The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-05
Attack Of the Confederate Torpedo Boat David on
the U. S. lrolcIad Frigate New Iropsidss
Oh Night Of October s, 1853.
BY JOHN 7. nIlHsELIS.

chosen for the object. and the expedition
planned to surprise the guards and sentries
and effect a landing on a strip Of sand
beach below the walls of Sumter. but the
attempt was foilei. The seltries. on espy-
ing the leading boats hailed them. aud. not
receiving the coautersIgn. discharged their
mgskets. thus giving the alarm 10 the gar
rison within the fort. The boats had TO
beat a hasty retreat. and the fusillade d.
recied against them caused q heavy loss or
life on our side.
This episode stirred the Confederates in
no small manner and as there were on
the blockade besides our ship six monitors
fNahant, Lehigh. Nantucket. Patapsco.
PasSaic Weehawken) and numerous wood
en- vessels. large and small they concluded
TO resent our designs on Fort Sumter by
sending some OF our number to Kingdom
come" The New Ironsides always proved
a thorn in their sides; though Sumter did
not greatly fear us. the forts on Sullivan's
tsland-Moultrie. Battery b. etc.-didn't
relish our broadsides of grape and canister.
TO say nothing of the nine-inch shells and
round shot which We occasionally plunked
into their midst. Therefore, our ship-the
black monster as they called her-was to
be exterminated first by torpedo. On the
night of October 6, 1853, while at anchor In
Charleston roads, shortly after two bells
been sounded. and while all hands of duty
were snugly in their hammocks a most ter
rifle explosion took place under the after
part OF the ships bottom, causing her
stern to be lifted bodily out of the water
and then surging and straining at her
cables. trembling in every part. she tossed
On the huge pillows raised by the explo-
sion. large volumes Of water entering
through the riffs and cracks of the gun
ri
and pouring down the hatchways leading
20 the engine room. So forcibie was the
Snock that We were thrown out of our
hammocks against the iron gun carriages
and severely stunned and bruised.
The few stationary regulation lights
that were always kept burning all night
on the lower decks were extinguished by
the conclusion, and in the darkness utter
confusion reigned. The drums beat TO
quarters" officers in undress were shout
ing orders TO the men OF their respective
divisions, while the uuarter-gunners were
lighting the battle lanterns between the
guns and hammocks and bedding were
hastily thrown In heaps. pell-mell, TO make
room for working the batteries in case of
any further attack. Everybody knew per-
fectly We'll that u torpedo had Deen ex-
pioded under our ship. but what damage
We had sustained could not be ascertained
In the hurry OF the moment. We soon dis
cufeEcur on sounding the pumps, t2at Inc
ship was not filling, and that We were
consequently safe from laundering The
torpedo had evidently not been powerful
enough to do Its deadly work. While we
tried to discover the Whereabouts of our
assailant, and just as the two rifle guns
were run out ready for firing in case we
should discern the enemy the loud report
OF "A large gun rang out on the night air
One of the monitors was anchored not far
from us, and from her low deck
nearly level with the water-their sentries
had discovered our foe, the torpedo boat,
retreating under cover of the darkness.
and one of the monitors big guns had
been aimed at her in the hope of sinking
her. This We learned when the boats from
the fleet gathered around us TO render as
sistance is necessary. We were also made
aware of the fact that d yolley OF mus
kerry had been fired from the torpedo
boat across our spar deck, mortally
wounding Ensign Howard. the Officer OF
the deck. and inhicting minor injuries on
some of the sentries and lookouts. Our
upper deck was protected by sand bags.
piled three tiers high. and several bullets
were found among them afterwards. 1t
may be presumed that nobody slept the
remainder of that night on board our ship.
On the next day was discovered on board
a Philadelphia coal schooner a Confeder-
ate officer, Giassell by name, who had led
the attack of the torpedo boat. When
brought aboard the flagship Philadelphia
as a prisoner of war and taken before
Admiral Dahlgren, he stated that the tor
pedo boat had been a small cigar-shaped