The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-02
Continued from last sunday)
No. i2.
Operations Around Charleston, kouth

Charleston. Under his supervision TWO
ironclads, the Chicora and Palmetto
state, were built; afterwards two
others. the Chaflcston and Columbia.
The latter on her trial trip struck upon
an unknown obstruction and broke IN
two. rhe old wooden ship. the Indian
Chief, was used Az receiving ship
a'his constituted the naval resources
from first to last In tho ever memorable
attack ON Charleston, which may truly
be said TO have lasted nearly four
years
On January ~. 1868, rlag Officer IN
Graham commanded the fleet the Gu.
cora being iiiider command OF captain
John H. Tucker. and the Paltnettg
state Under lieutenant John Rutiedge
The morning vas hazy and the water
Smooth At 4.30 the Confederate vcs-
sels crossed the bar, and ut 5i3O a.. NJ.
commenced the action. Captain Tucker
reports as follows: Commenced tho
action by firing into schooner-rigged
propeller, which We set on iire. anu
have avery reason to believe sunk we
tten engaged large side- wheei steam.
er. twice our length. from us ON our
port bow. firing three shot into her
with telling effect when she made
run for it, 'rfis vessel was supposed
To be the Quaker City
1--WE then engaged ~ schooner riga ed
propeller and a large side wheel steam
or. and setting the latter on hre.
caused her tn strike her flag. al this
time the latter vessel (supposed to be
the keystone stateJ was completely ut
my mercy, having taken position
astern. distance some two hundred'
Yards Mt once gave tho order TO cease
hiring upon her, and directed Lieuten-
ant Bier, first lieutenant OF The Chi
cora. to man boat and tako charge
OF tho prize. IL possible To snve her;
~ that vas not possible, TO rescue her
crew. While the boat WAS In the act
OF beipg manned. l diHcdvated that she
was euaaaYorlng tn make her escape
by working hef Htarboard wheel. the
other being disabled. Her colots be-
ing down. 1 at once started In pursuit.
and renewed the engagement. OWING
10 her superior steariing qualities. she
soon widened the distance, hoisted ner
flag and commenced firing her rihs
gun. Her commander. by this faith
less act, placed himself bcyono tue
pale of civilized and honorable war
.are. we next engaged two schoonefs.
one brig and one bark rugged propeller.
hui from lack OF speed we're not aoie
10 bring them into close action
lslae officer Ingraham reports from
the Palmetto state: After crossing
the bar made steamer ut anchor anu
hailed. What steamer Is that. Drop
So,,, anchor or you viii be into us.
replied the Confederate steamer fai-
metto state.
I'VE ran into her and at the same
time fired the 7-inch gun mo ner.
she gave an order to fire. IN ah nv ,
stant she was enveloped In steam. ana
iai,aa and asked IL she surrendered,
sbc ronlied that she did. then or
snred her to send n boat aboard. which
rbe did. with Lieutenant ABBOTT. VINO
.,,rrenaercd and gave a verbai parole
Tor himself and his ships company. me
vessel proved to be the United states
Steamer Mercideta. then STOOD "
the north and encountered anothet
steamer getting under way. pue sne
,oon got out of our way. then stood
for tho Chicora to render any aid II
needed. she being engaged with sew
aral vessels. then returned to the
harbor. the enemy's ships being en-
tirely out of sight.
OF this engagement General Beaure-
gard said:
graduate YOU and the gallant officers
and men under your command for your
brilliant achievement of last night
which will be classed hereafter witt
those Of the Merrimac and Arkansas
May your efforts be always crowned
with the same success Is tho sincere
wish IF your friend,
Captain q. n. 1ngraham,
&. r. BEAUREGARD.'
The escape OF the~steamer Merceditf
caused the United states to order
court of inquiry as to whether she wa:
with her crew a lawful prize TO the
Confederates, and Commodore shubrick
u. S. N. was made chairman OF the
court OF inquiry This board met ant
tal,;o,r fac&troprv rapOrte1s thu
the parole given by Lieutenant Abbot
was binding. but took no action as t
the vessel, and 1t was never turned
over to the Confederates. Comniodor'
6hubrick was South CareliniHn, VIII,
remained on the other side. and at Thu
breaking out Of hostilities was tn
senior captain in the United State
navy. Consequently. he must hav
been a very old man. as captain wa
then the highest grade. This affnl
caused no little correspondence will
foreign governments. tho Confederate
contending that 1t had raised TIL
blockade Of tho port OF Charleston, bu
the matter was finally decided aghins
u.s. Some time after this affair Com
modore 1ngraham was placed IN com
mand Of the station. and Flag Office
Tucker placed In command afloal
Many blockade runners came int
Charleston, which caused the Yank
TO sink vessels loaded with stone tWlc
in the channels. The enormous flee
that,was at all times off the bar cause
many blockade-runners to be captured
and tho trade eventually went to VIII
mington. AS i stated, Charleston ma
be said to have been. constantly unde
fire for nearly four years, and til
navy was strained to the utmost to d
gunrd-boat duty.
Ono OF the ironclads was under wa
avery night around Fort Sumter, an
from one to two small boats furthe
out; so to give them some relief Cap
tain Muse, of tho ironclad North Caro-
lima, lying In Cape Fear River, issue
tho following order, directed to Lieu
tenant w. ~. Glassel:
"Sir-SiXty men, with three officer
viz, Or. Griggs, AI1dshipmen C!ayto
and Hogue, arc placed under your con
mand. You win proceed to Charlesto
A. lhI u