U. S. Steamer
New Ironsides, off
Charleston, February 10, 1863.
We, the undersigned officers, commanding various vessels of the blockading squadron off
Charleston, have seen the proclamation of
General Beauregard and
Commodore Ingraham, herewith appended, as also the results of the so-called engagements, viz.: two vessels sunk, four set on fire, and the remainder driven away; and also the statement that the
British Consul and the commander of the British war-steamer
Petrel had previously gone five miles beyond the usual anchorage of the blockaders, and could see nothing of them with their glasses.
We deem it our duty to state that the so-called results are
false in every particular. No vessels were sunk, none were set on fire seriously.
Two vessels alone were injured of consequence: the
Mercedita had her boiler exploded by a shell from the only gun fired at her, when surprised by an attack by night.
A thick haze was prevailing; and the
Keystone State also had her steam-chest injured at the moment of attempting to run down one of the rams.
The Keystone State was at once assisted by the
Memphis, which vessel exchanged shots with the iron ram as she was withdrawing toward the bar, after having fired at the
Keystone State, as did also the
Quaker City.
So hasty was the retreat of the rams, that, although they might have perceived that the
Keystone State had received serious damage, no attempt was ever made to approach her. The
Stettin and
Ottawa, at the extreme end of the line, did not get under way from their position till after the firing had ceased, and the
Stettin merely saw the
black smoke as the rams disappeared over the
