Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/82

72 were ready to assist in the defense, but the United States ironclads were driven off with loss, one of them the Keokuk—being sunk; and as not one of them ventured to pass Fort Sumter, the services of the Confederate vessels were not demanded. On the 10th, an expedition consisting of fifteen torpedo boats was organized to attack the monitors then lying off Morris island, but as the boats were about starting, the monitors got under weigh and crossed the bar. About the 8th of May, another expedition of six torpedo boats, under the command of Lieut. William H. Parker, was sent through the inland waters to attack the monitors at the mouth of the North Edisto river. The boats arrived at their point of destination, which was Bohicket creek, without being discovered. The intention was to lie in the creek, abreast the monitors, adjust the torpedoes, wait for a dark night, and then make the attack. Unfortunately, one of the men of the expedition deserted to the enemy and disclosed the plan, upon which the flotilla returned to Charleston.

At Savannah, Ga., in 1862, the blockade-runner Fingal had been converted into an ironclad, and named the Atlanta. The Atlanta was similar to the Palmetto State and other Confederate ironclads. She carried two 7-inch Brooke rifles, bow and stern pivots, and two 6-inch Brooke rifles in broadside four guns in all and had a crew of 165 officers and men. She had attached, or fitted to her ram, a percussion torpedo. On the 17th of June, 1863, she went out under her commander, William A. Webb, C. S. N., to encounter the two monitors, Weehawken and Nahant, in Warsaw sound. "They were two of the strongest vessels of their class, armored with ten inches of iron on the turret, and carrying two 15-inch and two 11-inch guns." The action was short and decisive. The Atlanta got aground and her engines could not move her, and in this condition she was attacked by the Weehawken at a distance of 300 yards. The Weehawken fired but five shots, four of which hit the Atlanta.