The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 126, Ed. 1 Monday, January 5, 1863 Page: 3 of 4
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ft
re an^flieel lhat s^ • c >ubl uot bo extricated,
and the iwo vessesla s'uck fast together. As soon
as we struck the order to board was given, which
was Immediately obeyed. Maj. Smith, o.wing to
l>is experience as a iiHof. being the first man on
board. Many of the b?s failed lu climbing the
netting, and could not ^t ovor unUl they had cut
it away, which was socfr done. As toon as our
men appearod on tlit I irrlet Lane, her crew de-
serted the deck and tot to the hold. It was soon
made known by some o leer on board that the ship
surrendered, and tt|a ew asked to be received
and treated as prisons of war.
For some time after e Harriet Lane awn en.
dered, tfas other vessel continued to lire, direct-
ing their Are at (hi La1 tho Bayou City and the
Neptune, although fh« latter had settled to' the
bottom. TheOwasfO tmenp to within two or
three hundred yard|, t i fired several shots. An
offort was made to t ir: he Lmo's guns on b**
but she was so listed j iy could not be worked-
The Owasso soon feh ok about a mile and dro:
pedandhor. Aboqjt * time flags of-truoe wer*
seen passing nbout^ai tho firing censed. After
the truce was agreW on, and before It hade*
plred,one steamorj 1 dleve the WeatfleHJ, was
burnt on the Bolipi channel side of Pelican
Spit, anotlior steatite nd a mortar schooner got
oat of the harbor. T <f were beyond reach. The^
Owasso also steameij ray towards the Point.with
the white fli* flying! er the gridiron. She wiis
hailed and fired npoi kept on her way and
also escaped- ' •' ' i ,
CAPT. W ARMSTRONG,
Of Col. DeBray's.s I", informs *« that after tUb;
land force arrived i Pyron's camp, about two
miles f om Galvostt the column ivas formed,
and took up the line f march. The column ex
tended for near thre< lilea in length, and In order
to reaoh the points d gnpd for the respective bat-
teries, with the leas! Jssible exposure. It was ne-
cess&ry to make a d< ir from the railroad about
half way across th island, there cross a long
bayon bridge, and way of Broadway, reaoh
their positions. W i pasting to the right and
jndeod, from th'e tin be column left the railroad,
it was necessary for e whole colujpa to pass In
full view and direct under the guns of the Har-
riet Lane. The mof) was shining brightly, and
tho ship was plaiuljE^en. While in this critical
position, two guns jpre fired on the bay shore,
and it was universalijexpocted thit they would be
shelled. Yet, so ^jllfully was the whole thing
managed, so quiet afi orderly were the men, the
whole/inarch was ps*>rmed, and the desired posi-
tions gained wlthoiArousing the vigilant enemy.
So completely werquley taken unawares, that tho
officer of the nightff the 42d Massachusetts sta-
uucw
diti in against Cmlvestou consisted of detuchml^u
from the command* of Col's Cook, Klrnoro, Grlf
1'yron, Ril<y> Green ard Bagby, and a detach-
ment of cavalry from DeBray's Rrglment, and
from tho companies of Captains Bowles, Atkins,
Andrews and Duraut, with Wilson's and Fyron',
light batteries, the other batteries being manned
by detachments from the several commands.
The naval expedition consisted of the two old
bayou steam rs Bayon Ctty, commanded by Oapt.
Lubbock, and the Neptune, C «ftt. ISangster and
Sanders, carrying each , one gau and about 300
men. The boats were u4<**Tcommand of Maj.
Loon Smith. The forces on board' consisted of
volunteers from the re^nnnts of Cols. Green and
Bagby,Sibley's brigade, with some citizen vol
unteers. The whole utyler coamaud ofColonel
Green. \
The land fOrees reached the front of the city
about four o'clock. £ he night had been moonlight
nntil about that time ; but- by the tlmeouivguna
and men had been put ija position on the Strand
fend the wharves, it waB quite dark, so much so that
the vessels could not be ajkttngulshed
The steamers John V. Carr, and Ldey Qwlnn as
hospital boats, accompanied the -expedition
A mong the land forces werje alio to be seen a num-
ber of citizen volunteer! who came 'forward to
share the dangers of the effort to wrsst from the
foe the possession of our fair Island City. The
columns of attack were upder command of Col
Debray and Brig Gen. Scurry, the whole com
manded by MaJ. Gen. Majfrudor in person, Gen
" - " the reserve^
T
e#<
of Gen. Magruder
11 was supposed
quartered in the
played upon that
tud that he had belion his rounds, passed near
Parry's foundry, afr very close to where our ar-
tillery was pos ed. !b returned to the wharf, and
reported that he hai lever seen so quiet a night in
Galveston. Yet, e ho could reach his quarters,
our fire opened. C rat credit is due to the officers
and men for the fail ulness with which the orders
re oxocuted
t the 421 Massachusetts were
vt irf house, and our artillery
ompletoly riddling it. The
troops,however, ai oonasour fire opened, were
ordered out of the use on to the wharf, where
they lay flat down, This accoun.s for the small
loss sustained by^th
The enemy gene lly overshot our batteries,
their shell and shot >dfcing in the city, and some
er into the Gulf. The dim-
buildings, however, though
was, generally, compara-
r hing like what might r«a an
I m the severity and length of
Parry's foundry being the
point towards whl< the enemy's Are was princi-
pally directed recc ted a larger number of shtos,
and is more serlou ^ injured than any other build
ing ill the city.
The sights and sfhds in the city wore extreme
n in their night clothes could
«ry direction, dragging their
streets, screaming in the ex-
even passing clear
age sustained by tl
serort in some pa
ttvely slight, and
nbly be expected
tho bombardment*
of safety. To add b
sympathy with th
of the women and
might behind the
ly distressing. Wo|p
be seen In almost
children through 1
tremityof their fr git, and wildly seeking places
the hideous chorus, even the
dogs all over the t< an sel up piteous howls,asifin
'frightened mistresses. Most
thlldren soon gathered on the
Gulf boach, and si Stered themselves as beat they
landhllls. We have heard of
none of themboii [hurt.
A steamer whic; was lying outside the bay all
the time, about ha Ian hour after tho engagement
began, took a posi bti in the Gulf about south-east
of the city, at a d tanco of abo.tt two miles, and
shelled the city fo tome time
1!Y
Special to the Hoi ton Telegraph.
Virginia
TELEGRAPH.
!oikt, 8 p. m., Jan., 1st 18t>3.
At the close of t i most glorious day for Texas
in the prosont wai I have to recount the stirring
events which hav made this day historic. Wc
have fought and tl Irouglily defeated the enemy's
fleet of about two re vessels, capturing one war
steamship, tho Ilai ;iet Lnne, mounting six heavy
guns, two barques hid one small schooncr, causing
the destruction of toother gunboat, tho "VVestfield
mounting eight he |vy guns, while the remainder
ofthofleot avail! g themsolves ofthp privilege
and protection of while flag, ignomlniously fled
the bay, leaving v.| undisputed poss esion of the
harbor. We liav^etormed and forced the surren
render of the onaby's fortified position on the
wharf,capturing 300 of th,'43d Missachusettj Vol-
unteers,under conmand of Cok Barrel, also i i
our hands, with tlieir arm*, etc.
Our flig now fl >ald over tho public buildings of
the city of Galveston, and every vestige of Fed-
eral rule has disappeared from it* midst. Ti.us by
a most heroic und pushing enterprine, t ,e enemy
has been thorough!} defeated on his own element,
and the Southern people have eliown that nothing
Is Impossible to strong arns and valorous hearts.
The Yankee gunboju ha* now lost Us terrors, end
the policy Inaugurated by Major Gen. Magruder
will become that Or tho South wherever our ene-
mies, trusting to UHr supremacy on Water, o.tcu; y
our harbors and dts' roy ou* cities.
A dark night,a few hundred bold and dotermLp-
c4 men, a boat't) rtm alongside, board them, and
the work it done. The forco composing tho expe-
, Thf Lucy Gwin was In oammand of MaJ, A. W
Mo£et—the Oarr, of Capt. Jno. Y. Lawless.
" . i *' >
The above commands Were led by their com
manding officers, except Elmore's men, who were
led by Lt. Col. Aborcombk),Cel. |£l:nore boingab
sent on leave In the up ooui^try.
The euemy, If apprised of our movements, give
no sign of alarm ex'eept tho display of a few «ig'
nals before we reached lowb. The first gun vu
fired by Maj. Gen. Magruder, and in an instant all
the guns along,our line opened. The enemy were
evidently well prepared for our a'.taek, and In
few moments replied vigorously with grape and
cannister shot and shell. The scene was terrible
Darkness hung over lt, save when the Jurld
glare from the cannon's mouth revealed for an In
stmt the dark monsters of the deep,vomiting
forth their sulphurous breath. The sounds which
fell upon the ear were awful. The whistling, rat
tling grapo fell thick as hall. The shells came
ticreeching through tho air, .bursting with an
infernal noise ; while round shot and every other
kind of powder accompaniment added their hell
Ish music.
The crashing of walls and falling of timbers and
aconstant rain of bricks, mortar, Tooling etc., as
the shells plunged through the houses and bur>it
within added to the crash of thousands of window
panes assisted to make the night of destruction
morehtdeous. Soon thp keen whistle of mlnnle
balls was h ard, and thus for over three hours
continue* the fight. Aftorflring two guns with hi?
own hands, Maj. Gen. Magruder left the Strand for
headquarters, which had been established on
Broadway, saying, " Mow, boys, I have done my
part as private ; I will go and attend to that of
General."
Shortly after the fight commenced,a storming
party, under command of Col. Cook, attacked the
enemies fortified poshion, on Kuhn's wharf. The
Yankee troops there consis'ed of the 4id Massa-
chusetts militia regiment, over 300 strong, com-
manded by Col. Burrell. They were upon the outer
end of tu« wharr, and hail torn up the heavy planks
forming its floor for about fifty feet, making a wail
o' those next to the Strand, behind whi h a plat
form had been erected for riflemen.
Our men dashed Into the water at the sides of
the wharf,and by the uso of plank, guccceded In
crossing Iho gap—amidst an enfilading fire of grape
and canister from the vessels, which continued
with such fury that Col. Cook withdrew his men
to wait for daylight and renew the attack. The
two most formidable vessels, the Harriet Lane and
Owasso lay closo in near tho wharves, nnd sent
broadside alter broadside among our men and into
the city.
Itsooufegan to toll on our men at the guns.—
Hero fell gloriously Liout. Sidney A. Sherman,
unshrinkingly fighting his guns in a most exposed
position. Lieutenants Madden and McMahHtj w.ro
also wounded, but slightly. Dr. Fisher, attached
to Cook's Regiment as Surgeon, hore proved his
devotion to duty bj his life.
A number of others fell, whose names I have not
learned; lut no offloers, as far osl can learn.
Tho heroism displayed by the officers was marked.
Many of thorn threw themselves forward at tho
greatest points of danger to stimulate and encour-
age the men. Some extraordinary examples of
courage thero displayed will make the names of
those who exhibited such a sacrificing spirit, ever
held in glorious remembrance.
Aportl n of the enemy's fleet w ai at Pelican
Spit. The>je opened a terriflo enflladlig Are on
the battery and a working party, who had com-
menced to fortify Fort Point.
The battle continued thus unlit after daylight
nothing having been heard from our s'esrnerg.
About 7 o'c'ack, (the atmosphere still b.in<.'
dark and (he vessels obscure J by fog) the clioer
ing intelligence reached usthat the Hay u City
wax alongside the Hirriet Lane—that our boat-!
had attackoJ her—that our gallant boys had bo-.rd
c;d and carried her and wero flgh ing the ether
vessels with her guns. The partial cessation in
tho enemy's fire showed that something wa>
wrong, and soon reliable intelligence c'.me in
that our forces were In nctuil posseosion of the
vessel. As soou as the oth'.r vc-sels <!is-
discovered the position of things, the Otras.io bore
down or, our steamers and tho Harriet Lane, p ss
Ing and repassing within a fow hundred jards,
pouting in at cach limo ti broc.deide. Our boys
„'avc lu<r several niurderO'is volleys with their
rifi s and shot guns, sweeping her d cks clean.
She then took to her heels for I'oli au S(.lt lirow-
iiii shot and shell a* sherai.
At this juncture, the Fi dcral office ri or. ti Ilur
riet Lane hoisted tho white flag, and one of their
oflic rs was allowed to g>, accomp .nied bf o e of
ours, to notify the commander of the fl etthatll
the firing on the llitrri t Lane and otir vt-i-sela
near her continued, every prisoner Uken after-
ward would b* put t<i death. The coi/n'iainle
seeing that we held the men en the whirv.siu
our mercy, ceased firing, and the fight her? closed
Accounts st te that our stenners arrived within
few miles of the city aa early as one o'clock; l ut
discovering no Indication of the presence of the
land force, they retired, gradually working back
some IS or 15 miles. About 4 o'clock, the wel-
come boom of the cannon announced the light
commenced. Patting on all atoam, they hastened
to the scene, arriving within about half a mile of
theenessyjuatafter flay dawn. The Bayou Olty
pelted with hor 33 pound rifle gun, while the
Neptune, as soon as she got in range,put in with
her Iwo 24s. At the 5th fire the rifled gun ex
plod^d, killing the f*U* t Capt. Wl«r, who had
nobly stood to his post, and slightly wonudlng
Capt.. 6chnelder. Nothing daunted by this accl
dent, the Bayou City dashed boldly in; but the
Harriet Lane managed to keep c ear. and enly re
colved a glancing blow, in which the Bayou City
got part of her wheelhouse carr ed away.
HerjB came gloriously Into play the double bar
relied sliot-guns and six-shooters, wfth which our
men were armed. Down went the men at the guns
en tfie enemy's deck I Now camo the Neptune
boldiy up to ber work. In went her bow te thatOf
the Lan4bi--ehe also coming out of the butt some
wh%t.damaged, pait.of her bow being toru of; but
leaving the deck of the Lane newly strown with
the victims of another buck-kshot volley. 4s she
passed around under the stern of the Harriet Lano
th^t vessel swung around, gave her abrotjdslde
and down went oneendof the Neptune,a short
ska
sols in the Mexican Oullf. Major Smith Immediately ordered a roturn t°
The capture of the Harriet Lano is ono of thej Galveston. 'Ihe boats put buck, the Maj on City
most glorious feats ul' tills or any. other war. The | and Neptune leading, and the John F. Carr close In
distanoe off. The Bayou city seeing the work be
fore her, now went at it with a desperate w!
she dashed in, the Harriet Lano camo
fc
boi
As
Idly
down, bent on the same game. A manoeuvr such
ilone
K few
as a cool commander and a thorough pilot
can make, and the, Harriet Lane Is foiled.
strokes of tho wheel and the glorioofe little ^ayou
City dashes into the wheel of the Harriet Lai
grappling hooks Were thrown, ropes were gi asped
by willing hands, an hundred desperate raei clam
bjred In, sprang in and rolled in among t te
tonlslied foe, whose ranks already thini ed by
vo'ley after volley of buckshot, rifle and ilstol
ball, could ill withstand such a deadly on et rs
was made. Five minutes cleared the deck aery
for quarter arose ; the cry wus heeded—tl 3 foe
surrendered, and the prido of the Federal navy
was in Texian hands. A few moments mot > and
the men who had stood around the gallant, illen
Weir, had one of her guns in battery. " Th port
hole Is blocked up," cries one. 'I'll open onel
s iys the brave mil} at the grin, and off sh goes
at the Owa<so. who, meanwhile, was pourlr f her
broadsides at the two vessols.
It was quick, noble and g'orious work,lhat of
the gallant little Bayou City and Neptune. 11st#
has no brighter pago than that written by : igru
der's little navy aud army on this first day <f Jan
uary,eighteen hundred and sixty-three.
Peii cannot describe the emotions of th little
army, which for three long hours had Pitched
amid the storm of shot and shell for the I ish of
their ccmr :des' gv.iiH, when the tidings c* ne that
the brilliant plan of their chieftain was no foiled
but that our boats were in the fl^ht. Fir . came
the news that one of our steamers was suik, and
that another was alongside tho Harriot L< le. Ou
hear s bid us hope for the rest; and the Peering
nows spread that tho vessel was ours. A half
hour of conflicting roports, and the ofl:ial an
nouncement was made which has since el ictrifled
and delighted our people, and astonh >ed and
humiliated our enemies.
Tho enemy in response to the omphatij decl ir
a'Ion made In reference to their firing on!the sur
rendered vessel and its captors, sent a
truce." It was met by a demand for the surren
with the
"flag of
derof the whole fl :et wl bin three hours
concession that the enemy should hare ono un
arused vessel to carry off tho paroled prii iners.
Proviouly, our reserve had been oribred up
ana preparationsv made to storm the po^fion on
the wharves. All theartillory had been loncon-
trated to secure their capture or destruction and
the capture of the vessels lying under oir guns
within the harbor. The Owasso an! (Clifton
ra the
uti be-
!?, and
The
meanwhile had evidently withdrawn fr
fight. The forces on the wlui^eoelng the
fore them, h id already hoisted the white fi
tlj^y now surrendered unconditionally
smallest of the steamers, said to be Hie Tcniessee,
came up near to t'ie Hayou City to communicate,
all tho vessels in front of tho Strand andkt th ?
Spit now carrying tho white flag. Tho Cwasso
meanwhile had got around the Point, and en 1 >ng
flames were teen rising from the Weslfield, ono of
the most formidable of the gunboats, whi<h had
got aground at Pallcan Spit, while *the rest jof the
fleet in lhat vicinity, three steamers nnd t|o sail
vessels, were scon inglorious'y Hoeing 4>r the
gulf, their white fl ig s ill flying.
Tho Tennessee had already received o^r em-
phatic answer, that no better terms would be
granted, except that threo hours more Wojld bo
given, if desired, on the score of huinanllyr She
had drifted out oome rlintance and evidently (Joter-
mined to take her chancos, now ran for de^r life.
Our artillery opened as soon as her ii.tentioni were
made known, and sent after her compllmonj, after
compliment of shetand'shell; but thou, h eviionM#
well peppered, she was snabled, by the me !>f her
vessels attacking the fleet were nothing but corn-
man river steamers; but dash and courage made
up for naval strength.
Thus was aacompllshtd one of the most daring
achievements of any age. To Gen. Magmdorbe*
longs the gl ry of having wrested the fluent of our
seaports frrtm the hauds'of the enemy. .Let our
Government and Its people, stimulated by his ex'
ample, determine that Galveston shall not strnd
alone as au evidence that the enemy Is not Invin-
cible on the water.
It Is no part of your correspondent's task to say
who was most brave among the brave, er whether
any fell ehort of their duty. That the plan con-
ceived b| Gen.-Magruder was executed,Is the great,
glorious fact dear to the oouutry. There was great
heroism In the part performed by the forces on wa-
ter, and th«re was courage and determination In
the troops, who unsupported by ^he boats,met the
terrible fire of the combined fleet throughout threo
long hours of darkness. The co operation of oach
was necessary, end Ii ft through this co-operation
alone, that we aro enabled to point to the result* of
our victory. To tho torces on the boats, however,
I believe, all concede the greatost share of glory*
Our killed aud wounded.are between 70 and 80.
That of the enemy must have been much greater,
as the loss on the Harriet Lane alene was ovor 40.
The Owasso must have suffered terribly from our
smal' arms, nnd we may Well suppose that the loss
of the troopsofli Kuhn's wharf was considerable.
I regret to loarn the death of Llent. Harvoy
Clark, of Baylor's Brigade, a volunteer on the
Neptune. He fell at Ids gun, nobly performing
his duty. The woundel%aneralty are doing; well.
Mn)orA.G. Dickinson, A. A. General on Major
Gen, Magruder'sstiff, who,was Ihot in tho eye by
apiece of shall while gallantly executing an or-
der, will, it is feared, lose his eye, but hopes are
entertained to the contrary. E.,\V. C.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT ON THE
* NBPTUNJS.
It falls to my lot to give the details of tho great
naval victory at Galveston, as It appeared te an
active participant Of tho naval force. I shall en
deavor to draw no Invidious comparisons, or give
praise to particular individuals iu such a way as to
detract from others who acted with eqnal bravery,
though less conspicuous. I will begin with the
fitting up of the boats.
The Bayou City, a Houston and Galveston pack*
et, had been taken by the State and fitted up as a
gunboat, Under command of Capt.Henry Lubbock.
Her sides were protected by high bulwarks of cot-
ton bales, planked outside and on the top with pluo
plank. A vacant space was left in hor bows,
in wbioh was placed a 32 pounder rifled gun
manned by a portion of Co. B., Cook's regi-
ment, and a portion of Capt. Schneider's Co. of
artillery, commanded by Cupt. Weir, Co. B , and
Capt. Schneider. A force of about 100 sharpshoct
era, detailed from'Sibley's Brigade, which had
volunteered en masse for the oceasiou, armed with
Enfield rifles, shot guns, six shooters and bowle
knives, wore put on board, under command ofthe
g.llaut Col. Green.
The " Neptune," another B*you packet, was
taken on the 20tli, and, under direction of Major
Leon Smith, fitted up as a gunboat, as well as
ould be done in so brief a time. Bulwarks of
cotton bales were built up on her guards, as high
as three feet above ber saloon d.ck, and gave her
tho appearance of a heavily laden cotton boat.-—
he was armed in front with 2 b \ ass 24-pounde'
howitzers, commanded by Oapt. Hurby, Lieut.
Harvoy Clark being second 'In command, and
manned by the men of Cupt. Harby's battery at
Ilarrlsburg, aud one or two volunteers About 150
sharpshooters, detailed from volunteers of Slbloy's
Brigade, wcreput onboard, under command of
Col.Bagby. The Neptune hereolf was command-
ed by Capt. Sangster, ass stcd by Cap'. Saunders
of" Royal Yacht" fame.
The " John P. Carr" was also fittod up with cot-
ton bulwarks, and about 150 shurpvhootois from
Sibley's Brigade were put on board, under com
miiid of . The " Carr" lioreclf was com
manded by Capt. J#hn Lawless.
Tho Lucy Gwinn wan to accompany tho expedi-
tion as a tender, commanded -by Major A YV. Me
sail«to escape and join h-r humiliated and d^com ■
fitted consorts off the Uir. She did not (ire ki gu i
in answer to ours. (
Unfortunately tin Bayou City had got so ciilai-
gled hi the wheel of the Harriet Lane, thai she
could not be extricated in time lor pursuit.
1 he enemy having entirely abandoned the Har-
bor tfttd Spit, we were loft to gather the friths of
victory. Th«se wcrotiie Harriet Lane, 135 men,
killed, wounded and captured, with threo 'Ji^h,
one o0 pound rlflf, and two --:-l pound howitzoj
guns, with a complete armament, mag. 7.ind and
sto.es of every description ; the 4Qnd MaSd.r. gi
mer.t, about 300 strong, with their Colonei', irnis
two II \gs,Rtoros, (tc.; tiio bar/tics Llia* J'iki and
Cuvallo, with their crtw*, guard, 7>)3 t ns of coal,
GOObbli of Irish pjlatostk ard a complete outfit;
a pilot schooner, of fi io sp:e l; the gu iboa!
WrslfloM, piitially d stivy d, carrying 8 heavy
guns, (i of which w< ox. e t to mve, us well as i.arl
of the vessel and oullit.
Our own losses were very slight In comparison
with the results achieve'. Tho victory wasc an
pK-te. VVu shall soon have the Harriet Lane In fine
fighting rim, and then wo betide the Federal vea.
torf of tho fight, and to^ke part In It l^nece*sary.
On Tuenday, the IJOth ult., tho "Neptune," being
all ready, proceeded to Ilarrlsburg, where the
fleet were to rendezvous for final orders. The
"Bayou City" followed her in tho afteroo'*>n. The
"John F. Citrr'' followed during the night, and tho
"Lucy Gwin" next day.
At Harrisburg the troops composing Hue expedi-
tion wore taken on board, the final preparations
marie, nnd final orders received, aud on Wednes-
day the 3lsl tin boats started, the Neptune hading,
the Bayou City next, J. F. Carr next, and Lucy
Gwinn last. The whole expedition being under
command f Major Leon Smith, who made the
Biiyou^City his flagship.
"At Morgan's Point, which was reached by the
Bayou City and Neptune at Miusct, th < Ne, tune
took in tow the Royal Yacht. The two vessels loft
IjjMakRt 9 o'clock,the Ii lyou City leading nnd pro-
dl^TCd down tho biij-. The Yacht got aground in
the canal on Red Fish bi<r, and after endeavoring
for a long time to get her off. tho Neptune left Iter
and hastened to rejoin the liuyou City. The Carr
had in the meantime come up with her. The three
boats weul do*n to w ithin two miles of Galvston
harbor, n<tr l'-.lican Island, nnd Love tost 1
o'clock, a. m.
^Major Smith hav in • received orders previously
not to nttck until the artillery on the Island
opened the ball, which wiis to have been at l-2
o'clock ; nn 1 that h ur having long passed with-
out the sigi al beinggiven, M jor Smith orderd the
Nep.une ul'>ng side the flag ship, a'.d called a
council of officers, as to 'he best course to pursue.
About Hits ti mo eovoral lights were (lis[duyedby
the Federal vc* els—red, blue and white, warning
each other oT the impending danger- After coun-
cil, the boats were ordered to fail back towards
Ha'f Moon slioals. They waited until 4 o'clock,
when, nothing being hearJ from tho Island cr
their wake,all firtngup with roaiu, and putting on
all the steam that coold be raised. The orders
frein Major Smith were to put for the neanst Fed-
eral vessel; tho Bayou City to board heron^ne
side and the Neptune simultaneously on the other
. The cannonading from the* shore and steamers
was Incessant. As daylight appeared, our gun-
boats found themselves wllfila less than a mile
of the Harriet Lana, which was lying nearly ,
abreast of the railroad depot, opposite lloan's
wharf. The Bayou Cltjr opened Are on a schooncr,
(the old Gov. Kunaelt,) mistaking her f >r a Fed-
eral vessel. The next shot was aimed at the
Harriet Lane, ahteh then opened with ahell on
our two vessels. The fun of the Bayou^Clty ex-
ploded at tho fourth round*,being a'.ruck at tho
precise ttme of firing by a shot from the ouewy,—
and killed Cupt. Melr and on* ot two others,
wounding also Cant. Schneider. A shell frsm one
or our boats struck the Harriet Luae lu tho Dow,
damaging her considerably. - t u V :
The boats still proeeedod on, the sheila from \lio
Lane whistling round thqm. The.Lane lay off the
wharf with steam on, htr head pointed northward^
aud awingiug rouni with a strong ebb tide. The
Bayou City struck her on her port stda a glancing-
blow, an) passed by ber, her own larboard a heel-
house and side being ripped off by the Lane's
strong'r wheelhouse. Hor shaapshooUra poured
a terrific volK-y into the Lane from their e!ovate;l
positions on the cotton bulwarks.
Tho Neptune struck the Lane on h r starboard .
side, get.ing her own bow stove in. Fbo then
passed round untlor the atern of the Lane, jrecci\*
ing her broadside, and hoi own sharplhootetsgiv-
ing their volley of small arms { and passing the
cud of the wharf, she sank from the effects of her
collision at.d a shot iw lytr hull. Mtti-y of her men
who c uld swim, Jun^Bk overboerd, and waded,
either to the Buybu City or tho wharf.
Meanwhile tho Buyen City rounded to and rarr
her bow fairly into the larl^d wheel ul the Lane
careening the luttoi- over considerable. Major
Smith, Col, Green, ond thi whole force ofthe Bay.
o.u City boarded with a rush and a ehc*r. Tho
nettings wore cu: through by our boys with their
knivpa, and they Waped on boitrd the enemy In
a few h eonds the deck of the Lane was left in our
possession, her Captain nnd 1st Lieutenant boing
killed, niul most ofb r nion having ran below. It
wan soon made known by one of b#r officers that
she surrendered to us, and the while flag w ik raised
Oil In r.
'flie Owasso now camo up witiilu a couple of
hundred yar is, and poured grage inlo tho Lano,
Bayou City, aud Noptune. Several efforts were
made to. move the Lane's hlg guns astern to
bear on. her, but unsuccessfully, the reaction
caused in our boys' minds by tholr victory nnd
novel position making them too excited for the
momeut, aud the Lano herself belug too much
listed. Our batteries also at the gis works fired
several shots at the Lane boforo they believed
lhat she had surrendered I believe t ie shore
butterlos prevented the Owasso coming any closer;
at iiuy rate, she soon fell back towards Fort P. int
Flags of truca were then hoisted, aud the tiring
ceased. MaJ. Smith sent Capt: Lnllbock with a
flag of truce boat to the other Federal vessels to
demand a surrender. Meanwhile the Federal
steamer Westfield, in Bolivar channel was fired
and blown up by the onemy. She had a number of
very heavy guasou board, which can bo easily
fished up again aud einployod by us In our next
battle.
During the truce, Gen. Mugmdor and staff arri-
ved on ihe wharf a* Uie scene of action, and Maj .
Smith passed down the prisoners on a gang plank
from tho Line to^e wharf, where Ihey were kept
for a time unxJer™ard. The officers bed tendered
their swor.is to MnJ. Smith, but ho politely requns-
le 1 them to ket p them. I visited the Lane's cock-
pit, nnd found her surgeon, assisted by ono of our
surgeons, attending to a'^outu d -sen of hor woun-
ded sailors. At the foot of tho ladder lay, writh-
ing in his death agonies, a mulatto sailor, covered
with gore. Opposite him lay a youngster, whose
back was riddled, contentedly playing a lone hnnd
•at cards while his back was being dressed. An-
other sailor was having his mouth sponged, Lis
jaw having been shot away. All of thuj who
could bo moved, were speedily taken ash ro by
ournrn, and carried to our hospital In ambulan-
ces.
Meanwhile gi eat efforts wera being made to scp
urate the Luneuiel tho Bayou City from each other,
Major Smith intending to take the Lino out and
fight the Clifton and Owasso; but this wan riot ef-
fected for several l ours. 'I Lc truce 'Xpire.l, und
by that time all the vessels,except tin 0 vasso, were
soon steaming out to sea, under (lug of truce, as if
the devil was at their heels. Company If, (t'aiilaiu
Weir's Company) nnd others of our in'M, tired
one round ol'g ape, nnd then a solid shot, ft on one
ofthe big guns, at tho Owigso, through the rlern
ot the l/ine, the shots making a porl-hole for tie in
selves through her bulwarks. The Owatso steam .
ed away after her cowardly follows, and ou; land
batteries fired roun ; after round a her till the turn
ed Fort Point.
.Major Smith then jumped on b iird the John F.
Carr, and called ou for voluuleers to follow the
Owassoand aveng : ('Hp*. W. ir He soon obtain
ed ull he wan'cd, vml pursued the p-opellcr, but
slie was loo swift, and toofai ahead -jii her way out
of the harbor, and he wan obliged to content him
s,lf with eapturlngthe Yankee bark in lh > stream,
laden with potatoes, Ac., und the coal vessel at
Pelican Spit. Oil the first of these t, tre wire 2 or
3men, and on tho latter a man and a boy, who
gladly welcomed our boys.
Thus ended the achievements of our gallant
Texas boysou water. L>-t usgivo praise to nil of
thorn Indiscriminately,frcm their brave b ai'ers io
tho-o who were prevented by ace..lent I'r >tu being
iamoii;/the foremost, 'i'hogo v ln could n . be
I among tho bojrdois did all that v its in tin ;r pow-
er,and no invidioui ilistlnetionci s'e'iild be made.
No one, nevertheless, will demur to a ti it.uU- of
praijc to tjio gum' crews on the Bayou City and
thb Nop u.ic. The lament.d Capt. AYeir f 11 nobly
fleet,O'dcrs wore given to fall back to R d Fish otliis post, the vlelim of n teriiblc neeidcut,
bar.s">os to ba out ofulirlit of the Federals by day- cred with blood and glory, but untouched b
light. They had hardly got nnder way when the baud of tin:
attack b -giui at Gr.lves'wn, the flashes snd report^ (md fallen,
foe. IIU men, though
remaliiOd firmly in their
theii
uii] re
CO v
the
aler
•cted
of the guns following each other in succcbsions, position, braving the torriblo, fiery baj.tism.
with terrific vlvldnetsoud rapidity. | Capt. llarbey, on the Neptune, equally t old and
'r-
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Cushing, E. H. The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 126, Ed. 1 Monday, January 5, 1863, newspaper, January 5, 1863; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236469/m1/3/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.