Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-08-27

e.
yuns "a the meantime ia q very industrious
manner The Monitor Tscamseh passed us
while We were aground, spd ran ovsv the tor
pedo We had soughtt to aviod. which Nxploded
under her and she went to the bottom at once.
We backed Of. got anost and started ahead
again 10 time to save us from the famous rebel
ram Tennessee, which came at us full speed
and passed few feet astern, delivering broad.
side which dore US some damage aud killed two
marines. We were now past the Fort and
soon out cf rsoyt Of their guns, which they
used on us as long as they could bring them to
bear, supposipg, as some OF our prisoners say
that we were the flag ship. As soon as we got
out Of range we came 10 anchor, the retreat
from quarters was beaten sod officers aud men
we're allowed time to look around, bnt II was
of short duration, as The Hartford soon sigma
lixed that the ram was coming. We went W
quarters again and were ready for her. MOST
Of the vessels that had passed the Forts at'ac3'
! ed her, some running at, aud raining her' anu
others pouring in brosdsides OF heavy shot,
most oftbeu, Rlancing off and doing but iitsle
damage. At last one of the Brooklyn's 9,inch
shot carried awsy ber smoke pipe close to the
deck, the Mooongahela ran nearly over her; the
two Monitors bemed her In; her steering geer
wouldn't work, and down came her flag and
white one ruu up in its place. Boats were sent
from the nearest ships; she was boarded. and 10
few moments the Stars aud Stripes waved
triumpbsps from her flag staff; three cheers
were given: the retreat beaten. and OUT victory
won.
We were under FIRE over all hour, and our
guns were handled 10 the most courageous
manner. In two instances the entire guns crew
were swept awsy, being either killed or wound
ed. and other men were ordered to their places
| by officers covered with blood and mad with
excitement. Between each broadside could
be heard the shrieks and crowns or the wound
| ed, mingled with the sound Of passing shell,
crashing Of iimbers, and fall Of spiinsers. DC.
casionally shell would explode between the
decks, making sad havoc with the men there
stationed to pass ammunition. 2 1i9 al2
| We we're struck twenty eight times 10 the
hull, four times in the muir mast. once in the
mau aud the fore topsail yards, aud three times
I 10 he smoke pipe. Our rigging was cut te
] pieces: boats riddled. and the flag shot away
from the main truck. We had one ofbcer and
| u men killed, and officers and 20 men wousd
ed. some mortally. There were many more
knocked down und went below, but were sent
on deck again when they we're found quite un
harmed. We had bags filed with ssnd PLACED
around eur steam chimney, aud they were thu
/ means Of saving all iu the engine room from
death by scalding, for they stopped number
of shots that would have pierced the boilers
We also bad. eur spare chain cable thrown uI
:. on the outside Of sbs sbips which also dom
good service IN stepping shot that would other
wise have passed through the engine and FRI
rooms. 1
We fred l7S shot and shell from our larg
guns and number Of rouuds from small arr
from the main and fore tops. I think It wa
, one Of the most daring feats Of the war. to o
, tempt TO pass two forts and q line OF waite
, batteries with the chip channel within tw
; hundred yards Of one Of them; the channel file
with torpedos, and q rebel ram and numb'
Of gunboats awaiting US inside. We ha'
; captured the ram acd one gunboat, and Il
others left for parts unknown. The rebels bic
!, up one fort and are negotiating now for Il
surrender of the others If there has been
more daring thing done 10 this war it has e
capped my notice. or slipped my memory.
GEORGE 4. Tower. End Asst Engineer,
. U. s. Steamer Brooklyn.