Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lieut. Col. Gilbert and Major

being an object of commiseration when he came
iu, presented rather a ludicrous appearance,
having lost his overcoat, and the right leg of
his pants being torn to shreds from one ex-
tremity to the other, and having his under gar-
ment drawn over the same, but failing to cover
more than half the breach. His left foot was
shoeless, with its toes protruding through its
stocking, and he as wet as a
"drowned rat,"
from the bushes and the terrific and protracted
rain storm of the previous night.

of the Twenty-fourth Ohio; Colonel Jones, with his Twenty-fifth Ohio, taking his position in the redoubt; Capt. Daum, of the German Artillery Company, and Lieut. Dalzelle, of the Bracken Rangers; all the forces were, in a few minutes, posted at all the approaches, and there they lay all day, as eager for the enemy as the crouched panther for his prey. Even the members of the bands, the teamsters, the sutlers, the commissary and quartermaster sergeants, and all the sick that could crawl, gathered up the Here I must make "honorable mention" of spare guns, forming a strong corps and present- little John Kelley. He is a little, hardy, sinewy ing quite a belligerent appearance. But no ene- boy of the age of about nine years, small of his my approached the camp, as we had reason age, and nearly always at the captain's heels. strongly to expect, from their having with such He was with him on this long tramp and in this labor come so far to do so, also from the unani- sanguinary struggle, and is reported to have mous testimony of twelve prisoners whom the looked over his gun (for he carries one) at Mr. boys during the day had taken, who also indi- | Secesh, and then coolly cut off his knapsack and cated their number above given; and further, carried it away. Company E-the brave and that they had between us and Wagner, on our esteemed Capt. Willard's Crescent City Guards, flank, some six or seven miles distant, twenty- under First Lieut. Junod, the captain being offifive hundred more, of whom I have to speak cer of the day-on the previous evening had presently. I could not help smiling, knowing been picketed on the hill three miles in our adour numbers, ability, and fortifications, when vance. Early in the morning they were cut off they told us they designed taking our position and fired into by about five hundred of the at the point of the bayonet! enemy, and they fell into ambush; but not knowing that they were entirely cut off, and by such a force, George Weinder, of Evansville, started to head-quarters for reinforcements, but had gone but a few rods when a heavy volley from the roadside was poured upon him, and he fell dead. Then at the earnest solicitation of a private, who has performed some daring feats with the enemy, the lieutenant sallied forth to give them battle. But they had proceeded but a few paces in the road, when a galling fire from far superior numbers fell upon them, which they returned; but the esteemed Junod, at the head of his column, received a ball through the upper portion of the head, and fell dead upon the ground.

But during the assault of the detachments of companies before named, the slaughter of rebels was terrible. They were stupid, or spell-bound, or in some way mysteriously affected, so that they fired only an occasional shot, and that but poorly aimed, while our boys, and especially Lieut. Greene, with his gallant twenty-five of the Old Post Guards, with a spirit and vim only exhibited by hoosier boys, (or buckeyes,) pursued them, strewing the pass and the mountains with their slain.

On the previous evening Capt. Coon, of Vincennes, with detachments from the different regiments, (sixty men in all,) had been sent some seven miles to the southeast, and to our rear, to picket a bridle path leading from a point on the pass three miles west of us, across to Wagner's camp. Early in the morning he found himself cut off by the twenty-five hundred rebels before mentioned, they being widely scattered over the mountains between here and the camp. Then and there he called up his command, and put the question: Shall we cut our way through to the camp, or die in the attempt? His question was answered by his heroic band in the affirmative, and then they took up their line of march, and for hours dealt out slaughter and death to the scattered ambushing foe, who closely contested their passage for several miles. At one time they shot seven secesh horses, whose riders they had laid low, to prevent their recapture by the enemy. At four o'clock P. M. he came into camp amid the congratulations and even tears of friends. A number of his corps had, however, become separated from their fellows, and did not get in till to-day, two of them being quite severely wounded. I believe there are now but three of them missing, one of them being of Bracken's Cavalry. Capt. C., while

The remainder seeing themselves cut off and assailed by such odds, who were then charging on them, scattered into the almost impenetrable forest on the opposite side of the road, each one to take care of himself. One, however, who had the lock of his gun shot off, seeing that escape was out of the question, threw up his hands and fell on his face as if dead, and the enemy's forces retreated "double quick" over him and the dead, stepping on his back and limbs, taking his gun, and passing quickly away, uttering the most horrid imprecations concerning Yankees and abolitionists. Looking out of one eye slightly opened, he saw when they were gone, then arose and came to camp. One of the foemen, however, did turn aside to pursue Ira Duncan, of Evansville, cheering for Jeff. Davis. But he not being of the proper material either to run from or surrender to a single traitor, when his pursuer was within a few feet of him, turned round, and they both at the same moment raised their guns to their faces, but Mr. Secesh was too slow, and Ira went on his way unmolested. At this writing, all but five of

this company are in camp. Two are killed and three missing. Company A, Capt. Foote, at an early hour was sent to Cheat River bridge, to deploy up the river, taking their position one and a half miles up it from the bridge. Lieut. Robert Catterson, with a small detachment, was sent up still further, and he again sent two men in advance, when they saw the rebels coming up with two of the twenty-five men who had been taken prisoners. The two advances selected each his man, and pulled trigger, one of them previously, as he said, "uttering a short prayer for his victim," whose chest was then burst open by his annihilating Minié ball; the other man's gun failing to discharge, they took the two living secesh prisoners, and recaptured the two Ohio boys. Indeed, I believe there were a few men of the Twenty-fourth Ohio who came up and rendered slight service at the conclusion of the action.

This afternoon the remains of Junod and Weinder were carried in by their companions in peril, they refusing to permit the ambulance, which accompanied them, to carry them. They were buried with decency and honor. So also was John Templeton, of Company D, whom the enemy shot through the ear, stunning him, and taking him prisoner, and afterward bayoneting him through the head, it appears, because he proved an incumbrance to them.

sell, Sproston, Blake, and Midshipman Steece, respectively, assisted by Captain Reynolds, of the marines, Assistant-Surgeon Kennedy, Assistant-Engineer White, Gunner Horton, and Midshipmen Forrest and Higginson. The whole force detailed consisted of about one hundred men, officers, sailors, and marines. The object of the expedition was the destruction of a schooner which lay off the Pensacola Navy Yard, supposed to be fitting out as a privateer, and the spiking of a gun, in battery, at the southeast end of the yard.

The movements of the schooner had been assiduously watched for several days and nights, and I deemed it so morally certain that she was intended for a privateer that I determined the attempt should be made to destroy her, even in face of the fearful odds which would have to be encountered. Lieutenant Russell had charge of the expedition, and, with Lieutenant Blake, was to attack the vessel, while Lieutenant Sproston and Midshipman' Steece spiked the guns.

The attack was made on the morning of the 14th instant, at half-past three o'clock. The schooner, named the Judah, was found moored to the wharf, under the protection of a battery and field-piece, and to be armed with a pivot and four broadside guns. Her crew were on her, and prepared to receive our forces, pourCommunication is open again with head-quar- ing in a volley of musketry as the boat neared ters at Wagner's, we being reinforced this after-the vessel. A desperate resistance was made noon by the Thirteenth Indiana and Third Ohio. The enemy seems driven from our rear.

Wagner was attacked yesterday morning also, but repulsed them by a few rounds. Soon after the attack in our rear, there appeared on the hill, three miles east of us, quite a force, and continuing there nearly ever since, wondering, doubtless, why they cannot see their forces in camp, so that they can rush to the onslaught.

A glorious victory! We have, (that is, our regiment,) at this writing, but three killed and five missing, and not half a dozen wounded. All our regiments have not lost more than twelve. The enemy's loss we cannot exactly determine, though it cannot be less than one hundred, twelve of them being prisoners. Our men, actually engaged, did not amount to more than one hundred and fifty. ΑΝΟΝ.

-Cincinnati Gazette, Sept. 23.

Doc. 49.

DESTRUCTION OF THE PRIVATEER "JUDAH,"

SEPTEMBER 13, 1861.

FLAG OFFICER MERVINE'S REPORT.

UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP COLORADO, OFF FORT PICKENS, September 15, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that a boat expedition was fitted out from this ship on the night of the 13th instant, consisting of the first launch, and first, second, and third cutters, under the commands of Lieutenant Rus

from the decks of the schooner, but her men were driven off on to the wharf by our boarders, where they rallied and were joined by the guard, and kept up a continued fire upon our men.

In the mean time the vessel was set on fire in several places. That which finally consumed her was lighted in the cabin by Assistant-Engineer White, and a coal heaver, Patrick Driscoll, who went as a volunteer. She burned to the water's edge, and has since, while burning, been set free from her moorings, and has drifted down opposite Fort Barrancas, where she sunk.

Very

Of the party assigned to the spiking of the gun, only Lieutenant Sproston and gunner Horton were able, after considerable search, to find it, the party becoming separated in the darkness. No opposition was made to their landing; Midshipman Steece, with his command, had gone to the aid of those on the schooner, where he performed valuable service. fortunately, only one man was found in charge of the gun, and he immediately levelled his piece at Lieutenant Sproston, but was shot down by gunner Horton before he could obtain certain aim. Both pieces exploded simultaneously. The gun, which was found to be a ten-inch columbiad, was immediately spiked, and, bringing off its tompion, these two officers returned to their boat.

The work proposed having thus been well and thoroughly done in the short space of fifteen minutes, and the whole force of the enemy in the yard-reported by deserters as over one

thousand strong-being aroused, our boats pull-spatched by him from the Colorado on the night ed away, and rallying at a short distance from of the 13th of September, under the command the shore, fired six charges of canister from of Lieutenant John H. Russell, of the navy, to their howitzers into the yard, with what result destroy the rebel privateer Judah, moored at it is impossible to say. Three of the enemy the wharf of the Pensacola Navy Yard, and to are known to have been killed, and our officers spike the guns in a battery near by. An expeare confident the number is much larger. The dition executed in the face of an enemy so boats then returned to the ship, arriving there much superior in numbers, with such brilliancy about daylight. and gallantry and success, cannot pass without But, sir, I am grieved to report that this the special recognition of the department. To brilliant affair was not unattended by loss on those who were engaged in it, not only the deour side. I have to report as killed by shots partment, but the whole country, is indebted from the cross-trees of the schooner, while the for one of the brightest pages that has adorned boats were approaching, boatswain's mate our naval record during this rebellion. Indeed, Charles H. Lamphere and John R. Herring, it may be placed, without disparagement, side seaman and captain of the howitzer, two of the by side with the fairest that adorn our early best men in our ship; and marine John Smith- naval history. The expedition will give rethe first man to board the schooner, and who nown not only to those who were immediately behaved most gallantly-was, by a sad mistake, concerned in it, but to the navy itself. It will having lost his distinguishing mark, killed by inspire others in the service to emulation. Its one of our own men. We have wounded, prob- recital hereafter will thrill the heart with admiably mortally, seaman R. Clark and E. K. Os-ration. The department will cherish the recolborne; severely, nine other seamen. Captain Reynolds received a severe contusion on his shoulder, and midshipman Higginson had the end of his thumb shot off. Lieutenants Russell and Blake had narrow escapes, the flesh of each being grazed by one or more musket balls.

It is not an easy task to select individual instances of bravery or daring where all behaved so gallantly. The officers unite in giving great credit to the coolness and bravery with which they were supported by the men, and the latter have learned to look with new pride and confidence on the former. The marines, especially, seem to have sustained the reputation borne by their branch of the service, as they receive encomiums from all sides. Assistant-surgeon Kennedy rendered valuable assistance in the care of the wounded. Assistant-engineer White brought down from the cross-trees of the schooner a man who had been seen to fire upon the boats, killing him instantly. I enclose, herewith, a complete list of all engaged in the affair, with the names of the killed and wounded in each boat.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM MERVINE,

Flag-officer Commanding Gulf Blockade Squadron. P. S.-By a strange inadvertency, my mind being so much engrossed with the expedition itself, I omitted to give credit to Capt. Bailey, of this ship, for maturing the plan and taking charge of fitting out the expedition to the minutest detail. It is to his thoughtfulness that a great portion of its success must be ascribed.

W. M.

To Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, D. C.

Federal forces:

lection of the exploit, and desires you to express to the officers, seamen, and marines who participated in it, its highest admiration of their conduct.

The loss to the service and to their relatives and friends of those who fell in the expedition is a painful feature of it; but the memory of those brave men should not be lost in the hearts of all true patriots, but be ever cherished therein.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, GIDEON WELLES. Flag-officer WM. W. MCKEAN, Commanding Gulf Blockading Squadron.

PROMOTION OF LIEUTENANT RUSSELL.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, October 4, 1861. Lieutenant John H. Russell, U. S. frigate Colo-\ rado, Gulf Blockading Squadron: SIR: Transmitted herewith is a copy of a communication from the department, of this date, to Flag-officer McKean, commanding Gulf blockading squadron, in relation to the successful boat expedition despatched under your command to destroy the rebel privateer Judah. For your gallantry on this occasion the department designs to assign you to the command of one of the new gunboats, and you are therefore detached from the Colorado, and you will proceed to Washington, D. C., and report yourself in person to the department. I am, respectfully,

Doc. 50.

GIDEON WELLES.

COLONEL GEARY'S DESPATCH.

DARNSTOWN, Md., September 15.-This afterThe Secretary of the Navy issued the follow-noon, at half-past three o'clock, about four huning acknowledgment of the gallantry of the dred and fifty rebels attacked the extreme right of my pickets, about three miles from this place, opposite Pritchard's Mills. The affair was a SIE: The department received Flag-officer splendid one, lasting about two hours. The Mervine's report of the boat expedition de-enemy were driven from every house and breast

NAVY DEPARTMENT, October 4, 1861.

work they occupied. Eight or ten of them are said to be killed and a number wounded. Our loss was one killed. Our victory was complete. The troops behaved admirably. Our cannon were indispensable, and rendered good service in the action. J. W. GEARY, Colonel Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment.

Doc. 51.

EXPEDITION TO OCRACOKE INLET.

REPORT OF COMMANDER ROWAN.

UNITED STATES STEAMER PAWNEE, HATTERAS INLET, September 18, 1861. SIR: On Saturday, the 14th inst., I gave a pass to one of the people on Hatteras Island to go to Ocracoke Inlet, for the purpose of bringing his family from Portsmouth. I directed this person to examine the forts on Beacon Island and Portsmouth Island, and bring me a true report of the condition of things, the number of guns mounted, if any, and the number dismounted; whether any troops were there, and whether the gun-carriages had all been burned or not, and to report the result to me on his return. On Sunday morning, the 15th inst., the boat came alongside, with the man and his wife and children, in a destitute state. We gave them food, and the surgeon prescribed and furnished medicine for the sick of the family.

The man reported that there were twenty guns in Fort Beacon, and four eight-inch shell guns at Portsmouth; that the guns were spiked and the carriages burned on the 1st instant, as already reported to you. He also stated that a steamer came to Beacon Island before he left Portsmouth, for the purpose of carrying off the guns. I immediately determined to use all the means at my command to prevent the removal of the guns, and forthwith got the steamer Fanny alongside to prepare her for this service, and had the launch armed and equipped. I sent a request to Col. Hawkins to give me as many of the Naval Brigade as could be spared, which he cheerfully complied with. When the Fanny was brought alongside, her iron rudderperch was found so much injured that it would be impossible to send her without repairs, so the forge was gotten up, and the clink of hammers soon succeeded the voices of the crew in their responses to our usual Sunday morning service. I despatched the information to Capt. Chauncy, in the offing, who promptly informed me that he would send in four boats and all his marines. I sent him word that I would have great pleasure in cooperating with him as senior officer, and would send him the Tempest to tow his boats over Ocracoke bar.

At daylight on Monday morning the Fanny was towed alongside and, her rudder temporarily fitted, the Naval Brigade were taken on board, with four days' provisions and water, and the launch similarly provided for. The expedition, being fully organized, and provided

with sledge hammers to break off the trunnions, and thirty-two pound shot and twenty-seven pound cartridges, to be used in firing one gun against the trunnion of another, left this ship at half-past seven o'clock, the launch commanded by Lieut. Eastman and the expedition under command of Lieut. Maxwell, the executive officer of this ship. I despatched the tug Tempest to Capt. Chauncy, she drawing too much water to enter the sound.

At ten o'clock the Susquehanna and tug started for the inlet. On the evening of the same day the tug and Susquehanna returned and anchored off Fort Clark. The tug came in next morning, and the pilot informed me that the force from the Susquehanna did not enter Ocracoke in consequence of the surf. On the afternoon of the 17th instant I felt much anxiety for our expedition. The Susquehanna remained at anchor in the offing, and our force was left to take care of itself.

Early this morning the lookout at the masthead gave us the gratifying intelligence that our expedition was in sight, and it reached the ship about eleven o'clock. Lieutenants Maxwell and Eastman performed the service with ability and energy, and bore my thanks. The destruction of the fort is complete, and twenty-two guns disabled. These are all the guns that were there, with the exception of two taken off in the steamboat Albemarle on Sunday. The destruction of the guns was with me a necessity. I had no means of transporting them or of defending them in their position. I therefore hope my course will meet your approval. I enclose a copy of Lieutenant Maxwell's report, giving all the details of this important service, which was performed without an accident of any kind.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. C. ROWAN, Commander. Flag-officer S. H. STRINGHAM, Commanding Atlantic Squadron.

LIEUTENANT MAXWELL'S REPORT.

UNITED STATES STEAMER PAWNEE, )
HATTERAS INLET, Sept. 18.

SIR: I have to report that, in compliance with your orders of the 16th, I started for Ocracoke on that day, in the steamer Fanny, towing the Pawnee's launch. Lieutenant Eastman had charge of the latter, with twenty-two men and six marines from the ship, and the twelve-pound howitzer, and I had on board six men and sixty-one soldiers of the Naval Brigade, under Lieutenants Tillotson and Roe. We arrived within two miles of the fort on Beacon Island at 11 o'clock A. M., when the Fanny grounded. I sent Lieutenant Eastman in the launch to sound for the channel. While he was so occupied, a sail-boat with two men put off from Portsmouth to cross the sound. A shot from the Fanny brought them alongside, and they piloted us to within an hundred yards of the fort. It is called Fort Ocracoke, and is situated

on the seaward face of Beacon Island. It was entirely deserted. It is octagonal in shape, contains four shell rooms, about twenty-five feet square, and in the centre a large bomb-proof one hundred feet square, with the magazine within it. Directly above the magazine, on each side, were four large tanks containing Water. The fort had been constructed with great care, of sand in barrels covered with earth and turf. The inner framing of the bomb-proof was built of heavy pine timbers. There were platforms for twenty guns, which had been partially destroyed by fire. The gun carriages had been all burned. There were eighteen guns in the fort-namely, four eight

I

arrived safely with all hands at half-past eleven o'clock. I am happy to report that the conduct of our men and the Naval Brigade was excellent. Lieutenant Eastman and Lieutenant Tilletson and Lieutenant Roe of the Naval Brigade, rendered me most efficient assistance. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES Y. MAXWELL, Lieutenant United States Navy.

Commander S. C. RowAN,

United States steamer Pawnee.

Doc. 52..

inch navy shell guns, and fourteen long thirty- THE OCCUPATION OF SHIP ISLAND. two pounders. The steamer Albemarle left on Sunday afternoon, carrying off two guns. found one hundred and fifty barrels also, many of them filled with water. There being no water in the fort, they had brought it from Washington and Newberry.

I landed the men at half-past one o'clock, and commenced breaking off the trunnions of the guns. While a portion of our men and the Naval Brigade were so employed, I sent Lieutenant Eastman in the launch to Portsmouth, where he found three eight-inch navy shell guns lying on the beach, and one mounted on a carriage. They had all been spiked. There was no battery erected there, although we were informed that one would have been built but for our coming. There had been a camp at Portsmouth, called Camp Washington, but a portion of the troops were sent to Fort Hatteras when it was attacked, on August 28, and the remainder retired to the mainland. Portsmouth, which | formerly contained four hundred and fifty inhabitants, was nearly deserted, but the people are expected to return. Those remaining seemed to be Union men, and expressed satisfaction at our coming. Lieutenant Eastman assured them that they would not be molested by the Government, and that they might return to their usual occupations.

There are no intrenchments nor guns at Ocracoke. The fishermen and pilots, who fled after our attack, have generally returned. I tried to destroy the guns by breaking the trunnions off with sledges, and by dropping solid shot upon them from an elevation, but with little success. I then fired solid shot from a sixty-four-pounder at them, and in this manner disabled them. Lieutenant Eastman disabled the guns at Portsmouth by knocking off the cascables, and leaving them in the salt water on the beach.

After destroying the guns, I collected all the lumber, barrels and wheelbarrows, and placed them in and about the bomb-proof, set fire to the pile and entirely destroyed it. A light ship, which had been used as a storeship, and which was run upon the shore some distance from the fort, with the intention of subsequently towing her off and arming, I also set fire to.

At half-past six o'clock this morning I started on our return. We met with no detention, and

CAPTAIN MELANCTON SMITH, of the steamer Massachusetts, makes the following official report of the occupation of Ship Island by the Federal forces:

U. S. STEAMER MASSACHUSETTS, At Ship Island Passage, September 20, 1861. SIR: I have to inform you that at seven o'clock on the evening of the 16th instant, the rebels on Ship Island fired the barracks and. some of the shanties recently erected there for the accommodation of troops, destroyed the lighthouse by burning the interior and breaking the plate glass of the lantern, and then took steam for the main land. The destruction of all the works and material landed for the completion of the fort was evidently contemplated, but the hasty departure of the force was undoubtedly accelerated by a message sent from my rifled cannon, and the appearance of the United States sloops Preble and Marion in the distance. The officers' guard, and the lookout from aloft reported five steamers in sight at ten o'clock on the night of the 18th, which induced me to get under way with the Preble and Marion, and stand up to Ship Island Passage for the better protection of the property left by the rebels, which they were probably seeking an opportunity to destroy.

On the evening of the 18th instant, I despatched two armed launches with crews from this vessel and the Preble, under charge of Mr. Stephen A. Ryder, master's mate, to destroy the submarine telegraph between Shieldsboro' and Pass Christian, and although the expedition was not completely successful, owing to a steamboat coast guard in the immediate vicinity, the unusual size of the cable, and the limited time allowed for operations at the point referred to, I believe that the fifty-nine feet removed will occasion great inconvenience, as every foot, I understand, was exhausted in making repairs at that point last year. A copy of a letter from the lieutenant-colonel in command at Fort Twiggs, addressed to me, was found posted on the fort bulletin, and is herewith enclosed.

Very respectfully,

MELANCTON SMITH. Commander United States Navy.

To Flag-officer WM. W. MOKEAN, &C.

« PreviousContinue »