Posted on 02/05/2023 6:36:17 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
The Richmond Dispatch, of Feb. 2, contains the following highly important intelligence:
CHARLESTON, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 31, 1863.
The two iron-clad gunboats Chicora and Palmetto State, with three steamers as tenders, went out beyond the bar at 1 o'clock this morning to attack the blockading fleet. Firing began soon after 1 o'clock, and for a time was very rapid and continuous. Afterward it slackened, but continued at intervals until 9 this morning. Owing to the fog the result has not yet been ascertained.
Commodore INGRAHAM is aboard the Palmetto State as commander of the expedition.
CHARLESTON, Saturday, Jan. 31, 1863.
This morning the gunboats Palmetto State, Capt, RUTLEDGE, and Chicora, Capt. TUCKER, accompanied by three small steamers -- the Gen. Clinch, Etiwan and Chesterfield -- all under command of Commodore INGRAHAM, made an attack on the blockaders, and succeeded in sinking two and crippling a third.
The engagement commenced at 4 o'clock.
The Palmetto State, with Commodore INGRAHAM on board, opened fire upon the Federal gunboat Mercedita, carrying eleven guns and one hundred and fifty-eight men, which was soon sunk in five fathoms of water. Her Commander, Capt. STELLWAGEN, with a beat's crew, came on board and surrendered. One shot pierced her boiler, going clear through. Capt. STELLWAGEN and crew were paroled by Commodore INGRAHAM.
Capt. TUCKER, of the Chicora, reports sinking another Federal gunboat and the disabling of the steamship Quaker City. The latter was set on fire by the Chicora, and hauled down her flag to surrender, but afterward, managed to escape, using only one wheel. She was very seriously damaged.
The number of the blockading fleet outside at the time of the attack was thirteen, with two first-class frigates, the Susquehanna and Canandaigua.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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The Department of the South: A Dash of Rebel Gunboats Among the Blockading Fleet– 2
Important Naval Movement: Four Iron-Clads Ordered to Sea – 2
News from Fortress Monroe: A Heavy Fall of Snow – 2-3
Important from the West: A Brilliant Victory at Fort Donelson – 3
Gen. Rosecrans’ Department: The Army of the Cumberland Still at Murfreesboro – 3-4
News from Washington: The Government Finances – 4-6
New-York and Washington Railway Connections at Philadelphia – 6
Editorial: The Affair at Charleston – 6-7
Editorial: The Battle for the Mississippi – 7
Unemployed Generals – 7
New-York and Washington Railway Connections at Philadelphia – 6
I think the editorial had it right that the air-line railroad promoters were only in it for the money.
Do you have any idea what they mean by “air-line railroad”? There was a related editorial in the Feb. 6 issue but I still don’t get it.
An air-line railroad was a railroad that was relatively straight, following a shorter (and thus, presumably quicker) route instead of a longer, winding route.
Usually railroads were built as cheaply as possible. Bridges, tunnels, cuts and fills were costly and avoided as much as possible to save building costs.
I think it’s an interesting term for that era.
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