Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-23
THE SPANISH R0MBARDMENT OF
GALEAG.

Dispatches from Commodore Rodgers.
WASHINGTON. May 22.-The following dispatches
from Commodore Rodgers were to-day received at
the Navy Department.
US. STEAMER VANDERB1Lr |
Ar SEA. May 10th, 1861
SIEI have the honor TO report that on the 9th of
aprll the spanish admiral. Mendez Nqnez, address
ing that the port of Callao bockaded from that
date; also another ustfyng the of Spain and
announcing that he should give neutral Inhabitants
lour day% remove their persons and property, pre-
vious TO Tie ombardment of the city.
On the goth of April Admiral Peasson anchored
of Callao. Merchant vessels had some days before
taken up positions out Of tha way of hostile opera
hons. 1t was thought that the attack would
mence on the first of May, when the time expired
given to neutras for their removal, but on the End
of May about 10 O'Clock A. NJ, the Spanish feet got
under way.
Some time was spent in dressing their lines, and
about eleven O'Clock the squadron moved in two di-
visions to attack the detences of Calao. The first
division under Admiral Nunez consisting of the iron
clad Numancia, of 1000 tons burthen, with the
frigates Blanca and Resolution moved along the
Lon Carenzo Island to attack the batteries on the
south side OF Calao, while the frigates Villa de lad
rid, Berenguelo and Almanac, passing in front of
tho national and merchant vessels anchored in the
bay. steamed at first slowly towards the Peruvian
batteries on the north side of the city. AS these
vessels approached they accelerated their speed and
ran swiftly into position. At fifteen minutes after
twelve O'Clock the hrSt gun was fired, l bought
from the Numancia, quickly followed by two from
a battery on the south side The Spanish fleet car
ried about 240 guns. mostly 30 Founders. The Nu-
maucia was armed with 6S Founders. as also the
three gun corvette Uncedora, which held in re-
serve 10 two if necessary. and also, presume, to
cover the transports.
The Peruvian batteries numbered in the aggregate
Is guns five Of them 45O-pOunders, Blakely's and
four Armstrong guns, 300 Founders, mounted on top
of iron turrets. The rest were 81 Founders sand
to which were added brick masonry, and some of
ad9bes II The 1 firing e soon became am warm About 70
and ran out of the fight She made signals and was
taken in tow by the Uncedora, with steam escaping
Il. +tTrF hnlcr
the Berengueia, listed over to one side, and with
smoke pouring from her ports Just before she re-
line the side away from the batteries. ball had
gone through the coal bunkers. thought, and
through both sides. We saw men over the side at
tempting to patch, with canvass, the ragged hole
which seemed some two feet square,
The Almanac moved to Join the first division en-
and Banca abont 80 steamed away from the South
ern division, leaving the Almanac and the Numancia
still engaged. These vessels drew off at fifteen min
utes before five o'clock the Peruvians firing after
them as long as their guns could reach The vessels
were fought under way by the Spanards. The fight
was urged both sides with courage and persistence
The Peruvian guns, which all barbette never
ceased firing, and the Spaniards, believe only left
off when their ammunition exhausted. The
killed and wounded in the batteries were said to
I number eighty. In one of the iron-cad batteries
shell exploded isniting other powder and disabling
the guns By this explosion, Senior Galvez. the Pc
l ruvian Minister of War and Marine, was blown to
ATOMS; .,o n;o+oto, - rnomor of rboro, Wow.
and marked ability, his loss will prove serious
to the country His excellency the Dictator is said
to have been every where, in the thickest of the
fight, animatlng encouraging and directing the Pc
ruvian batteries | do not know the damage to the
Spanish feet. but the loss was no doubt heavy: 1t
was obvious tha several OF the vessels had 6een pad
very the batteries, many of their shot falling
into the water. The presence of torpedoes may have
In coming away from farewell visit to Admiral
1 Pearson, picked up one floating adrift near our
vessels. 1t was a red keg containing about fifty
4 ofw wet DOwder of inRul atpd
wire attached, and inside the arrangement for ex-
ploding by galvanien nE battery. ba:,: ,.,
de Madrid and Berengula, as soon as they anchored
with offers of assistance: His services accepted
by the surgeon of the Villa De Madrid but board
| the Berengua the officers gathered around him at
the gangway and said they were deeply grateful but
| needed no help. When the Nqmancia anchored
l Dr. johnson sent on board, while DR.. Peck, who
| had returned to the Vanderbilt. went on shore to
tender his services to the PeruyianS.
| was sorry to learn through Dr. johnson that Ad-
miral Nunez had been badly wounded by splinters
no fewer than eight injuries having been received in
the head arms legs and side The Or, was not not per.
1 mitted to see the Admiral and apprehend that he
l has been seriously hurt.
| The Peruvian batteries were but little injured
l The authorities on shore confident that on the
| morning following the bombardment, they would be
peter prepared than at first to resist an attack
There were two iron-cad vessels on the side of thu
1 feruVlans-one the mentor Sex. with single gun
aoo.pounder. IN turret; and one the Elttina, bull
in the shape Of the Confederate ironclads. covere(
E | end. The monitor was struck ten times, but re
ceived nc no damage. do not know how the othe
Jared. There were several small men of-war. bu
their artillery was too light TO be used. and the!
4 7 have the honor to be your obedient servant.
| To Hon, GIDEON WELLEs
Secretary Of the Navy.
l Appended to the above report is a finely executet
| map of the bombardment of Callao showing th
movements of the Spanish squadron and the position
of the Peruvian batteries. the design being the wor
1 Of Lieut.. Com, R, Haskell, U. S.N.