with
most admirable precision and dispatch, and
its tremendous report was heard every few
minutes. We continued to keep in motion,
so as to destroy the enemy's aim, and as
we now had plenty Of steam were able to
move with great facility. The rebels also
fred very rapidly aud with deadly effect.
A she'll passed through the maintopmast,
cutting away the shryuds, and scattering
the splinters all over the decks and the eu-
CINE room Whenever stepped up to the
batch the whiz of the shells was unusually
distinct, showing that the enemy were good
gunnsrs. Word was now brought down
that more men were killed, and the carpen
ter came down to sound the pumps. But
she had been hulled many times
there was no leakage. though we had eVery-