have a thorough knowledge of all the ports and inlets on the coast of South Carolina."
We give below the official account of the taking and surrender of the boat to the naval authorities.
U. S. Steamship Augusta, }
Off Charleston, May 13, 1862. }
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the rebel armed steamer Planter was brought out to us this morning from Charleston by eight contrabands, and delivered up to the squadron. Five colored women and three children are also on board. She carried one 32-pounder and one 24-pounder howitzer, and has also on board four large guns, which she was engaged in transporting. I send her to Port Royal at once, in order to take advantage of the present good weather. I send Charleston papers of the 12th, and the very intelligent contraband who was in charge will give you the information which he has brought off. I have the honor to request that you will send back, as soon as convenient, the officer and crew sent on board.
Commander Dupont, in forwarding the despatch,
says, in relation to the steamer Planter,—
She was the armed despatch and transportation steamer attached
to the engineer department at Charleston, under Brigadier General
Ripley, whose bark, a short time since, was brought to the blockading
fleet by several contrabands. The bringing out of this steamer, under
all the circumstances, would have done credit to any one. At four
in the morning, in the absence of the captain, who was on shore, she
left her wharf close to the government office and headquarters, with
the Palmetto and "Confederate" flags flying, and passed the successive
forts, saluting, as usual, by blowing the steam whistle. After getting
beyond the range of the last gun, they hauled down the rebel flags,
and hoisted a white one. The Onward was the inside ship of the
blockading squadron in the main channel, and was preparing to
fire when her commander made out the white flag. The armament
of the steamer is a 32-pounder, or pivot, and a fine 24-pound howitzer.
She has besides, on her deck, four other guns, one seven inch
rifled, which were to be taken, on the morning of the escape, to the
new fort on the middle ground. One of the four belonged to Fort
Sumter, and had been struck, in the rebel attack, on the muzzle.
Robert Small, the intelligent slave, and pilot of the boat, who per-
