April 13, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
The Confederate steamer Stonewall Jackson, Captain BLACK, formerly the British steamer Leopard, left Nassau on Wednesday last, with a cargo consisting of several pieces of field artillery, 200 bbls. saltpetre, 40,000 army shoes, and a large assortment of goods bound to this port. On Saturday night, about 11 o’clock, off the beach of Long Island, a few miles from this bar, she got among a fleet of blockading vessels. The Yankees having discovered the presence of the Stonewall Jackson, they commenced firing at her from nearly every direction. Captain BLACK finding his vessel surrounded, with no chance for escape, headed her for Long Island beach, where she was run ashore after a half hour chase, during which the enemy kept up a constant discharge of artillery at the ship, and penetrated her hull in three or four places. The Stonewall Jackson was burned by Captain BLACK’S orders, about 4 o’clock, on Sunday morning, and everything about her has been destroyed, except the iron part of her hull. The passengers, officers and crew have reached this city, but have lost many of their personal effects.