The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-07-22

PAID FOR IN ADVANCE.
NO deduction made except to our regular advotts-
NIX patrons
Capt. ScInmc's OGlcfn1 Report. .
SIR: l have the honor to inform Won. that
in accordance with my intention, a., previously
announced to you, steamed out of the harbor
OF Cherbourg, between nine and ten o'clock on
tho morning of the 10th of June, for the pur-
pose OF engaging the encmy's steamer Kcarsare,
which had been lying off and on tho port for
several days previously. After clearing the
harhor we deserted the enemy, with his head
OFT shore. at Il distance of about seven miles.
We were three quarters of an hour in coming
up with him. l had previously pivotcd nv
guns to starboarl and made all my preparations
for engaging tho enemy on that side. When
within mile and quarter ,of the enemy, he
suddenly wheeled, and bringing his head III
shore, presented his starboard battery to me-
By this time we were distant about one mile
from each other, when 1 opened on him with
solid shot, to which he replied in few minutes
and the engagement became active on 10th
sides.
The enemy now pressed his ship under full
head Of steam, and to.prevcnt our passing each
otecr too speedily, and to keep our respective
broad-sides bearing, it'becamc necessary to fight
in a circle, the two ships >stcaming GROUND
common centre, and preserving Il tlistsnce from
each other OF from a quarter to half Mlilc.-
When We got within good shell range, we open
ed upon him with she'll Some ten or fifteen
minutes after the commencement of the action,
our spanker gaff was shot away, anil our cns;on
came down by the run. This was immediately
replaced by another at the miZZcn mast. head
The firing now became very hos, and the enc.
mys shot and shell soon began to tell upon o.ur
hull. knocking down; Ging and disabling
number of men in different parts OF the ship
Percelving that our she'll, though apparently
exploding against the enemy sides, were do
, ing him but little damage, rcturnrd to solid
shot firing, and from this onward altcrnated
with shot and she'll.
After the lapse of about one. hour. and ten
minutes, our ship was ascertaincd to be in ~
sinking condition, the cnelny's shell having ex-
large apcrtnrcs, through which the water
rushed with great rapidlty.
For some few minutes, mad hopes Of bci,,r
able to reach the Ffench coast for which pur
pose gave the ship all steam, and set such of
the fore and att sails us were available The shin
filled so rapidly, however, that before We had
made much progress, the fires were extingusl-
ed IN the furnaces, and we were evidently on
the point of sinking. | now hauled down nv
colors to prevent the farther destruction of life.
and despatched a boat to inform the enemy. Of
our condition.
Although we were now but four hundred
yards from each other, the enemy fired upon
me five times after my colors had been struck,
1t is charitable to suppose that ship-ofwar of
Christian nation could not have done this
= Intentionally.
We,now turned all our exertions towards
saving the wounded and such of the bows Of
the ship who were unable to SWIM These
were despatched in my quarter boats, the only
boats remaining to me-the waist boats hay-
ing been torn to pieces.
Some twenty minutes after my furnace fires
mad been extinguished, and the ship being. on
tho point of setting every man, ir obedience
to previous, order which had been given the
crew, jumped overheard and attempted to
save himself
There was no appearance Of any boat com
ing to me from the enemy after my ship went
down. Fortunately, however, the steam |
yacht Deerhound, owned by gentleman of
Lancashire, England, Mr.. John IIancastcr, who