June 24, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Port Royal Correspondence.
PORT ROYAL, S.C., June 19, 1863.
In my last I had only time to announce the capture of the celebrated Anglo-rebel ram Fingal; and even now I have to regret that it is utterly impossible to give such details of this brilliant affair as are characteristic of the HERALD’S correspondents, in consequence of the mail closing in a few moments, which goes North by the gunboat Jas. Adger. I will, however, give as detailed an account as circumstances will admit.
Several days since Admiral DuPont received intelligence from deserters that the Fingal was about to make an attempt to run the blockade, and in the event of being successful would sail immediately for the Charleston squadron, and, in conjunction with the rebel rams at Charleston, would destroy or disperse the fleet there, after which the entire rebel force would make a demonstration against this point. Immediately upon the receipt of this intelligence, Admiral DuPont, with his customary celerity of movement and quick conception of the enemy intention, despatched the Monitors Weehawken and Nahant to the Wilmington waters, with orders to station a picket boat in the above river. The picket boat was secreted and continued to keep a most vigilant watch of the enemy’s movements. Upon the morning of the 17th inst., when about daylight, the Fingal was descried steaming down the river. The alarm was immediately given, and all hands beat to quarters on board the Monitors. None on board the Monitors believed that there could possibly be any other result than that which had taken place if the ram came within range of their guns. The Fingal, or more properly, the Atlanta, came steaming down the river with all the impudence and defiance imaginable. Captain Rodgers immediately put on steam and sailed down the river, for the purpose of getting into deeper water and decoying the rebel monster down. The feint succeeded completely, as the Atlanta immediately put on a full head of steam and gave chase, sending her compliments to the Weehawken in the shape of shells from her pivot gun, as soon as she got within range.
This vessel reserved its fire for a few moments, until the ram should get well on. The Atlanta fired, in all, eight shots, none of which struck the Weehawken.
Captain Rodgers sighted the first gun (fifteen-inch), which took effect on the pilothouse, and shattered it rather effectually. The second shot struck just aft the pilothouse, on the side, about eighteen inches below the upper deck, passing through and into the pilot house and thence completely through the opposite side of the house, killing two pilots and wounding another man. The third shot struck aft on the water line, crushing in the vessel’s mail and wounding twelve and killing one on the gun deck with splinters. Another shot passed through the smokestack.
The second shot, which killed the pilots, of course rendered the ram almost helpless, and before she could be commanded again she swung around and grounded. The Weehawken and Nahant were steaming up to engage her at close range, when she struck her colors and hoisted the white flag. Upon boarding her our officers found all hands below, none remaining on the gundeck but the wounded, who were vainly begging for water and assistance from their comrades; but none was rendered until our surgeons gave it.
The Atlanta is drawing fifteen feet of water, and has two months’ provisions on board, as also an immense quantity of ammunition of the very finest quality. Her guns are of recent English manufacture and improved pattern, another evidence of British neutrality. While speaking of this part of the vessel I may say she presented on her gun deck an appearance of the most filthy character, and strangely at variance with the uniform cleanliness of vessels-of-war.
Her general appearance resembles very much our iron-clads on the Mississippi – such as the Essex and Benton, for instance – but by no means as strong and formidable. The gun deck runs from stem to stern, and over it is the upper or spar deck. The sides are at about an angle of forty-five degrees. They are built of oak and pine, eight to ten inches thick, which is covered by solid iron bars running from the upper spar deck to the water line, and one and a half inches in the thickness. These are securely fastened on by rivets passing through the woodwork. Between the bars was a composition which has become nearly as hard as the iron itself. The pilothouse is built up through and above the spar deck about two feet. This is constructed of solid iron five and a half inches thick, with two elongated lookouts on each of the four sides. Her prow is of a most formidable character, extending about two feet out from the bow, attached to which and down the cutwater we find what one would term nothing less than an immense saw, the teeth of which are made of the finest steel. No doubt, should she ever attempt to run down a vessel, this saw would absolutely saw a shipside through.
The Atlanta carries four guns, two six-inch, two seven-inch and one pivot gun forward. This gun is fired through the forward port.
Another statement gives her dimensions as follows: –
Her length over all is one hundred and eighty feet, breadth forty feet, draught of vessel sixteen feet, height of smokepipe twelve feet. She has engines of three hundred horse power. Her pilothouse is five feet square, plate. Her deck, forward and aft, is plated with iron two and a half inches thick. Her armament consists of five Enfield one hundred-pounders. Her ram is six feet long by three feet wide. Her roof, which slopes at an angle of thirty degrees, is seventeen inches thick – twelve inches wood, covered with two layers of two and a half inch plates. Her plating is all two and a half inches thick by five inches wide. Holes in her pilot house are one inch in diameter. She has four water-tight compartments. Her pilothouse and smokepipe are square. Her forward and after guns train to starboard and port. In the lower layer of her plating is an alternate of pine wood.
The New South of the 20th inst. has some additional particulars in relation to the Atlanta which are interesting. It says: –
We learn that the officers of the Atlanta came out with the intention of engaging and capturing the Weehawken. She was followed down by two wooden gunboats filled with ladies and other excursionists, who were to witness the fight, it having been arranged that one of the gun boats should tow the Weehawken up to Savannah; then the Atlanta was to go to Ossabaw, capture a gunboat, take some batteries, entrap the Forty-seventh New York and leave a force there to hold the batteries. Next she was going to Charleston to co-operate by signal with some rebel boats in annihilating the blockading fleet, after which she was to pay her respects to the Port Royal squadron. This nice little programme was very summarily changed. The Fingal had two months’ provisions on board and ammunition of the very best quality. She was commanded by Capt. Webb, formerly of the United States Navy. She carried four Brooke guns, two six-inch and two seven-inch, and a bow gun weighing over 15,000 pounds. She had very choice sextants, chronometers, &c. She is quite a formidable looking craft. She has a cutwater in the shape of an immense steel saw, with monster teeth; outside of that an iron frame with a torpedo attached for damaging vessels, and above an iron boom-like piece for penetrating anything on which she might run. She draws fifteen feet of water.
The following among the officers of the Atlanta are late of the United States Navy: – William A. Webb, Commander; J. W. Alexander, First Lieutenant, Alfonso Barber, Second Lieutenant; A. L. Freeman, Surgeon, G. H. Johnson, First Assistant Engineer.
Official Accounts.
REPORTS OF ADMIRAL DUPONT.
FLAGSHIP WABASH,
PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C., June 17, 1863.
Hon GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of Navy, Washington: –
SIR – Having reason to believe the Atlanta and other rebel iron-clads 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, I despatched some days ago the Weehawken, Capt. John Rodgers, from this port, and the Nahant, Commander J. Downes, from North Edisto, to Warsaw, where the Cimerone, Commander Drake, was maintaining the inside blockade.
I have the satisfaction to report to the Department this morning that the Atlanta came down by Wilmington river into Warsaw Sound, and was captured. This information has just been received in a telegram from Fort Pulaski, sent by Capt. John Rodgers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. F. DU PONT, Rear Admiral, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
FLAGSHIP WABASH,
PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C. June 17, 1863.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy –
SIR – I have the honor to inform the Department that since mailing my despatch, No. 316. I have received further details of the capture of the Atlanta, sent through the kindness of Colonel Barton, by telegraph from Fort Pulaski.
The Atlanta, Captain William Webb, came down this morning via Wilmington river, to attack our vessels to Warsaw Sound, accompanied by two wooden steamers, filled, it is said, with persons as spectators. The Weehawken, Captain John Rodgers at once engaged her, firing in all five shots, three of which took effect, penetrating her armor and killing or wounding the crews of two guns. Two or three of the pilots were also badly wounded, and the pilothouse broken up, whereupon the vessel grounded and immediately after surrendered. The armament of the Atlanta was two seven-inch and two six-inch guns. She is but slightly injured. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. F. DU PONT,
Rear Admiral, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
P. S. – The officers and crew of the Atlanta numbered one hundred and sixty-five persons.
S. F. D.P
FLAGSHIP WABASH.
PORT ROYAL, S. C., June 19, 1863.
SIR – I have the honor to forward herewith, marked No. 1, the interesting report of Captain John Rodgers, of the Weehawken, of the capture, on the 7th inst., of the Confederate iron-clad steamer Atlanta, better known as the Fingal, as well as the report of Commander Downes, of the Nahant, who participated in the capture, marked No. 2.
The Fingal, in a dense fog, ran the blockade of Savannah a few days after the Port Royal forts were taken, in November, 1861.
She has been closely watched ever since, and as in the case of Nashville, the long and ceaseless vigilance of my officers has been rewarded. The Atlanta is now in Port Royal, under the American flag, having unaided steamed into this harbor from Warsaw.
The department will notice in the event how well Captain Rodgers has sustained his distinguished reputation, and added to the list of the brilliant services which he has rendered to the country during the rebellion. It will be my duty to recapitulate those services which have taken place during his connection with my command in another communication.
Commander Downes, with his usual gallantry, moved as rapidly as possible towards the enemy, reserving his fire until he could get into close action, but lost the opportunity, from the brief nature of the engagement, of using his battery.
I have been told that the Confederate government considered the Atlanta as the most efficient of their iron-clads.
The officers and crew of the Atlanta, with the exception of the wounded and one of the surgeons, have been transferred to the United States steamer James Adger, to be conveyed to Fortress Monroe. A list is herewith enclosed, marked No. 3.
I cannot close this despatch without calling the attention of the department to the coolness and gallantry of Acting Master Benjamin W. Loring, especially recommended by Captain Rodgers. I trust that the department will consider his services as worthy of consideration.
I forward herewith, marked Nos. 4, 5 and 6, the list of the officers and crews of the Weehawken, Nahant and Cimerone.
Very respectfully, S. F. DU PONT,
Rear Admiral, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
To. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.