February 2, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
In Saturday’s issue we briefly announced the capture of the Yankee gunboat Isaac P. Smith in the Stono River. We are now enabled to present to our readers the full particulars of the exploit.
Several days ago a secret expedition was organized, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel YATES, of the 1st South Carolina Regular artillery, and despatched to John’s Island, to attack the gunboats which occasionally prowl along the Stono. The force consisted of the following troops: The Siege Train, Cos. A and B, commanded respectively by Capt. B.C. Webb and Lieut. L.W. WILSON, Major CHARLES ALSTON, Jr., being in command of the battalion; Co. F, of the Palmetto Battalion of Light Artillery, under Capt. F.C. SCHULZ; Co. D, 1st South Carolina (regular) Artillery, with a Light Battery, Capt. F.H. HARLESTON; one Parrott gun, in charge of Lieut. T.E. Gregg; Co. I, 1st South Carolina (regular) Artillery, Capt. J.C. Mitchel; Cos. H and I, of 20th S.C.V., commanded respectively by Capt. S.M. Roof and Lieut. M. Gunter, and acting as Sharpshooters. During Thursday night these troops were posted at LEGARE’S Point Place, and GRIMBALL’S, on John’s Island; Major ALSTON commanding the batteries at GRIMBALL’S; Capt. HARLESTON those at LEGARE’S Point Place, and the Sharpshooters being under charge of Capt. MITCHEL.
In the meantime a detachment of LUCAS’ (regular) battalion, under Captain JOHN H. GARY, was posted at Mr. THOMAS GRIMBALL’S place on James Island, and further up the Stono. They had three 24 pounder rifled guns, which were put in position 150 yards apart, and about 400 yards from the banks of the river. The guns were manned by detachments of Companies A, C, and C, under Lieutenants W.G. OGIER and E.B. COLHOUN and Captain T.B. HAYNE. Further down the Stono, and on the James Island side, Major J. WELSMAN BROWN, with two rifle guns, in charge of a detachment of the 2d Regiment S.C. Artillery (late LAMAR’S), and with a detachment of the Georgia Battalion as Sharpshooters, took up a position so as to command the channel.
On Friday afternoon, at half past four o’clock, the enemy gunboat Isaac P. Smith steamed up the river passing the batteries of Major Brown and Colonel YATES, and came to anchor a little above, nearly opposite the residence of Mr. THOMAS GRIMBALL, and within fair range of the guns of Capt. GARY. The Yankees made no attempt to land, and, after waiting about twenty minutes, Captain GARY ordered the battery to open, which it did in handsome style, sending its shots crashing audibly though the timbers of the gunboat. AT the first discharge there was evidently great consternation on the Yankee decks, and one officer cried out, ‘Great God! what is this?’ The vessel immediately slipped her cable and began a hasty retreat, fighting the battery as she retired. She threw grape, shot and shell with considerable accuracy, but without injuring any of our men. One grape shot struck the gun of Company C, leaving its trace longitudinally. The firing of our battery at this point was rapid and well executed. The gunboat in her flight soon came within range of the batteries of Colonel YATES, against which she then directed her broadsides. But the heavy concentrated fire from John’s Island soon terminated the struggle. Three shots struck the machinery of the steamer, deranging it so that she could no longer proceed. She then dropped anchor, and her commander unconditionally surrendered the boat and crew, consisting of 11 officers, 105 men and three negros. Colonel YATES thereupon ordered the Yankee Lieutenant ______ Commanding to send his men ashore in the steamer’s boats, for our men had none wherewith to board her. The surrender was soon consummated, and a detachment of our force, under Captain HARLESTON, took possession of the prize Isaac P. Smith. She proved to be a very valuable capture. She was built in 1861, and carried a fine armament, consisting of one 30-pounder PARROTT gun, and eight 8-inch heavy Columbiads. Her hull and machinery were not materially injured, and will soon be in serviceable condition.
The enemy’s loss in the action was nineteen killed and six wounded. The negro pilot was killed outright. Our loss was only one man killed, a member of ALSTON’S Battalion, from Horry District, whose name we have not yet been able to obtain. Our forces behaved with the utmost coolness and bravery, encountering, without breastworks or other protection, the enemy’s fire at the short range of between 200 and 300 yards. The Signal Corps and WALPOLE’S ‘Stono Scouts’ were very active and efficient in promoting the success of the expedition.
During Saturday night the other Yankee gunboats steamed up the river, and began shelling the Isaac P. Smith, hoping to retake or destroy her. Major BROWN’S guns, however, immediately opened upon them a hot and well directed fire, and, warned by the fate of the Smith, they withdrew. The captured steamer is now under the guns of Fort Pemberton.
The prisoners were brought to the city on Saturday morning, and were escorted to jail by a detachment of the Charleston Battalion, Capt. LORD commanding. They are a villainous looking crew. The names of the officers are as follows:
F.S. CONOVER, Acting Lieut. Commanding.
JOHN W. DICKS (Executive Officer), Acting Master.
ROBT. TARR, Acting Master.
WHITMAN CHASE, Ensign.
FRANCIS BUNTON, Ensign.
HENRY S. BORDEN, Ensign
JACOB TUCKER , 1st Assistant Engineer.
ERASTUS BARRY, 3d Assistant Engineer
J.O. HILL, Assistant Paymaster.
CHAS. ESTACKER, Paymaster’s Clerk.
G.H. MARVIN, Surgeon.
JAS. S. TUCKER, the 2d Assistant Engineer, died on his way to the city.
A number of trophies found on board, such as officers’ swords, fine mathematical instruments, etc., with a considerable pack of bran new [sic] backs, were yesterday brought up to Gen. RIPLEY’S office.
The prize will doubtless be speedily put in fighting trim, so as to cooperate in the next dash of our iron-clads upon the blockading fleet.