MY DEAR RINGGOLD: The within order I could not carry out, owing to the absence of some of the ships of this squadron, causing me to retain the Curlew. The Isaac Smith informed me of the important service you had rendered in taking the battalion of marines from their sinking vessel. I have just heard of your appearing in the offing, and send the Vixen, Captain Boutelle, to pilot you in, and orders to the Forbes to assist in towing you. I came in yesterday without touching, and in the afternoon was proceeding to attack the Hilton Head forts, when I grounded on the Fishing Rip shoal, and to-day the flood tides and strong winds have caused me to defer another day. I have been wishing you to arrive; the more so that the Savannah, that I sent for to Savannah, has not yet returned since blown off. I am gratified at having you in this squadron. I forgot to mention that, while I would not have you to hazard your ship, I will wait all I can for you. Mr. Boutelle is the very intelligent assistant in the Coast Survey of that name, and you may have every confidence in him. Yours, very truly, D. S. F. DUPONT. UNITED STATES Flag-ship Minnesota, SIR: You are hereby placed under the orders of Flag-Officer S. F. DuPont, commanding the South Atlantic blockading squadron, from whom, hereafter, you will receive such instructions concerning your command as he may deem expedient. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Captain CADWALLADER RINGGOLD, U. S. N., Flag-Officer. E. STEAMER GOVERNOR, At Sea, November 3, 1861. SIR: I desire to abandon to you the steamer Governor, under my command, chartered by the United States government to transport troops. On Friday night last, during a severe gale, the hog-frames were broken, the engine became partially disabled, and the vessel commenced leaking. On the next day the rudder was broken, the steamer became entirely unmanageable, and the leak increased to such an extent as to keep the Worthington injection and bilge pumps going continually, and two large gangs of men baling; and but for the timely arrival of the Sabine, under your command, she must have gone down, with all on board, as the disabled condition of the bark Young Rover and small steamer Isaac Smith, which were in company, prevented them from rendering the necessary assistance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain RINGGOLD, CAPTAIN C. L. LITCHFIELD. Commanding United States Ship Sabine. UNITED STATES FRIGATE SABINE, SIR: I have the gratification to announce to the department my safe arrival at this port, from a perfectly successful search after the missing line-of-battle ship Vermont. I left Lynnhaven bay on the evening of the 12th ultimo, in company with the Baltic, (as reported in my despatch per ship Union, 15th March, at sea.) from which, however, it was thought best to separate next day, in pursuit of the interesting duty assigned us. My course was shaped so as to intercept the Vermont in her supposed drift south-southeast, as reported on the 6th March by the Chapman, in latitude 38° 45' north, longitude 67° 50' west. Heavy southsoutheast and southwest gales carried me further to the northeast than I desired, and you will perceive, by the diagram, that the Sabine crossed her path of the Sth, and intersected her position of the 12th, m., about 3 a. m. of the 16th, on which day the wind abated, and we hauled to the southward and eastward, on a line with the Vermont's assumed drift, at a distance of one hundred miles to the eastward, and as near her track as the winds would permit. On the 17th I held a consultation with Mr. Blake, executive officer, and the acting masters of the ship, all experienced seamen, and quite familiar with the weather, winds, and currents of the coast. The position of the steamer San Francisco, at the point of her memorable wreck in 1853, and also of her abandonment, were projected, and upon the supposition, as reported, that the Vermont was a wreck, without masts or rudder, at the mercy of the winds and currents, it was conceived that she would probably be acted upon by like causes, and drift to the east-northeastward. It was decided to run by daylight, (laying to at night,) and traverse alternately on northwest and southeast tacks until we had thoroughly examined the space between our position of the 16th and the second position of the San Francisco. On the morning of the 18th (blowing) heavy) the Baltic hove in sight and passed near us, (steering northwest,) making signal, "Have seen nothing." Strong northwest winds pressed us to the northeast, to the last position of the San Francisco, without the possibility of traversing the intervening space referred to. I was confident that the Baltic and Saxon would also do this portion of the good work faithfully, and therefore felt less disappointment, concluding to return to the Vermont in her possibly erratic transit to the southward and eastward. But the winds were adverse, and again controlled my movements in a great degree. Assuming a daily drift for her, I sought to steer to the southward and westward. Fair progress was made on the 20th, but after this good run, up to the day of the fortunate discovery of the missing ship, the Sabine was struggling with the elements in their equinoctial strength. The Gulf, with its northwest and westerly gales, fully sustained its stormy character. The ship, however, proved fully adequate to the task, and, though slowly, she made her way southwesterly, with a seeming instinct that was truly surprising. While contending with adverse winds, a hazy sky, and a limited horizon, you will perceive by the diagram that the mysterious ship and the Sabine were gradually approximating and crossing each other's tracks at nearly the same periods; their positions at times were identical; showing that with a clear horizon the two ships would have been visible to each other from aloft up to the moment of the final happy contact, which appeared like the secret action of gravitation or the merciful intervention of Providence. On the 21st, at 12.30 p. m., we spoke the brigantine Samoset, three days from New York, which was boarded by Lieutenant Blake, who procured (as you will see by his report hereto annexed) important intelligence. My strong conviction was, that the ship mentioned therein as seen the day previous was the Vermont; but I could not be assured of her identity, from the fact that the masts were standing, a smoke-stack stood forward of the mainmast, and no sail set. Projecting her position with her head to the northward, she was on the meridian of Berinuda and Halifax. From these appearances, I supposed her to be an English screw line-of-battle ship, steering for the latter place. It will presently appear that the description of the ship was perfect, for it proved to be the Vermont. From Captain Baldwin, we learned that the smoke-stack of the condenser was standing on that day, and had been removed only a day or two before we discovered her. The night of the 28th proved a most anxious one-the storms of the season seemed to culminate, and raged fearfully-the squalls of hail and rain were violent. When morning returned, the wind moderated, and changed suddenly to the southward and eastward, with heavy rain and dense fog. Carrying forth the Vermont's position since the 6th March, and comparing it with the Samoset's report of the ship seen, it was obvious that the Vermont could not be very remote. I therefore put the ship under easy sail, intending to stand to the northward and westward, on her reverse course, and traverse the sea in that direction. At 8 a. m. I spoke the American bark Hannibal, from Philadelphia, hoping to learn favorable tidings, but was disappointed. At this moment of despondence, the ships were actually within a short distance of each other. At 2.50 p. m. a squall to the southward suddenly lifted, and for a moment presented a partially clear horizon, when Richard Lewis, quartermaster, on the lookout, descried a large vessel heading east, without sail set, and her mizzen topmast gone. The excitement on board, as you may suppose, was very great. Intense solicitude was felt by all, for the discovery and safety of the ship. To the practiced eye of the vigilant lookout I ascribe the discovery. At a glance, I knew the stranger to be identical with the ship seen by the Samoset, (except the smoke-stack.) It was the Vermont, and at 5 p. m. we passed within hail, and greeted her with hearty cheers. Captain Baldwin, in answer to my questions, reported all well on board, and the ship not leaking. The strong wind and the agitated state of the sea at the time, forbade all intercourse by means of boats. I could only convey the asurance that we would stand by him, and, at the earliest moment, supply all his wants. As the Sabine passed close under the stern, her shattered look and lost rudder too plainly exposed the ravages of the storm she had experienced. From accounts of the injuries sustained, we were prepared to find the ship in a desperate condition, and probably abandoned. When first discovered, she was beading southeast, without a sail set, or any signs of life. Our colors were displayed long before we received a response. The ship was at the mercy of the winds and waves, and when, in the obscurity of the atmosphere, a flag of some sort became visible, (whether union up or down could not be determined,) and signs of life on board were evident, language could but feebly describe the emotions that filled our hearts. In her discovery all hands forgot the storms encountered during the anxious search. Throughout the succeeding night I kept close company, and each ship wore bright lights, drifting southeasterly, as the winds and waves entirely controlled the course of the rudderless Vermont. Early next morning, the weather permitting, I despatched the boats, with an officer, together with the boatswain, Carpenter, and sailmaker, to examine into the condition of the ship; ordering Captain Baldwin to repair on board the Sabine in a return boat. From him I was gratified to learn that his ship was in much better condition than could have been expected under the circumstances. He had constructed a jury rudder, which he had applied, and it had worked successfully during a heavy gale of two days; but the lower fastenings, being made of hawser instead of chain, had parted; fortunately, it was hauled on board, and the hawser replaced with stout chain. For eleven days no occasion had offered sufficiently favorable to UNITED STATES FRIGATE SABIN SIR: I have the gratification to announce to the department my sa at this port, from a perfectly successful search after the missing line ship Vermont. I left Lynnhaven bay on the evening of the 12th ultimo, in comp the Baltic, (as reported in my despatch per ship Union, 15th March from which, however, it was thought best to separate next day, in purs interesting duty assigned us. My course was shaped so as to inter Vermont in her supposed drift south-southeast, as reported on the 6th the Chapman, in latitude 38° 45' north, longitude 67° 50' west. Heay southeast and southwest gales carried me further to the northeast than I and you will perceive, by the diagram, that the Sabine crossed her par 8th, and intersected her position of the 12th, m., about 3 a. m. of the which day the wind abated, and we hauled to the southward and east a line with the Vermont's assumed drift, at a distance of one hundred the eastward, and as near her track as the winds would permit. On the 17th I held a consultation with Mr. Blake, executive officer, acting masters of the ship, all experienced seamen, and quite familiar weather, winds, and currents of the coast. The position of the stear Francisco, at the point of her memorable wreck in 1853, and also of donment, were projected, and upon the supposition, as reported, that mont was a wreck, without masts or rudder, at the mercy of the wi currents, it was conceived that she would probably be acted upon by like and drift to the east-northeastward. It was decided to run by daylight to at night,) and traverse alternately on northwest and southeast tacks had thoroughly examined the space between our position of the 16th second position of the San Francisco. On the morning of the 18th heavy) the Baltic hove in sight and passed near us, (steering northwest,) signal, “Have seen nothing." Strong northwest winds pressed us to th east, to the last position of the San Francisco, without the possibility of tr the intervening space referred to. I was confident that the Baltic an would also do this portion of the good work faithfully, and therefore disappointment, concluding to return to the Vermont in her possibly transit to the southward and eastward. But the winds were adverse, ar controlled my movements in a great degree. Assuming a daily drift fo sought to steer to the southward and westward. Fair progress was made 20th, but after this good run, up to the day of the fortunate discovery missing ship, the Sabine was struggling with the elements in their equ strength. The Gulf, with its northwest and westerly gales, fully susta stormy character. The ship, however, proved fully adequate to the ta though slowly, she made her way southwesterly, with a seeming insti was truly surprising. While contending with adverse winds, a hazy s a limited horizon, you will perceive by the diagram that the mysterious s the Sabine were gradually approximating and crossing each other's tr nearly the same periods; their positions at times were identical; showi with a clear horizon the two ships would have been visible to each oth aloft up to the moment of the final happy contact, which appeared 1 secret action of gravitation or the merciful intervention of Providence. On the 21st, at 12.30 p. m., we spoke the brigantine Samoset, thre from New York, which was boarded by Lieutenant Blake, who procured will see by his report hereto annexed) important intelligence. My stro viction was, that the ship mentioned therein as seen the day previous Vermont; but I could not be assured of her identity, from the fact masts were standing, a smoke-stack stood forward of the mainmast, and no sail PRIVATES set. Projecting her position with her head to the northward, she was on the meridian of Bermuda and Halifax. From these appearances, I supposed her to be an English screw line-of-battle ship, steering for the latter place. It will presently appear that the description of the ship was perfect, for it proved to be the Vermont. From Captain Baldwin, we learned that the smoke-stack of the condenser was standing on that day, and had been removed only a day or two before we discovered her. The night of the 25th proved a most anxious one-the storms of the season diy seemed to culminate, and raged fearfully-the squalls of hail and rain were violent. When morning returned, the wind moderated, and changed suddenly to the southward and eastward, with heavy rain and dense fog. Carrying forth the Vermont's position since the 6th March, and comparing it with the Samoset's the report of the ship seen, it was obvious that the Vermont could not be very remote. I therefore put the ship under easy sail, intending to stand to the northward and westward, on her reverse course, and traverse the sea in that direction. At 8 a. m. I spoke the American bark Hannibal, from Philadelphia, hoping to learn favorable tidings, but was disappointed. At this moment of despondence, the ships were actually within a short distance of each other. At 2.50 p.m. a squall to the southward suddenly lifted, and for a moment presented a partially clear horizon, when Richard Lewis, quartermaster, on the lookout, descried a large vessel heading east, without sail set, and her mizzen topmast gone. The excitement on board, as you may suppose, was very great. Intense solicitude was felt by all, for the discovery and safety of the ship. To the practiced eye of the vigilant lookout I ascribe the discovery. At a glance, I knew the stranger to be identical with the ship seen by the Samoset, (except the smoke-stack.) It was the Vermont, and at 5 p. m. we passed within hail, and greeted her with hearty cheers. Captain Baldwin, in answer to my questions, reported all well on board, and the ship not leaking. The strong wind and the agitated state of the sea at the time, forbade all intercourse by means of boats. I could only convey the assurance that we would stand by him, and, at the earliest moment, supply all his wants. As the Sabine passed close under the stern, her shattered look and lost rudder too plainly exposed the ravages of the storm she had experienced. From accounts of the injuries sustained, we were prepared to find the ship in a desperate condition, and probably abandoned. When first discovered, she was heading southeast, without a sail set, or any signs of life. Our colors were displayed long before we received a response. The ship was at the mercy of the winds and waves, and when, in the obscurity of the atmosphere, a flag of some fort became visible, (whether union up or down could not be determined.) and signs of life on board were evident. language could but feebly describe the emotions that filled our hearts. In her di-covery all hands forgot the storms encountered during the anxious search. the weather per bright lights, drifting southeasterly, as the winds and wirely controlled two days; but the lower fastenings, being made f stout in. For days no occasion had fund |
