Official report of the Naval engagement off Charleston.
The official report of Com. Dupont, of the engagement with his fleet off Charleston, is published in the Northern papers. He mentions that our iron-clads went out of Charleston, unperceived by the blockaders and attacked the blockaders; that the was first attacked, and a heavy rifle that passed through for condenser and the steam drum of her port boiler, and exploded, blowing as hole four or five feet in fare, killing the gunner and sadding a number of men. He says Capt. Stellwagen surrendered--"the crew and officers were paroled, though nothing was said of the ship, the executive officer, Lieutenant Commanding Abbott, having gone on board the enemy's gunboat and made the arrangement." He states that "the only casualties were on the Mercedita and the Keystone State. " On the Keystone State they were very large — about one-fourth of her crew were killed and wounded, and among the former the medical officer of the ship, Surgeon Gotwald. Commander Stellwagon makes his report as follows:--I have to report that at half past 4 o'clock the morning two iron clad rams from Charleston, in the obscurity of a thick haze, and the moon having just set, succeeded in passing the bar near the ship channel unperceived by the squadron, and made as attack upon it, this ship being the first encountered. Particular vigilance was exhibited by the officers and crew in the expectation of a vessel to run the blockade. At 3 o'clock in the morning we had slipped our cable and overhauled a troop steamer running for the channel. At 4 o'clock I laid down. Lieutenant Commander Abbott was on deck giving an order to Acting Master Dwyer about recovering the anchor, when they saw a smoke and the faint appearance of a vessel close at hand. I heard them exclaim. "She has black smoke Watch, man the guns! " "Spring the rattle!"--"Call all hands to quarters!" Mr. Dwyer came to the cabin door, telling me, "a steamboat was close aboard." I was then in the act of getting my pea jacket, and slipped it on as I followed him out. I jumped to the poop ladder, saw the smoke and a low boat, apparently a tug, although I thought it might be a rule propeller for the squadron. I sang out, "Train your guns right on him — be ready to fire as soon as I order. " I faired the steamer--"A hey! stand clear of us and heave to. What steamer is that? " I then ordered my men to fire on him and told him, "You will be into us. What steamer is that?" His answer to the first and second hall was Hallon!" The other replies were indistinct, either by intention, or from having spoken inside of his nail armor, until in the act of striking us with his prow, when he said, "This is the Confederate States steam ram" I repeated the order, "Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!" But no gun could be trained on him, as he approached us on the quarter and struck us just abaft out after mast with a 34 pounder, and fired a heavy rifle through us diagonally, penetrating the starboard side through our Normandy condenser, the steam drum of our port boiler, and exploding against the port side of the ship, blowing a hole in its exit some four or five feet square. The vessel was instantly filled and enveloped with steam. Reports were brought to me "that we were shot through both boilers; that the fires were put out by the steam and smoke; that a gunner and one man were killed; that a number of men were badly scalded; that the water was over the fire-room floor; and that the vessel was sinking fast." The ram had cut us through at and below the water-line on one side, and the shell bad burst on the other side almost at the water's edge. After the ram struck, she swung around under the starboard counter, her prow touching us, and hailed, "Surrender, or I'll sink you. Do you surrender?" After receiving the reports, I answered, "I can make no resistance; my boiler is destroyed." The rebel then cried out: "Do you surrender?" I said "Yes" having found my moving power destroyed, and that I could bring nothing to bear but muskets against his shot-proof coating. He called several times "to send a boat," and threatened to fire again. After some delay a boat was toward, and Lieutenant Commander Abbott asked if he should go in her, and asked for orders what to say. I told him to see what they demanded, and to tell him the condition we were in. He proceeded onboard, and according to their demand, gave his parole in behalf of himself and all the officers and crew. His report accompanies this. The rem having been detained a half hour or more now ran out for the steamer Keystone State, which vessel and three others we had tried to alarm by lights. We saw a shell explode as it struck the ram without injuring her. Saw the Keystone State struck several times, and saw the steam and smoke blowing from her. The firing then receded to the northward and outward, and was pretty brisk at the head of the line. I set everybody at work taking care of our wounded, pumping the ship, stopping leaks, examine the engines, &c. About 6 A. M. got things in order to stop a little steam, and hove up anchor. The Stellin and Flag seeing our condition. I told them they might be wanted to go southward to pick up men, the fighting now being over. In conclusion, I have to say that in the squadron were all the vessels were conspicuous for vigilance, this ship has never been found wanting. Everything was done the circumstances permitted, and in a proper manner.
Lieut. Abbott makes the following report:
Sir:
--In obedience to your order, I proceeded to the rebel ram and was received by Lts. Parker and Phycock, and conducted by the former inside of the house where I was received by her Captain — His name I did not learn.
I told him I had come in the name of Capt. Stellwagen to give up the U. S. steamer Mercedita, she being in a sinking and perfectly defenceless condition.
They asked me about the condition of our boats and the number of the crew.
I told them our boats were not large enough nor in a proper condition to carry our number of crew.
After privately consulting with the Commodore, the Captain returned to me saying "that they had concluded to parole our officers and crew, provided I would pledge my sacred word of honor that neither I nor any of the officers and crew of the Mercedita would again take up arms against the Confederate States during the war, unless and regularly exchanged as prisoners of war."
Selleving it to be the proper course to pursue at that time I consented.
I was then informed that I could return to the Mercedita.
I will here state in this report that I was on deck at the time the smoke of the ram was discovered, and in less than two minutes she was into us.
Your order to fire into her could not be obeyed, as no gun in the ship could be depressed or trained to hit her, though every effort was made to do so, she being so low in the water, and coming upon us "quartering" We had only time to get the watch to their quarters, and before we could slip our cable we were without steam, a shell having passed completely through the ship and boilers. Sir:
I am, very respectfully,
T. Abbott. Lieut. Commander.
Capt. Henry S. Stellwagen U. S. steamer Mercedita.
T. Abbott. Lieut. Commander.
Capt. Henry S. Stellwagen U. S. steamer Mercedita.
Com. Leroy, of the Keystone State, reports to Rear Admiral Dupont:
Sir.
--I have to report that about 5 o'clock on this day, January 31, while at anchor off the main entrance of the harbor of Charleston, the ship was approached by what was supposed to be a steamer; but regarding her appearance as suspicious, I ordered the cable slipped and fired a gun, which was responded to by a shell, when I to be fired as they could be brought to bear upon the object.
On putting my head to the eastward it was discovered that there was one on either quarter and we made them out from their peculiar construction to be iron-clade after the model of the Merrimto.
Owing to a fire in the hold we stood to the northward about ten minutes, and, shoaling water, kept southeast about ten minutes to enable us to subdue the fire, and then I turned around and under full steam, proposed attempting to run down the ram, but about 6 A. M. a shell from one of them entered on the port side, under the forward wheelhouse guard, passing through the port steam chimney and landing in the starboard depriving us of our motive power.
Ten rifle shells struck the ship, and two burst on the quarter deck, most of them striking the bull, being near and below the water-line.
Our steam chimneys being destroyed, our motive power was lost, and our situation became critical.
There were two feet of water in the ship and leaking badly, the water rising rapidly, and the fire-hold on fire.
Others of the squadron coming along, the ram that had injured us so much altered her course, and before our wheels entirely stopped we were enabled to get a hawser from the Memphis, and were taken in tow.
I regret to report our casualties very large; some twenty were killed and twenty wounded. Among the killed I have to mention the Surgeon of the ship, Assistant Surgeon Jacob H. Gotwald, who was killed while in the act of rend ring assistance to come of the wounded.
Capt. Wathough, of the Memphis, kindly gave us the service of Acting Assistant Surgeon Brown, to whom I feel much indebted for the attention he has exhibited in caring for the wounded.
Being unable to communicate with he senior officer present personally or by signal.
I deemed it my duty (Commander Fraliey advising the ship) to make the best of my way to Port Royal, Commander Frailey, by my request, advising the senior officer that I would leave in tow of the Memphis unless he gave other orders.
In conclusion I beg to call attention to the desire manifested by all under my command to destroy the enemy, and particularly to the cool and efficient manner in which I was seconded by Lieut. Commander Thomas H. Eastman, the executive officer of the ship.
Sir.
Capt. W. R. Taylor, senior officer of the Housetonic makes to Admiral Dupont a circumstantial report of the action; but all the detailed are published elsewhere. He thinks he shot from the forward turret the flag of the rebel ram; but as she immediately steamed away, and he had to assist the Quaker City, he could not ascertain correctly. The Augusta received one shot in her side. No one was injured. Capt. Taylor sent the Keystone State to Port Royal, as he was disabled. He last saw the rebel rams lying in Maffit's Channel, close to shot, with no signs of a fresh attack.
