February 1, 1863, The New York Herald
The intelligence from Savannah, via rebel sources, is very important. General Pryor, who commands the rebels on the Blackwater, informed General Peck that he received information of a recent engagement near Savannah, in which the rebels had suffered defeat.
The probable locality of the said defeat is on the Ogeechee river, which runs into the Ossibaw Sound near Raccoon Key, Georgia. It will be remembered that the Nashville – a vessel that has succeeded so often in running the blockade – several months ago ran up the Little Ogeechee river, where she anchored under the protection of several sand batteries. It was the intention of the officers of the Nashville to run the vessel to sea in a manner similar to that by which the Oreto escaped from Mobile. A Union expedition was therefore organized to prevent the carrying out of this plan, and on Saturday morning, January 24, the Montauk, towed by the James Adger, left Hilton Head, in company with several gunboats, for that purpose. The plan of operations was for the iron clad battery Montauk to engage the rebel sand batteries and drive out those who manned them, while the capture or destruction of the Nashville was to be undertaken by the wooden vessels which accompanied her.
The Montauk and her companions arrived safely at the mouth of the Ogeechee river on Saturday afternoon, the 24th, and during the morning of the 26th the reports of several heavy guns firing in that direction were heard even at Hilton Head. This would certainly indicate that the fight had been begun in those waters, and, if the rebel General Pryor’s statement is to be believed, with some degree of success to the Union cause.
There is little doubt but that if the gunboats could not bring the Nashville out of the waters above the batteries, they have at least succeeded in destroying her some way or other.
But, at the same time, it was expected that another combatant would appear on the scene.
There is no remaining doubt of the completion of the Fingal. She bears the name, since she became part of the rebel navy, of the Atlanta, and her first duty was to be that of cutting out our gunboats in the Ogeechee river and aiding the rebel steamer Nashville in escaping to sea. Information which has been deemed trustworthy has been received to the effect that the above is the programme assigned for her debut, and that the attempt has only been delayed of late by reason of the unusually low tides, which would not permit the passage of the Atlanta through Wilmington river.
This endeavor on the part of the Atlanta had been hourly anticipated, and measures were accordingly taken to meet her. The movement of the rebel will be a bold and hazardous one; but in the event of its success it will affect us worse than a defeat in the field. The rebel navy has already spread consternation and alarm among our entire mercantile marine; yet, by the addition of a single privateer, that navy became doubled, and the dangers to our commerce were increased in like proportion. The escape of the Nashville would treble the danger. All accounts agree as to the heavy armor and formidable battery of the new rebel man of war.
This Atlanta was to have gone down from Savannah to the Wilmington river, along which it was to have sailed until it reached the spot where the Nashville was anchored. Then by a joint rush at the gunboat fleet to sink or disable them and escape. It is not at all unlikely that the Atlanta and Montauk may have gotten into a duel similar to that between the Monitor and Merrimac and the news received would imply that the Montauk had doubtless had the best of the fight. We anxiously await further news from this portion of our coast.
The above expedition is under the charge of Captain John L. Worden, who also personally commands the iron clad battery Montauk. Captain Worden commanded the Monitor during the fight in Hampton Roads with the Merrimac, and was then nearly blinded by powder. He has so far recovered from his injuries as to enable him again to take active service; and, as a singular coincidence, on the same day that we receive the news of this, his second victory, we also receive the pleasing intelligence that Congress has passed a vote of thanks to him for his first achievement in Hampton Roads.