CHARLESTON DAILY COURIER

Charleston, S.C.

(Confederate States of America)

WEDNESDAY MORNING

May 14, 1862

CITY INTELLIGENCE.

THE STEAMER PLANTER.--- Our community was intensely agitated Tuesday morning by the intelligence that the steamer Planter, for the last twelve months or more employed both in the State and Confederate service, had been taken possession of by her colored crew, steamed up and boldly run out to the blockades. The news at first was not credited, and it was not until, by the use of glasses, she was discovered, lying between the federal frigates, that all doubt on the subject was dispelled. A great variety of rumors and surmises were circulated in reference to the parties concerned, and the number of fugitives on board the steamer. The most authentic particulars that we could gather are as follows:

Between three and four o’clock Tuesday morning, the steamer left Southern wharf, having, it is supposed, on board five negroes, namely three engineers, one pilot and a deck hand. Upon leaving the wharf the usual whistle signal was given by those on board, and the usual private signals given when passing Fort Sumter. The officer of the watch at the latter post was called, as usual, but observing the signals and supposing all right, allowed her to proceed. She ran immediately out to the blockading vessels.

The Planter had on board four large guns destined for one of our new fortifications,

and were as follows: one rifled forty-two

pounder lately put in splendid condition at the foundry of EASON & BROTHERS, and said to be a splendid piece; two eight-inch Columbiads, and one thirty-two pounder. In addition to these, she had on board her own armament, which consisted of one thirty-two pounder and one twenty-four pounder, making six guns in all taken out to the fleet.

The Planter was a new high-pressure steamer, belonging to Capt. JOHN FERGUSON. She was regarded as one of the fastest boats in the harbor, and very valuable for river work but unfit for sea work. Three of the negroes who left also belonged to Capt. FERGUSON, one to Mrs. MICHEL, and one to Mrs. MCKEE.

There are rumors of others having gone who were missing from the city yesterday, but for information on this point we suppose we must await the next arrival of Northern news from Port Royal.

The Planter was observed alongside of the fleet yesterday afternoon, and from appearances it was supposed that one of the Federal gunboats was engaged in removing the arms from her deck. Such are the material facts so far as we have been able to gather them in relation to this extraordinary occurrence.