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

with the events as they occurred uade
bis observation.
oNE-HALF THE PROCEEDS
Of the Atlanta was divided among tht
crew Of the Weehawken, Nahant, and
Cimmerone, and the other half turned IL
to the National Treasury.
u. s. TRoNcIAp STEAMER NAHANT,
WARSAW SOUND, June Is, 1863. J
! SIR: i have the honor to submit the follow
! ing statement of the participation of this YES
sci in the capture OF the rebel ironclad steamer
! Atlanta by the Weehawken and Nahant yes-
terday morning in these waters.
The Atlanta was first discovered at early
dawn about three miles distant standing to-
ward rs coming ont from the Wilmington
| River and rapidly approaching. AT first shc
WAS mistaken for our usual visitor, q steamer
! that hsd recOnnoitered US daily abont this
/ hour, bat few moments sIffced TO show us
the true character of the vessel, and we IN
stantiy commenced weighing anchor and clear
ing ship for action.
|, The WeehRwkea Slipping her cable passed US
at 4:45 a. IN. and We followed in her wake. At
this time the Atlanta fired the first shot which
passed close 10 cur pilot-house. The Weehaw-
ken was approaching the enemy, who contIn-
ned, however TO direct his fire upon us, though
without eject.
At 5 o. m the Weehawken closed with the
enemy and opened Ere on him with accuracy.
At the fourth fire Of the WeehaWker the en-
emy struck and boisted the white flag The
firing ceased after one more shot from the
Weehawken, this vessel not having bad the sat
isiaction of eXpending one shot in reply to the
enemy's fire, which had been directed exclu-
sively at her.
Lieut-Com. Harmony proceeded on board
the prize at $50 a. NJ, and taking possession
hoisted the American flag. During the action
two of the eDeDys armed steamers were in
sight up the river crowded with people appaf.
entity observing the progress of events. who
steamed of up the river when the result was
attained.
am. respectfully. your obedient servant.
JOHN DowNEs, Commander.
To Capt JOHN ReDGFRs, Senior officer present.
.. S. Steamer Weehawken.
Rear>Admiral Du Pont, commanding
the South Atlantic Squadron, in his
official report of this affair to the Navy
Department, said:
"Having reason to believe that the
Atlanta and other ironclads at Savannah
were about attempting to enter Warsaw
Sound by Wilmington River for the
purpose of attacking the blockading
vessels there and In the sounds further
south, | dispatched some days ago the
Weehawken Capt. Rodgers from this
port and the Nahant Capt Downes)
from North Edisto to Warsaw, where
the Gnlmerone Capt. Drake was
maintaining the inside blockade.
"The Atlanta (Capt. William Webb)
came down this morning via Wilmington
River to attack our vessels, accompanied
by two wooden steamers filled, 1t is said,
with persons as spectators The Wee
hawken Capt Rodgers at once en-
gagged her, firing in all five shots, three
of which took effect, penetrating her
armor, killing or wounding the crews
Of two guns. Two or three of the pilots
were also badly wounded, and the pilot
house broken up. Whereupon the vessel
grounded, and Immediately after sur
rendered.
The Weekawken was not hit. The
armament Of the Atlanta Is two finch
and two 6-inch guns. She is but
slightly injured. The officers and crew,
with the exception of the wounded and
one of the Surgeons, have been trans
ferred TO the steamer James Adger to be
conveyed to Fortress Monroe. l have
been told that the Confederate Govern
ment considered the Atlanta the most
efficient Of their ironclads. One feature
of the vessel is particularly noticeable,
and that is the roughness Of the work
about her; no expense has been incurred
for finish or ornament. The comfort Of
the crew and its sanitary condition ap-
pear to have been totally dis,egarded
efficiency in battle seems to have been
the sole point aimed at.
" As chronometers and other nautical
instruments were found on board, there
is reason to suppose that this vessel was
intended for sea service"