The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-29
UNITED STATEs FRIGATE PoTOMAC,
pnnsarnla RaY August u, 1861.

UNITED SrATEs FRIGATE PorOMAC,
Pensacola Bay, August II, 1861.
Notwithstanding you must have heard OF the loss
of our dear old ship, and of my becoming prisoner
in the hands of the enemy, fancy that short note
from me would not be unwelcome, nor be considered
s,,no,tiuous at this time We were certainly under
the heaviest fire that ever ship received sce the
war began. Three strong and formidable Iron-elads
one of them certainly our equal, and fourteen regu-
lar mcn-of-war were playing on Us at the closest
possible quarters, with nine, eleven ana hieen-inoh
solid shot, ana with apparently no lnternlsslon
from the time We regularly engaged the neet unli
the time of surrender period OF probably AN hour
We met them IA they entered the hll bor and did
our best 10 cram" several of the largest vese.i6,
using, of course, our guns at the same tie lie
Yankees had too much speed lor ui though ana got
by us into the BAY with only this INJURY done leln
by our batteries We then Were alone. The dlInes
was III II sinking condition. and was run ashore near
Fort Morgan The Selma had surrendered and the
Morgan had left aso and was under the guns oi
the to;t In the face of ali this, our gallant ship,
after running UP ColOIs and the AdIiurdfs nag
again. which had been shot away a5 the enemy
passed Us, stood across the bay tit 2ly ana uii-
assisted We engaged the most formidable hect that
the Yankees could get into that habOr Thus Cheek
| met Greek "then came the tug OF war
The fire was really terrible. Coupled wiN That,
four of their largest vessels, one Of them mon
plated Oh the stem, into Us at riil speed and IN
auck succession. The Tamlnlng pant of the affair
| did Us no harm ia the wolli, however, ana then
nine solid shot bounded from our sides ike or
| binary pebbes The eleven-incl hurt US some, and
the fifteen inch pierced the iron and forced out the
| wood on the inside, but did hot, however, get
| through By-tnd-bye the Admiral was Wouiided
and one or two wore killed and about the slin9 time
our after port became jamIned by shot, ana was
| rendered useless. Next, away went our wheel
ropes and the relieving tackles came INTO play
| We steered III this way for probably halt an hour
when they too, wele shot away, AS we'll as tht
| suoks-staGk anJ then We were unable to make
| stean or to get single gun to bear upon th'
| enemy. 80. ~. H.. 49,.
| The fleet saw our condition, and taking advantage
of IT, took up positions astern and on each guar ter
and were AS perfectly safe and as clear of our bate
| mes as If they were hundred miles away In TIN
STATE Of things nothing could be done to destroy tn
| shin without destroying every soul on board ai'
the Admiral aud Captain considered las think voI,
| propellyl that they hsl no hight to pursue such
! course. All had fought with perfect desperation
| and had done their duty like bravo and Saiiai
southern men are expected to do, and We're rendeie
| as unhappy as men ever become, when at last itwa
to bc impossible to move OF steer the Ves
SCI and, in consequence, surrender peeaihe heoes
| sary. ;.l a. ~ d,
| tain ard Lieutenant Wharton, are on our way ~
| Northeru prison We shall undergo all that IL pt
| upon US with becoming dignity and firmness
| leave here for New York or Boston don't kno
| which, in ten days or fortnight, We are treate
very kindly as yet and comfortable AZ We cal
|