The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-23

TIL
also two steam gines intended for ironclads.
| This handsome steamer was sent to Philadcl-
pha, where it was regularly condemned and
| sod with its cargo, for $3.50, ,3S26l. The court
| expenses and other casts in the case were
S22 5665 One half of the balance was divided
among the crews of the gunboats Unadilla.
Augusta, Housatonic, G. w. Blunt America,
| Memphis, and Quaker City.
THE RAID OF REBEL RAMS
was startling event. and took place of
Charleston. S. c., early in the morning of Jan.
| 81, 1863 at which time the following vessels
were on blockade duty: Memphis. Keystone
! State, Housatonic, Stettin. Mercidita, Augusta
Quaker City aud one or two others whose
names not remembered. Most of these
vessels participated in the engagement with
| the rams and compelled them TO hastily put
| back under the guns OF Fort Sumter. The
| casualties on our side were 20 killed and "a
wounded on the Keystone State aud four killed
and three wounded on tho Mercidita. After
this event the blockading squadron was rein
| forced by tie following vessels: POwhatan,
Canandaigua, and New Ironsides.
| The enemy's forces consisted of the ram
Cbicera, Capt. J. L. Tucker, and the Palmetto
| State Capt. ID. y. Insraham.
1t seems somewhat surprising that these OIL
| GERS, GU their return to Charleston should re-
| port that the vessels on blockade duty were all
sunk or burned. Yet that is just what they
| did, and on the strength OF their statement a
proclamation was issued, addressed to "the
| Consular representatives Of European Powers"
of which the following is copy
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE, RICHMOND.
Jan. 81, 1863 !
SIR: am instructed by the President Of the
Confederate States OF America To Inform you that
this Government has received official dispatch
from Fiag Officer IngFahanl. commanding tie
naval forces of the CoEfedcracy on the coast OF
South Carolina, stating that the blockade OF the
harbor of Charleston has l'ccn broken
BY THE COMPLETE DISPERSION
and disappearance o: the bockading squadron, in
consequences OF successful attack made on II by
the ironeIad commanded by Flag Officer
IHarshsm During This aIisc.S one ar moro OF the
hlockadng vessels were sunk or burnt.
As you doubtless aware, by the law OF nations
@ blockade, when thus broken by superior force,
ceases TO exist, aud cannot be subsequently ell
forced unless established with adequate forces and
after due notice to neutral powers. 1t has there.
fore been deemed proper 10 give you tho informa-
ton herein eontsincd, for lie guidance of such
vessels OF your nation may choose TO carry
commerce with the now open port OF Charleston.
Respectfully, your obedient ssrvaut.
j. =. BEAJANIE, Secretary OF State.
The alleged superior force referred to seems
decidedly amusing when we consider that
there were but two insignificant rams against
about dozen guuboats. only one of which was
temporarily disabled, and the blockade of
Charleston instead of being raised as alleged,
really became more strict, as all vessels at
tempting TO enter or depart found to their cost
when too late, as many valuable prizes were
captured and unccremoniously condemned.
The q. S. gunboat Isaac Smith, Capt Como
yer, was captared by the Confederates on the
Stono River, near Legareville, S. c., Jan. 60
1863. Eight of its crew were killed and II
wounded.
Capt John L. Worden. of the monitor Mon
tauk, destroyed the privateer Nashville near
Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee River, Feb. q,
1863. An attack was made on Fort McAllister
on the Sd of March, 1868, and after lombard
ment of eight hours our vessels retired from
action, during which time the monitor Mon
tauk was severely injured by torpedo The
other monitors in this engagement were the
Nahant, Patapseo, and Passaic.
ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER.
The first attack on Fort Sumter by the ves-
sells of the South Atlantic Squadron was made
April z, 1863 and the following monitors par
ticipated Weehawken. Passaic. Montank, Pa
tapsco Catskill. Nantucket, Nahant, keokuk,
New Ironsidcs, aud gunboats Canandaigua,
Housatonic, Huron, Unadiila and Wissahickon.
Our vessels were repulsed with some loss.
Several of the monitors were seriously injured.
The gallantry of the officers and men was con-
spicuous.
On the day after the engagement the moni-
tor keoknk went down from the result of the
injuries she received: all the crew, including
the wounded, were saved. The Keokuk was,
for over half an hour under the concentrated
fire Of Forts Sumter and Moultrie, at distance
of about 500 yards, and was struck 80 times.
Nineteen shots penetrated at or below the
water-line- The turrets were pierced In many
places, and the vessel was completely riddled.
The capture of the ram Atlanta was per-
haps the next most important event in the
y, - z1
formerly the blockade-runner Fingal. but was
fitted out as privateer and ram at Savannah.
While attempting TO run the blockade on june
IL, 1863, at Warsaw Sound she was captured
By the monitor Weekawken. Capt. Rodgers;
Nahant, Capt. Downes, and gunboat Cim-
marrone, Capt. Drake. She carried four guns
and crew of 165 persons. Her estimated
value was S35062926, one-half of which was
divided among the captors.
Rear Admiral Dn Pont was relieved by his
own request July f. 1863 His successor in
command of the squadron was Rear. Admiral
John A. Dahlgren.
On July IL, 1863 the combined army and
naval forces occupied Morris Island, the troops
being under Gen. Gilmore, and a naval battery
was built on shore. Both forces made an as
sault on Fort Wagner July L. but were re-
pulsed. Several attempts were made by our
forces TO capture Fort Sumter, but without
success. One attempt was made on the night of
Sept 6, 1863. Over 100 of our men were capt
ured, including 81 marines.
The monitor Weehawken was sunk in
Charleston Harbor. Dec. 9, 1863, from the re-
suit of inj uries received in action on different
occasions. Four officers and 27 men were lost
Oh the Weehawken.
THE SINKING OF THE HoUsAToNIC.
The handsome new sloop-of- war Housatonic,
while on blockade duty off Charleston, was
sunk by torpedo boat on the night of Feb. 10,
1854 Four lives were lost, aud the torpedo
boat with all on board was destroyed, she 60
ing down with the Housatonic.
In the Spring of 1864 Admiral Dahlgren was
granted a temporary leave OF absence, during
which time the squadron was commanded by
Commodore 5. c. Rowan.
An attempt was made by the Confederates to
destroy the frigate Wabash on the Charleston
blockade, on the night of April 1s. 1864. The
torpedo-boat and all on board Of it was de-
stroyed.
a combined army and navy expedition as.
cended the st. Johns River, Fla May %, 1864.
and one of our vessels, small steamer called
the Coumbine, was captured. Shortly after
ward the small gnaboat Water Witch was also
captured in Ossabaw Sound Ga. Its crew were
taken prisoners.
Active operations In this squadron were con-
Quoted by Admiral Dahlgren until the enemy
evacuated Charleston, soon after which the