Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-08-08
TzLOCAIpNEWS.
rHuRsDAYs EVENING, AUGUST s. :
TIE SToNEwALL-The ram Stone"ail clear
,I.,ooor;noS ct the Washington Navy Yard

Tur SToNEwALL.-Th ram StoneWall clear
IL her moorings at the Washington Navy Yard
yesterday evening. at three o'clock, and, at at
abonutf FIVE, dropped her anchor opposite tins
o;tv where she remained until nearly meridian
!, a,v when she continued her course Tor the
Norfolk Navy Yard, there to remain for week
Or more to undergo repairs necessary 10 place
bor in seaworthy condition The Stonewail,
90 heretofore mentioned, has been sold to the
Emnire of Japan, and several officers OF that
government are on board Of her. While lying
a tbi, city she was the object OF much ar.
traction, and as her history was the subject of
considerable conversation, and some dispute, the
f,llovinr correct account Of her is published:
She was built in England for the Danish Gov.
and subsequently purchased by the Contederates
Some difficulty in procuring an armament
and crew was at first experienced, butln January
she was met by an English steamer OFT the
coast OF France, add her armament, which was
made in England, with supplies for a cruise
and an English crew, were transferred to her.
When fully equipped and manned She was
formidable antagonist, having 4 heavy ram
protecting lfou hei poW, anu wv n'i'e'''
monnting one three hundred pound rifle gun
and Two others Of less calibre. She was easily
managed and could steam al the rate Of ten
Knots an hour. On February 4th the Stone
wall arrived at Ferrol, on the northwest coast
If Spain, where she received some slight re-
nairs. and probably took in additional supplies
About this time the u S. vessels Niagara and
Sacramento, which had received things OF her
whereabouts, arrived at the nelghborlng port
If Corunna, aud kept strict watch over her
movements. Notwith standing their superiority
in numbers and guns, so formidable did the
iron clad seem likely to prove In contest with
tEe wooden vessels, that the two sides were
about equally matched. La smooth water the
StoneWall owing to the rapidity with which
she could be turned, probably had the adVan.
tage, while under other circumstances the SUI
Deriority rested with her adveriarie5. Thus
matters remained for several weeks liz occa
sion Offering wheu both sides Were willing to
risk ao engagement. La the latter part Of
March the Stonewall effected her escape from
Ferrol, and put into Lisbon on the 9th, being
followed thither by the Niagara and Sacramento
She was Immediately ordered away By the
Portuguese authorities, and The United States
vessels were required to remain tWenty-four
hours after her departure. w bile attempting
to change their anchorage in he Taeus, the
vessels were fired upon from Belcm Castle,
under the superstition that they were attempt
ing to run out and follow in The traces OF the
StoneWal before the tweny-tour hours had
expired Fortunately no lives were lost, and
ample apology was rendered by the Portuguese
Government Captain Craven, commanding
the Niagara, was subsequently, court martialed
for neglecting to attack the Stonewall off Fer
rol, and sentenced to two years suspension
from duty. This sentence was set aside BY the
Secretary Of the Navy. Upon leaving Lisbon
the StonewalI proceeded to Teneritfe and thence
TO Havana, where she arrived on May llth.-
On the 2Slh Acting Rear Admiral Godon ar
rived at Havana with the squadron destined
for the Brazil station, together with several
roa-clads, and soon atterward the Stonewall
was surrendered by her commander 10 the
Spanish authorities She was subsequently
placed at the disposal Of the United States by
the Spanish Government, and conveyed to
Washington.