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The Capture Of The Atlanta

The Capture Of The Atlanta image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
July
Year
1863
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Heraldo correspondent gives the iollowing account of the capture of the anglo-rebelram Fingal : Several days since Admiral Dupont received ntelligence from desertera that the Fingal was bout to make an attempt to run the blockade, and in the event of being successful would sail immediately for the Charleston squadron, and in conjunction with the rebel rams at Charleston, would destroy or disperse the fleet there, after whioh the entire rebel force would make a demonstration against'this point. Immediately upon the receipt of this ntelligence, Admiral Dupot, with the customary celerity of movement and quiok conception of the eneroy's intentinn, dispatched the Weehuwken and Nahant to the Wilaiinji-toü waters, with orders to station a picket boat in the above named rivor. Tha picket boat was secreted and continued to keep a most vigilant watch of the onemy'f movements. Upon the ruorning of the I7th inst, when about daylight, the Fingal was descried eteaming down the river. The alarm was immediately given, and all hands beat to quartors on board the Monitors. None on board the Monitoi-3 believed that thoro could poesibly be any other result tban that which has taken place if the ram carne within rango of their guns. The Fin ga), or moie properly the Atlanta, carne s-teaming down the river witli ail the impudence and defiance imnginable. Gapt. Eogers immediately put on steam and sailed down the river, for the purpose of getting into deeper water and decoving the rebel monster down. The ïeint euceeeded completely, as the Atlanta immediately put on a" full head of steam and gave chnse, sending her compliments to the Wee hawken in the ehape of shells from her pivot gun, as eoon as she got within range.. The vessel reserved its fire for a few moments until the ram should be got well on. The Atlanta fired, in all, eight shots, none of wfaiöb struck the Weehawken. Capt, Kodgers sighted the first gun, (uiteen inch) wbich took efiect on the pilot house, and shattered it rather effectually. The socond shot truck just ft the pilot house, on the side, abo Ut ghteen nches below tne upper deck, )assing through and into the pilotiouse and tbence coinpletely through he opposite side of the house, killing ;wo pilota and woun'ling another man. 'ba third ehot struck aft on the water ine, crushing in the vessel's mail, and vounding twelve aud killing one on the ui)-deok with splinters. Anotber shot )a?sed through the smoke-stack. The seoond shot, whieh killed the piota, of course rendered the ram almost )elple=s, and before sha could be corananded again she swung around and grounded. The Weehawken and Nalunt were steaming up to engage her at close range, when she sjtruck her colore and hoisted the white flag. TJpon boarding her our officeie found all hands below none remaining on the gun-deck but the wounded, who were vainly begging for water and assisUince from thoir comrades, but none was rendared until our surgeons gave it. The Atlanta is drawing fifteen feet of water, and has two months' provisión on board, as aisoan immense quantity of ainmunition of the very fiuest quality. Her guns are of recont English manufacture and improvod pattern, another evïaencé of British ueutrality. While speaking of this part of the vessel I may say she presented on her gun-deck an appearauoe etrangely at variance with the uniform ilesa ot vesselft of war. Her general appearance resembles i V3ry much our iron ciada orí trie Mississippi - such as the Essex and Bentoi), lor iubtance - but by no nieana as strong and formidable. The guu-deek runs from stem to stern, and over it is the upper or spar deck. The sides are at about an anglo oí forty-five degrees. They are buiit of oak and pine, eight to ten inches thick, wbieb. is covered by solid iron bars running from the upper spar deck to the water line, and one and a half inchea in thickness. - These are securely lastened on by rivets through the woodwork, Between tho barí was a compoaition noarly as hard as the iron Heult'. The pilot liouse is built up through and above the spar deck about two feët. This is constructed oí solid iron five and a half inches thick, with two fclongaled loolcuts on each of the four sides. Her prow is of a most formidable character, ejtendiDg about two feet out from thebow, attached to which and down the ontwater we find what ono would term nothing less than an immense saw, the teeth ot which are made of the flnest steel. - No doubt, sliould she ever attempt to run down a vessel, thia saw woukl ab; solutely saw a ship's side through. i The Atlanta carries five guiin, two six inch, two geven inoh. and one pivot om) forwaid This gun firtíd tliro' the forward port. The Neo South o( the 20th ïpst , ha gome additionnl partienhiva il) rehition to tho Atlautn, whiuh aro inlerüstitig. - It híivp: Wü learn tliat the ofücors of tho Atlanta carne out with the iuteniion oi oiigagiiis; and cnpturing the Wée'harken. ÍShü was followecl ilown ly two wooden gunboats tilled with ladies and other excursionistp, who wt-ve to w:lness the iiglit, it having been arranged fhat one of the gunboatsshould tovv the Weehuwken up to Savannal!; then the Atlanta was to s;o to Os.-abuw, capturo a gunhoat, takc soirc batteiïes, enti'iip iho Forty-suvsMith New York and leavo a torce thero to hold tho battcries. Next the was goiAg t Charleston to co-operate by ffltial wit some rebel boats in annihilatiog tbo blockading fleet, after which ehe was to pny her respecta to the Port Royal squadron. This nice little programma was very summarily changad. The Finga! had two months' provisions on board, and ammunition oí the very best quality. 8he ia quite a formidable looking cralt. Sho has a cutwater in the sbape of an immense saw, vvith monster teeth; outside of that an iron irame with a torpedo attachcd for damaging vossel?, and above an iron boomlike piece for penetrating on which she might run. She draws fifteen feet of water.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus