The New York herald., 1865-02-05
cUNBoAT DISASTERS.
Particulars OF tho Loss of Ae MOnl-
tor Patapsco and GunbMw
Dai Ching.
Full List Of the Casualties on
the Patapsoo.

Nearly All the Officers and Crew Of tho
Dai Ching Rssapa
&sss &s., &c.
Sinking or she Monitor Patspsc0e
from the Port Royal New South.J
On the night Of the 18th Of January the Patapsco ws
Fl y for
rious machines Tho accident occurred whom the Moh}
tor about four hundred yards south and east OF Fort
Sumpter The torpedo struck her n point thirty i've
feet abaft the port bow directly under the wardroom.
In twenty seconds from the time the torpedo struck her
she went down In Ave fathoms Of water % that at pro-
sent all that remains visible Of her two feet Of the
smokestack. An who were on the dick watch and
ford had the charge OF the deck watch the time All
with = few exceptions) Of those below were lost
boatswains mate escaped BY passing through tho berth
to the deck Three escaped by climbing out Of tho
turret chamber The Patapsco had passed over the
same water several times that night. She would drift
down with the tide and then steam back to her original
position. Al the time she struck hor engines
The Patapsco was we'll known In these waters having
been on service IN different parts OF the tor
is . list Of tho saved and lost
SAVED.
g. p. Quackenbush, Lieutenant Commander, command.
ing w. T. Sampson, Lieutenant and Executive Ohicer;
Reynolds Driver First Assistant Engineer A. p Bashford
Acting Ensign; John J. Ryan, Third Assistant Engineer;
Isaac Barnes and William Nolan boatswan's mates MI.
chael McCarey, gunners mate; Peter Nolan, quarter
master; Joseph Rodgers captain forocastle James Mil
Eden ana wna
seaman; Andrew Fenton, Hugh McCrowan, James
Murphy and Edward Blake, ordinary seamcn;
X Brown, Peter Ross Joseph Johnson Edward Ganley,
Michael bonlan, James NJ Thomas, George Caldwell,
Burke, first class boys John H. Sykes, first class fire.
man; Edward Golden, Thomas Bache, James OGorman,
class fremen John Larkin Wayne West, Thomas Shea,
Thomas Pyne, coalheavers.
LOST.
John White Acting Paymaster, 8. H. Pettz Assistant
Surgeon; William s. Crewy Paymastor; JOS 9. Brown,
Acting Ensign; Jos. l. Johnson Acting Ensign; George
Third % Assistant G Engineer T Stevens, Third Asssan.
Engineer B. B. Taylor, pilot Ansen Fiasld William
%nsr mhse n
way W. H. Bssinyton Jacob Fl. Frank; John Wofkn,
Surgeon; Ed Williams, ship cook g. M. McRea, Alex.
smith, carpenter; Albert Dunbar John Francis coxswan
James Stevens, James Goodall, l.. x. Plummer E. M.
Charles washburne Alex. Armstrong, John Manning,
James Diver, William Moore Bern. Corrgan Henry
Eugene coan Seth Br1ksy Lorenzo Sls nSs
John Mason Patrick Hawkins, Ed Gibbs James Niclan,
VIM. Rowand W. p. Burbeck, David Harkett, John
Famon Thomas Cain, S H. Davenport, VIM. Gorclan.
Loss or the Gunbons Dai Ching.
[From the Port Royal Now South
Tho loss OF the Dai Ching, evcnt which took place
the Goth inst, will be looked upon by all in the
department circumstance to be seriously regretted.
vessel for their courtesy In furnishing us with the main
On the night Of tho 2sh orders were rocevsd by the
commanding officer OF the Da Ching 70 be In readiness
the following morning TO proceed up the Combahee
river the ferrya point the Charleston and
Savannah Ralroad-for the purpose Of co operating in
an advance movement OF General Howard's forces. In
way carly hour tho 26h, and ater having pro-
cocded up the Combahee for few miles fred upon
river. The battery opened with heavy pieces and a
short nearly every shot taking cect In some part
OF the vessel The position Of the Da Ching when hrs
fired upon such TO expose her 70 rsing fire; bu
notwithstanding this fact she brought 70 bear the for
with good effect hcr 100 FOUNDER bow gun
Before the battery engaged her the Dai Ching goot
luck would have IT, fell In with and captured tho block
ado runner Coqucttc bound from Charleston to Nassau
with cargo OF s'vcnty-nvc balcs Of cotton prizs
| crew was Immediately put board with orders take
the prize 10 Port Royal at which place she subsequently
| arrived
battery for consecutive hours and had not the
fortunate circumstances OF her getting around occurred
OF the together with all its guns As happens the
Combahee riveris difficult OF navigation In consequence
OF its numerous short turns and shallow places On
of these shallow poihts technically known "bight y
the Dai Ching aground while manDuyrng to get q
broadsidc to bear on the fori. Her ancomforabIe
doubled their Efforts ~ disable her and in order 10 effect
this result several additional guns were brought into
tion. Ths officers and crow Of the Da Ching behaved
splenddy and although they had extreme odds to
tend against they crippled and shattered the enemy
fort To that extent that would our posses
sion had the position Of the ship admitted OF
hours working OF the gums AT last at three O'Clock In
the afternoon being apparent that the vessel could
not be got anoat, and that II and all hands board
would be captured unless taken TO pre-
such event. IL decided to fire and then aban
don hor. The navy steam tug Clover acting as tender
the Dai Ching followed the gunboa certain distance
up the river IL occurred that when the
| Dai Ching aground the tender not
| sufficiently TO render immediate relief. A
signal Of distress was hoised in the Da Ching but fol
good one wo are bound 10 beieyeit WA
needed by the tender The efforts OF the officers
board the tender the Da Chings party
In the afternoon bo sufficient evidence that they
had thought Of acting mean part. Tho tender, a
any rate the vessel that brought the party safely
Az 70 the Dai Ching, We are positively assured that he
officers did abandon her until Il was clearly apparen
that such In every respect essential for he
safety and far the ship herself concerned ht
tery, the rebels, destroyed where she lay by
| o~n people We take tho ground that, under the cir
than tho destruction Of the vessel BY her oicers II
70 be regretted that small boat, containing Actinp
Ensign Charles D. Duncan and four men, which put
| on 10 hail the Clover, was captured by tho 0nemy
/ while ts mission. The remainder OF the party
| OF the Da Ching succeeded in reaching the marsh
IN small boats from the ship Their tolls and difficulties
however by ended when they had reached
the marsh for they compelled 10 wade and tramp
through tho weed and mud for distance Of twelve
thirteen miles before they reached point tho bank
Of the river where they could embark In small boat Tor
the tender which was awaiting them.
To those who have been for any length or lime IN the
Department Of tho South, or In tho south Atlantic
squadron description Of tho Da Ching and tho import
ant service rendered by her while attached 70 the
squadron would be considered supernuous. Sho had
been in these July ls63 and had taken part
In nearly every important naval engagement that has
xansprsd here since time Atthe time Of her loss hcI
ocers and men numbered about one hundred All OF heI
ocers with the exception Of one mentioned above we
saved She carried one ono hundred pounder
two twenty FOUNDERS and four brass howitzer Az the
time shc fired her guns were loaded, and when the
heat gnted powder OF the hundred FOUNDER the
shell went plump into the middle Of the rebc fort,
that the enemy thought our mon wore still at tho guna
The rcbels nrsd upon the Dai Ching until evident
tLat no living could remain aboard Of her. Tho ON
cors saved nothing In the way Of personal property
few trr,ng articles belonging 70 the government were
Il got on In small boats
Annexed will bs found list Of The ofccry Of tho Da
Ching:--Iieutenant Commander G. Chaplin, Executive
oficer william McKindry, Acting Master Geo. Howorth
Acting Assistant Surgeon J. r. Richardson, Acting As
Psymastsr Edwin Sherman, Acting First Ass.an
EDgpecr George Bennett Acting Ensigns Walter Wal