The New York Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1863, Page 1

Po ) ‘WHOLE NO. 9639. ao ee EXCITING NEWS. IMPORTANT FROM CHARLESTON, Bold and Dashing Raid of the Rebel Gunboats. The Mercedita and Another Union Gunboat Sunk Off Charleston. Four Union Gunboats Set on Fire by the Rebel Rams, THE QUAKER CITY DISABLED Her Surrender, but Final Es- eape with One Wheel. SCATTERING OF THE UNION FLEET. The Blockade of Charleston Formally Declared Raised by Gen. Beau- regard and Com: Ingraham. Important Meeting of the Foreign Consuls. They Declare the Blockade Legally Abolished. Reappearance of the Block- ading Fleet, &e., &e. x Wasumncron, Feb. 2, 1969. ‘The Richmond Dispatch of Monday, the 2d instant, ist received here, has telegraphic despatches From Charleston, 8. C., to, From Mobilo 0... +ees« &o., Feb. 2 From Savannah to, All of there telegrame are of the highest importance. ‘Those from Charleston, S. C., are of w very exciting @baracter. We give them:— The Operations at Charleston. [Telegrams to the Richmond })ispatcb. | Cuaniasron , 8. C., Jan. 31, 1663. ‘The two iron-clad gunboats Chicora and Palmetw Siate, ‘wit tree steamers at tenders, went oui beyond ihe bar at one o’élock this morning to attack the blockading feet. Wiring. began soon after one,and for atime was very wapid and continoous. Afterwards it siackened, but con- tinued at intervals until pine o'clock (his morning. Owing to the fog the result has pot yet been ascertained. Commander Ingraham is sboard tbe Palmetto State as commander of the expedition. SRCOND DESPATCH. Caanteiox, Jan, 31, 1865, ‘Wis morning the gunboats Palmetio State, Capiain Batiedge, ana Chicora, Captain Tucker, accompanied by free email steamers—the Geoorai Clinch, Etiwin and Obenterfield—all under the ‘vommand of Commodore !u- grabam, made an attack on the blockaders, and succerded & sinking two and crippling a third, ‘The engagement commenced at four o'clock. ‘The Palmetto State, with Commodore Ingraham on ‘Board, opened fire upem the federni gunboat Merce:ita, * garrying leven guns and one hundred and Ofty-eight inen, which was soon sunk im fire fathoms of water. Her com- mander , Captain Stellwagen, with a boat’e crew, came on Board and surrendered. One shot picreed her twoiler, goibg clear through. Captain Stellwagen and crew were paroled by Commodore Ingraham. Captain Tucker, of the Chicora, reports sinking axoher Federal guntoa! and the disabliny of the toamsnip Quther Oily. ‘The latter was set on fire by the Chicora, and haaled down her Gag to surrender, bet afterwards man- aged to escape, using only one whecl. She way very seriously damaged. The number of the blockading fect outelde at the time (Of the stunck was thirteen, with two tiret clans (rigates ‘the Busquebanna and Canande)), a. The federal lore was vary severe. [i was a complele vecess on our part, with nota man hurt. Our gunboats were mot eren struck. Ail the blockaders Bave disappoared, There 1s not ane to be seen within Ave miles with the strongest kind of giasser, Our boate are now returning to Charleston. The follow ing is the official despatch -— TRE WEBEL OFFICIAL REPORT, © On Boand Conpoar Parwerro Store, J went out last night. This vewol struck the Mercedita, eben che sent a beat on boset and surrendered. ‘The officers and crew were paroled. Captain Tucker thinks be sunk ope verse! and sot another on fire, when she struck her fing. The blockading fleot had gone to southward and enatward out of sight. ». N.INGRAHAM, Ping Officer Commanding, THIRD DREPATCH. , Cuanuaeros, Jan. 31, 1863. Oar gunboats Palmetto State aud Ch the wharves. They were gnthusiastically cheered by an Pmmenre concourse of citivens who had aseemnbled to greet them. Salutes were fired from the forts and bette vice. ) Not » man wae burt oo our ride, and ovr gunboats wero Bat struck (oy tbe enemy. Our attacks On the feet wee a ora have reached E N f x v7——N MA CHARLES (ON LICHT HOUSS x LESTROVED BY AEBELS VTS a 4 cael VAPLEBTON BEACON CWAiarrery Se SHOAL ouplete rurprise to the blockaders, each ene running away without earing [or the others. His mppord that nearly all of the arm Of the Mercedita perished. The Palmetto State, which engaged the Mercedita, hav- ing no boats and fighting at the time, could render her no per tance. ‘The Quaker City was struck twice, ant one of her side wheels aimost torn off FOURTR DESTaven. ‘ Cuanueston, Ved. 4, 1963. Geurrni Mesurogard aod Commodore Ingraham, ay corm- mauders of the land and naval forces, bave issued a joint prociamation, dated January 31, declarmg the blockade of Charleston snieel, the satire hostile suadron harigy bem sunk, bu oe dispersal by the owpertor newal forces of the contaderacy, Yesterday afternoon «4: steamer al the digpneal of the tor themselves that no blockade ex ater the and eral Pemuregard placed a gn Consuls to nee for Frooch Spanish Con oy General Ripley, accepted the in om. The British with the Commander of the British war steamer 1, had previously gone five miles bey thew anchorage of the Dlockaders and eould sce votting of them with giaesen, Late in the evening four thon ters reeypenredl, Keeping a large wrmber of boykaders cre in dy ready 10 run ° DeRPaATCA, far out. Thit cerning Sight. bud leew strum wy TRE LA (MAniMmron, Feb. 1, 1868 aMAnON Avan. Foren, | Cuavenarios Jan, 81, 1963, f ok thix morning the Coafederate States naval force ftabon attacked the United Slates blockading flaet off the harbor of the city of Charleston, abe and ontat sight for the time the entire hostile tees Therefore wo, tho cndoreigned, commanders respec. tively of the Confederate Stator naval and land forces in this quarter, do heroby formully dertare the bloviade by the United States of the sit city of Charleston, 8. 0. raised by @ eapertor force of the Confedoraty Stakes fron iter this Met day of Januory.A. D. 1808 G. T. BEAURPGARD. General Commanding D. N. INGRAHAM, Flag Officer commanding Naval Forces |y South Carolina Official Thomas Jovrnas, Chief of Staff The resnite of tho Deval ongagewenis yesterday are At about ive o on thie tou wd E D Mo a BY Wiciir aouse BATTERY we wh! Laat hater ancl eunnty ay J Scene of the Dash of the Rebel Rams--The Rebel Preparatio _ pe im ee (dl ) lORTAR {BATTER ASEACQAST MORT, SHOALX 'S two veseela eunk, four set on fire and the remainder driven away. The foreign Consuls bere held a meeting last night, and ‘were unanimousty of the opinion that the biockade had been legally raised. Twenty Diockaders are off the bar to-day. Other very important movements are in progress here. The News in Petersburg. Prrmncnc, Va., Feb. 1, 1863. + The news from Charleston created great joy here The News in Fredericksburg. Hvanqvanvane, ARMY OF TAR PotoMAc, Feb. 3, 1868. Partion who crowed the river yesterday, under fing Of true, state that the rebels in Fredericksburg were very jubilant over ihe news from Charleston, among which cas the official proclamation of General Beaure- gard and Cominodore Ingraham declaring the blockade at Charlesto | ratecd H Great cheering was heard among the rebel soldiers in | town, and a brass band was playing in the court house, | Our pickets on this side of the river were bailed by those on the opporive bank and aswured that the war would be clowed within a month, “The game is up with you now,’ said they | THE MON COMMANDERS AND VESSELS. Our recder:, with the ahove telegrams before them, will desire to know something of the Union vessnlx destroyed or disabled ond of their commanders, They will also be | curious to know something of the rebel commander of this bold aud dasbing expedition. The nited States Gunhoat Mereedita, » Morcedita was designed and built im 1861 by M d Lupton, at Withameburg, Long Yland, and wae jatended for the New York and Hafana Stam Nayigathn Compeny, to run between New York, Havana and Texas, ‘The bull was pat together in the strongest wanwer, having diagonal oak braces nine by ‘two und @ half inches every four feet over her ceiling, running from upper dock lamp to fifteen inches below floor heade, baited with iron ateach intersection, aod all the treenails passing through the «hip ana weduing im the braces. She had water tight compartments, independent fire pumps, &o. The engines, of which there are two inverted, direct acting, were built by Messrs. Murphy, MeCurdy & War den, and were designed by Mr. J. 8. Warden , of that firm. ‘The Airrt mivent at sea of the Mercedha was made on the 11th of June, 1861, when #he wenton a trial trip for the puryore of testing her engines, and made upwards of ten knote per hour, with from sixty to sixty five revolg- tions per minnte, and eonguming at the rate of only eight to nine tons of Coal per day, She was 1,070 tons regivter, and # rated AL® in the American Lloyds, When the Mercedite wae finished and ready for oon the | Thir vowel remained O@ (hat station until 1696, whenahe | tached, for at the beginning of IF Ot we led Bun aw NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1863. THE EXCITING NEWS FROM RT /SAND baeRY a ‘ SCALE OF MILES: —_=— —= —= ry ANNA RAR RNAS %) he N iS N. », 4 ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ government bought her and made extensive alterations, 80 a8 to fit ber for a first clasa guoboat. Om the 6th of December , 1861, she was put in commission at the Brook- lyn Navy Yard, and soon after sailed on @ cruise to the Gulf, from which she returned to this city on the 24 of August, 1862, for some slight repairs, after having been in service for about eight months. During her sbeence she was three monthe on blockading duty and four .monthe in active cruising, and it was said her crew attained « very high preficieucy of drill with ermal! arme, battery and other exercises while on her cruise. For some time she wan mtationed off Pass a-!'Outre, in company with the gunboat Winona, where, by thetr un- consing sotivity, they prevented any of the numerous feet of steamers at New Orleane from leaving, with their valuable cargoes, by that pass. Observations were made almost daily, in tugboats from New Orleans, of the chances of escape through this pase. One sttempt was made 1o ran three vessels out, but they were forced to be ron ashore and destroyed by burning. At thix pass abe was joined by the steamer Brooklyn, and they succeeded in captoring the valuable steamer Magnolia. | At the time of the formation of the two Gulf squadrons the Merendita was attached to the astern division and ordered to Apalachicola, The particulars of the captare of that place, Logether with seven vessels (three of which rned) by this vessel and the gunboat Yagamore, have bern mode pabiic. This event placed in our pores- sion one of the most important points in Florida, Pre a Wo Key Weet, she war assigned a cruising ground off Abace, where in four months «he captured three ves. er of an segregate vaine of $1,500,000, among them the notorious Berinade, and earned for herwelf the title of were «fhe Terror of the Guif.”” She mounted nine guns, and hed about two nundred ron On the return Of the Mercedita in August last to thin city the following was a lint of her officers; but whether any changes aye been made since we know pet — Commander-—Neary ®. Srellwagen. Lieutenant 0h Bracutive Uicer—Trovett Abbott Acting Madere-—Chas, B. Wilder, Chas. H. Baldwin, F J. Gower, Jobo Dw; A ting A asta Sergem—C, W. Mason ‘Acting Awistant aitermT, C, Stell wegen Senior Pnginrtta& Dale. Acting Third Atidant Enginere—2 Menger, ©. Martin, Captain's Cloris, W. Passat Acting Matter's Malee—G. &, Sverne, E. Rogers Paymaster’ Clark—~Augastoe Perrot Hoaptte! Stroard-A}, Vearve. SKETCH OF CAPTAIN PTRLELWAORW. Captain Henry Atelwagen i# @ native and citizen o Peonaylvan's, from whieh Btate he was appointed to the navy in [ez Om the Int of April in (hat year be received bee warrant «# @ tidshopma,, and was attached to the xoop ot-war Vandalia, eighteen guna, engaged on the | ptrovsiian count. The verse! remained on the rtation for several years, a04 im 1851 retarned home and was lait up in ordinary at Norfolk. flo wae next at tached to the feoelving ship a§ Philadeiphia, the fen Goll, © gaitiot, He was aflerwarde approted the schomer Grampus, twelve guns, whien wat, at the end of 1883, on the West India station Rocnfetier 2. a [ER CHARLESTON. ns for the Defence of Charleston. } XQ yy C BEN | thin cub department ALD. PRICE THREE CENTS. as PY » orders in this city. Abont this time @ great change had been made in the Coast Survey Department, and the head officers were removed to Wwhington, DG, He waa pert appointed light house inepector of the Fourth district, headquarters at Philadelphia. Chis ofice he held from 1868 to the breaking out of the rebefion. In 1861 be formed one of the members of the court martial aavemb\od vo try Com~ mander Walke for bringing away Who sufferera trom Pen- sacola without orders, In 1562 he was placed tn command of the Mercedita, and bas dince been creditably employed. on bleckading service in the Gif, &c. Un the 1th of. November, 1862, be was promoted to a captaincy. The captures of contraband veasela made a considerable let; and but for this mishap be doubtiess would have added many more to the number. For the present his career of glory is cut short. The United States Gunboat Quaker City. ‘The side;wheel gunboat Quaker Cyy was built at Phile delphia by Messrg. Vaugh & Lynu ip 1864, and ia 1,426 Wns register. Sho bag a side lever engine, with a cylinder of eighty-eight inches in diameter and six feet stroke of Piston, She ran betwoen Puiladolphia and Havana for some time, and was then purchased by parties in New, York, and kepuon the route betwoen this city and Havana until she was bought by the United States government, © since Which tino she hos beeu in active service, andow~ ing 10 her great apeod has been of groat service to the country. She war one of the test veusels bought by the governinaht om Lhe breaking out of the war, owing wo her reputation as u fait ves. The Quaker City was employed during the greater part of the yoar 1861 in blockading service on the Chesapeake. Iu. the summor @ 1802 che was engaged in blockading and cruising in the Calf, and made pume valuable cay tures, one of whach was the rebel steamer Adela, which f eho captured off Abaco. Sho arrived at Key West on tho | 2ach of Joly last, having in tow the British schooner | Orion, which she took while erutsing on the Campeachy Bauk From the Gulf the Quaker City ropaired to Philadelpiia, where slo was overhauled. On thedth of October she sailed from that port for the Gulf,and on or about the 10th oF 11th of the same month she got ashore off Nortta Edisto; but was extriewted from ber perilous pealtion without receiving muett age. The Quaker City Lax a crew of about two hundred mea, . S Se: SN \ \ ‘ be 7 > rt } and mounts nie gang - ‘. HADDRELLS POINT gE fj ‘Lhe following tlt of officers wore attached to ber in \ IRONCLAD RATTERY N \ &4> ae por ON MIDOLE GROUND L \y yy — soya 2.009 FLOATING BA ‘ , ‘ entrant daira Tr AM me SAT IERY BHOALS : ra MOUNT Bea bly ‘-Cromnville, U. 8) N.; Worasio caer . H PLEASANT ‘Acting Paymaster nay. cs aS } \ ‘Acting Assistant E : Warrer, Jobu 1. . Tenaaat, Thos, Siawr A. Crawford, Lindley A, Livingston, D. Commander's Ofer Gunner—Wr. 11, Warn ilton Paymaster's Clerk—Alonzo Nodine, Hospital Stoward—Win, MeCom. SKETCH OF COMMANDER PRAILEY. Commander James Madisoo Frailoy i4 ® native and citizen of Maryland, frou which State ha was appointed to the United x avy in 1828 Mo wan first ordered {0 the sloop Bt. Lowi, eightocn gons, engaged on the Pa- cifle scedron. This waa the samo yerwol "that tho rebel Commodore Ingrabain commanded in the harbor of Smyrna jo 1869, Me remained in her until 18, when the returned hothe for repairs, and he war ordoret to report on the schooner Wolpiia, twelve guns, ale be. Jonging to the Pacific squadron, He war in 1435 at tached to the batlic “hip Delaware, seventy-four guns, fingship of the Mediterranean squadron, Prom bie | he was detached in 1834, an ordered to the frigate Com. | stellation, thirry ix gana, ingahiy of the’ West tndia Mine wadron, under Coumodore A.J, Dallas, On the 4th ea’ June, 1886, he pureed bit evanination, end received lain warraut as passed midshipman, In 1837 he wae attacked to tho poop Lexington, twenty gums, on the Pacitie squmdron, Tn 1899 he retuned aod wan attached to the rendex et Philedotphia, At the beginning oF 1841 he was ordared to the sloop Preble—rixteen yang thon destined to the Mediterraveam, On the Ath of Ren tember, 1841, nv was promoted to a Houteuantey and attached to the Pret He returned in September, 1845, ant at tho latter eud of 144% was at home, at Mbilatetphia gn ioave. At the endof 1544 be was attached w the Naval Asylum at tat city, and at the ena of 1845 wav awaiting orders, He was next at hed to the frigate Potomac—forty-foar gunn aged i the Home squadron, under Commodore Comper ¢ returned from thie erniee in July, 1847, and wor again for some time He was next ortered, in 1848, 10 the sloop of war Yorktown, sixteen gui, Com. mander Marvton, foriwing part of Commodore Benjamin Cooper's African squadre He reterned from thie crane in December, 1850, and was then abeent for a ebort tine on leave, Ho war afterwardy ordered w the receiving ship at Philadelphia where ho remained fur nome time ho was next attached to the sloup-of-war St. Mary#, twenty-two gune, Commander Mulley, forming part of Commodore Dulany’s Pacife squadron during 1463-40, In the Inst mentioned year he was executive officer ‘The crow were relieved at Panama in December, 1605 Me returned home In December, 1856. He was thew attached to the Naval Asylum, where he retained for rome time, waiting orders. * When the war broke out be was in command of the atoreship Release, attached to the Moditerrencan ’ squadron. On his return he was ordered to the commancd of the Quaker City, with the promoted rank of Commas der, Ho was first attached to the Galf and atterwards to the Atlantic blo kading squadron, and was blotkadm= the ‘was ordered bome for repairer. During the interval be- | port of Charleston when bin vewel met with the riba ‘tween ber being detailea on thie fervice and ber return, | that has reudered her temporarily andt for service the eubject of our eketch passed bis examination and was - - warranted s@ & parsed midshipman, with rank dating THE REBEL COMMANDER. from June 14,1834, Atthe commencement of 1630 we ewan S find bim awaiting orders, He was next attached tho | gxeteh of Commodore Dunca: frigate United States, forty-four guns, Captain Jeame Wii- ham, of the Confederate kinson, stationed in the Mediterranean, under Commodore 2. D, Filiott, at the end of 1636, He returned in Ie, ot the end of which year be was absent on leavo—the United Ptates having been laid up in ordinary at Berton, Be wan again ordered to Philadelphia, to sanwt at the Rendexvoun in thet city, where we find ifm at the egtnning of 1660. On the 24 of July im that year he wan promoted tom lieutenancy and attached wo the Coast y Commodore Duncan N. ingraban, who Ww over winty yours of age, 8 the won of the late Nathaniel Ingrsleu Bog., of Charieaton, #, C., and beloogy t family om nently mayal in tte character, All of them, with ouw exception, were oMicers in the navy, Hie father, \yeing the intimate fried of Captain Peat Jonde, volunteered umier Bis commend, when he iit France in the few Homme Rickard, in 1779, and fought with him i the Surveying Department. He left this in 1842,and was neat | ieitis with the British frigate Merapis, one of the moet Attached to the brig Porpoine, ten gune, statione) 60 th0 | deenerate actions in the axnals of Gaval warfare, ff Comst of Africa, He held the command of the Porpolse | ncie, Captain Jovepli Ingraham, United Mtates Navy, was in the squadron of Commodore Perry daring the yoar | wt jn ine Caited Staten whip Pickering, which went 1843 and part of 1844, gIn November of the latter year diwn at son, and wae never heard , at the begioning ¢ the Porpoise returned to New York for repairs, and Liow- | ini century. Hiv cousio, Willen Ingraham, wae killed ‘Phant Sieliwagen was allowed absence on leave. He was | a) ine age of twenty, when & lieutenant im the Cnitet next attached to the Naval Avylum at Philadelphia States Navy Anwintant Governor, in which portion 4 bim at the deginning of 1646. He war afterwardeGattached to | am 1847 woe on | ‘The sole exception in the family wae hu unels, Dewean Ne the ao whom he received tie news ham, Yau. fro home equadron, but at the beginn of the mont accomptisied gomtianen of bin day apwigne’, He was, however, noon after appointed | and chough mtimate with the leading polities! men of ow © & verse, from which he was detatehed in | pountry, yet from taste and carly epeuciationn, he waa Avguet, 18467, and ordered to the Reodesvous at} tint wh. At the ng of the Revolati deiphla, ander € ander McKean. He was text at TA, he went t> Rarepe, and renvsined there wntil it clo tached to tho frigate Savannah, forty-four gons, under Adams, when Commipaionor Wo France in i770, tre orders at the cartler part of 1840 for the Pacific begining of 1890 we find thin vousel bedring the Commodore Thomas Ap Cavervy Jonem, with At the | quently speake of bh tn hin diary ne bie smooiate i fing of | y He retarned, however, to thie o nT ¥. Jobo | gave in bis adherence to the government, and permite try ston 08 commander of the frigate, and owr ber 200: | hie em WO Cuter the Ravy—the Liewtanant William jp tive officer, In 1861 the Srvaunah wae on the came eta. een won: we beve mention! as being Killed in the tion, under Captain Page, and bore the Gag of Commolore | viene C8 McCauley, The vensel returned bome ter Cngaain P.M. boge ed bin mbt ipman'® 181, and Lioctenant Stellwagen wae prar aveot | erent. at the age f Give yeare,on ttn 18th of Jane abeence, In 1812 he was again attached to the Ooms for. | isso wey, after which be was nent on abort crome, trom | aire wy 2 the last war with Great Beitain. Comme of oath Caroline, he intiinate (reed of hu whieh he returned in October, TH. He wan saath | pice nowy about to tail im the frigate Congrom, re attache wo the Coast Borvey, apd oe the 19h | acu vr, Ingraham 10 allow Wien to take hie won with A Iananry. ihe, © command bin, “We stall probably have an engagement,’ sald the office io Philadelphia Me sgain weet on « be, “and t wil do him ged.” He ercordmgly went wv short cralre, from whieh be returned in December, 1n64. He was, on the 17th of January, 1856, again placed in charge of the office in Vhiladeiphin. On the 14th of Sep. tember, 1°°5, be wae promotes to (he ragk of commander, and wt! attached to the chief command of the Const | Survey office in Philadelphia Turing 1985 be took a tw Prorthe’ trip along the coast, revorning tn November nen at oper, ot (hat tender age, sod remained in sottvn ) youre, att Use chow of the war, Tle then at the age of eleven, and resunet “eee thee he bee, tem od im active duty. tin Soreere im the blockade daty ports of the Golf auring the wh to of orien for petorend ben ohncation © . ere be (il tater ne lal om shee January 20, 1856, we Gnd bim commanding at the Vorted | or, tnd Sanaa, bo tant, Yee Ptaten Conant Burvey's chie! ofce in Philateipha Prange a inhasia tanasehediias dite ieee Seettons teay thet ab Chin time J. N. MaMt, the rebel captain of | sary prey imus to hit walling for the M es, te the the Oreto or Florida, wea a iieutensnt of ove of thO | frie tne nw attaninad in the Navy Yard at Phitadet const sutvey verselx under command of the sub | phate, the society OF whieh city wilh lowe remember Iain | mod bis acovtup!isiind fom He was io 6 mr and bow of enyrene,, wher be nection With the fneta CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGE, jeot of oar sketch, who wae chat comman'er of In 18 Commander “eliwagen pend the coat returning in poary, 1867, we tad him | te wee otters * im 1868 in the har ty maine 6 Masnms yom while at that port, made a five monthe’ orale a Angust, 1866, Un the ib of at bie Old post in Philadelphia | ting