The loss of the C. S. Steamer Atlanta--the particulars.
The loss of the Confederate iron-clad steamer
Atlanta, (formerly the
Fingal) in
Warsaw Sound, near
Savannah, Ga., last Wednesday, has been published.
We condense some interesting particulars of the disaster from the
Savannah papers.
It appears that the
Government has long desired to put the
Atlanta into active service, and a few weeks ago
Captain Webb was placed in command, who from that date was busily engaged in preparing her for action.
Everything being in perfect order and a splendid crew, as to capacity, on board, about daylight Wednesday morning the
Atlanta moved forward into
Warsaw Sound.
When off
Warsaw Island she encountered two iron- clad
Yankee Monitors, lying close in shore.
The
Atlanta fired the first shot at 10 minutes to 5 o'clock, and the second at 5 minutes after 5. The monitors replied, and the engagement was kept up until the
Atlanta had fired 4 shots and the monitors 5.
The latter lay so close in shore, in shallow water, that our steamer found it impossible, owing to her heavy draft, to get as near as she would.
At 5½ o'clock the firing ceased on both sides; at 15 minutes to 6 o'clock small boats were seen to pass from both monitors to the
Atlanta, and a wooden gunboat down the sound was signalled to return, which she did. The enemy boarded the
Atlanta at 10 minutes to 6, and at 6:30 the
Confederate flag, which had floated over her until then, was taken down and the Abolition flag hoisted in its stead.
One shot was seen to strike the
Atlanta, it is supposed near her stern, and a shall burst on her deck, but with what effect is unknown.
The officers of the C. S. steamer
Isondiga--who were in sight and witnessed the entire engagement and surrender — state that the
Atlanta appeared to be aground several times during the action.
They think she was clearly so when the firing ceased, and perhaps bilged, as her pumps were actively at work, and she appeared soon after the surrender to be careening.
Another solution of the affair is that there was treachery among the crew of our vessel.
A short time before she went out remarks were made by some of the sailor portion of the men that "if the ship went out it would be worse for her and her officers, as they would find out." Strange to say, the white flag was run up on the
Atlanta, then lowered and the
Confederate flag hoisted, and again lowered to give place to the
United States flag, and is strong evidence that it was not a regular surrender, while it is very suggestive of conflict among her crew.
The officers of the
Atlanta were:
Commander,
Wm. A. Webb;
1st Lieut, J. W. Alexander;
2d Lieut.,
Alphonso Barbot;
3d Lieut.,--Ariedge;
Master's Mate,
T. L. Wragg;
Assistant Surgeons W. J. Freeman and
R. R. Gibbs;
Lieutenant of Marines,
Jas. Thurston; and
Midshipmen Williamson and
Peters.
