The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-14

loaded and converted into an ironcla'
of the familiar type followed in nearl.
all the Confederate armed ships He
extreme length was 204 feet; breadtl
of beam, Al feet draft Of water, Is feet
She was cut down to the main deck
widened amidships, and overlaid with |
foot OF wood and iron plating.
Upon this foundation was built The
casemate, the sides and ends inclining
at an angle of about 80 degrees, the toy
Of which was fat. The sloping sides
and ends Of the casemate were covered
with four inches of iron plates in two
LAYERS. secured to a backing Of three
inches Of oak and 10 inches of pine. A
ram was attached to the bow which wa:
also fitted to carry torpedo. The bat.
tery consisted of two seven-inch Brookes
riAed guns, bow and stern pivots, and
two six-inch rifles Oh broadside. When
completed, and in every respect ready
for service, the Fingal was renamed At
lanta, and commanded By Capt Geo. T.
Sinclair
About July 81, 1862, the Atlanta,
being ready for her trial trip, steamed
down the river to Fort Pulaski, and ii
was found that her
SPEED WAS GREATLY REDUCED
and steering apparatus very unsatisfac-
tory. On returning to Savannah she
was subjected to some additional altera-
tions, which, however, failed to remedy
her defects
Commodore Josiah Tatnal was mean
time assigned to the command of the
naval defenses of Savannah, with the
understanding that he should make a
demonstration against Admiral Du
Points blockading squadron, then guard
ing tie coast of Georgia
For reasons best known to himself,
Tatnal declined to make any aggressive
movement alleging the ineffieiency of
the forces at his disposal to successfully
cope with Du Points monitors and gun
boats. That he was correct in bis con.
clusions was practically demonstrated
shortly aferward. He was succeeded in
command by Capt T. J. PAGE April 1,
1865, and Capt Charles III. McBlair,
who commanded the Atlanta, was also
removed by the Confederate authorities;
his successor was Wm. A. Webb, who
was assigned to the position with the
understanding that something must be
done to test the alleged superior fighting
qualities Of the Atlanta, which 1t was
claimed was capable of sinking the entire
blockading squadron on the coast of
Georgia.
Capt Webb obeyed orders, with results
that proved decidedly discouraging. He
left Savannah June IL, 1868, about day
light, accompanied by two steamers
loaded with civilians, who went along to
see the fun. On entering Warsaw Sound
the Atlanta encountered the US moni-
Tor Nahant, Capt. Downes; the Weehaw-
ken, Capt. Rodgers, and gunboat Gin
merone, Capt Drake. Webb opened
fire on the Union vessels at distance of
about ], 900 yards, as he slowly approach
ed them, and after few moments firing
the Atlanta ran aground, in which po.
sition she was helpless and at the mercy
Of her antagonists
The first shot came from the Weehaw-
ken at distance of about 800 yards,
making large hole in the easement of
the Atlanta, scattering over her gun
deck great quantities of wood and iron
splinters, wounding is men and pros
trating 40 more insensible from the
shock. A second shot, also from the
Weehawken, struck the top Of the pilot
house, crushing in and driving down the
iron bars on top and side, wounding
seriously both pilot and helmsman other
shots, which followed in rapid succession,
proved equally as destructive, and Webb
reluctantly
DECIDED TO SURRENDER,
which be did by displaying white flag
and dispatching boat In charge of
Lieut.. Alexander to visit the Weehaw-
ken and announce the fact. He called
his crew together, and addressing them
briefly, said:
Z" / have surrendered our vessel be-
cause circumstances over which / had no
control have compelled me to do so. |
know tbat you started upon this expedi-
ton With high hopes, and you have been
disappointed Imost earnestly wish that
it had happened otherwise, bat Provi-
dence for some good reason has interfered
with our plans"
1t was felt throughout the South that
the loss Of the Atlanta was a distress
ing blow to the Confederacy, and In the
thoughtless anger of the moment Capt
Webb and his officers were harshly
spoken Of The newspapers, which were
the source of SO much mischief in the
South, lad led the people astray by re-
ferring to the vessel as the greatest
achievement ever accomplished in the
way Of battleship; aud SO they very
naturally jumped to the conclusion that
she could not have been properly de-
Tended.
The crew surrendered by Capt. Webb
numbered 165 men, and were sent 10