The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-23 00:00:00

Capture of the Florida.

The Boston Post of the 9th inst. says :
The famous United States screw sloop Kefusarge arrived
at this port at a late hour on Monday night. She brings the
gratifying intelligence of the capture of the pirate Florida.
This was Effected in the Bay of San Salvador, Brazil, on the
morning of Oct. 7, by the United States steamer Wachusett,
Commander Napoleon Collins. 58 of the crew and 12 offi-
cers of the Florida were captured without loss of life, the
remainder of the crew and officers being on shore at Bahia
at the time of the attack. The officers of the Florida were
taken by surprise, the captain and many of the men were on
shore. The Wachusett struck the Florida on the fore-
quarter, but did not inflict any serious damage. The first
lieutenant immediately acceded to Capt. Collins' demand to
surrender. The affair lasted about 20 minutes, and while the
Wachusett was, with her prize, leaving the harbour, sb e
was fired at three times by a Brazilian steamer, but the Wa■
chusett kept on her course. The captured officers of the
Florida were Southerners, most of whom belonged to the
regular service before the secession of the Southern States.
Ono of the officers had held a commission as major in the
Confederate army. The crew were principally Italians, with
a few Germans, French, Greeks, and Hebrews. The papers
of the Florida were taken, and much valuable information
is in the hands of Lieut. Witiams, who is the bearer of de-
spatches to the Navy Department,
The Wachusett had been for some time cruising in search
of the Florida, but without success, and the 4th October
went into the port of Bahia, Bay of San Salvador, Brazil,
for the purpose of getting caal. On the evening of the sth
the Florida came into the same port for the same purpose
and for repairs. The Florida was taken in charge by the
Brazilian authorities, and came to anchor under the guns
of two forts, one mounting 21 and the other 18 guns. A
sloop of war of 21 guns, and a barge also carrying artil-
lery, both belonging to the Brazilian Government, also
anchored within pistol shot of the Florida, and formed a
circle al ound her. On the evening of the 6th Captain Col-
lins, having iientified the Florida, called a consultation of
his officers, at which it was resolved to sink the pirate in the
harbour. The officers of the rebel craft seemed to entertain
no fear of danger from the Wachusett, and everything about
the ship was as still and silent as on board a merchantman.
Captain Collins aimed to strike the Florida amidships,
which would almost instantly have sunk her, but hie vessel
veered, and he hit her on the quarter. Unprepared as they
were, the officer in command of the Florida had no alterna-
tive but surrender. In the excitement of theoccasion some
pistols were discharged, and two guns accidentally fired from
the Waschusett. The attack was made at 3 a.m. As the
Wachusett struck her opponent Capt. Collins called to the
lieutenant in command of the Florida to surrender, and the
latter instantly complied. The lieutenant had but a moment
previous called to the Wachusett to be careful or she would
run into her. She did so. Half an hour after the capture
of the Florida the Wachusett started out to sea with her.
When the day broke Captain Collins saw a side-wheel
steamer towing a Brazilian man-ofewar out of Bahia; but
he put on all sail and a lull head of steam, and was soon out
of sight.

The prisoners say that Captain Morris, their commander.
was or board the Florida when the Wachusett attacked
her, and that he jumped into a dingy lying alongside and
escaped to the shore, which was only 200 yards off. The
Wachusett and her prize are expected in New York shortly,
The crew seemed much mortified at the manner in which
they had been captured, but contented themselves with
saying that " Every dog had his day." The Florida is a
well-built vessel of about 600 tons, but she is little over
half the size and not half the strength of the Alabama.
The Florida had a splendid battery, heavier than that of
the Kearsage, and there were on board of her a large num-
ber of chronometers and other articles, the result of the
various depredations committed by her.
The Kearsage proved much faster than the vaunted
Alabama, and she is undoubtedly one cf the best vessels of
her class in the service. On her way here from St. Thomas
her average speed was about 12 knots an hour, remarkably
good speed, when it is remembered the time she had been
on active duty, and the rough weather she had encountered,
besides her sharp conflict with the Alabama.

She now carries in hE r rudder-post a 1291 b shell, which
Capt. Winslow was afraid to remove from fear of an explo-
sion, Her transom and stern is much shattered, and she
will require some time for thorough repairs. The Kearsarge
in her cruising learned something about the Tallahassee,
which made her experimental trip in sight of the Kearsarge,
before she had been converted into a piractical rover. She
is about 500 tons, and very fast, and a better ship than has
been generally represented. The prisoners on board the
Kearsarge will be transferred to Fort Warren. Two officers
of the Alabama, the chief engineer, Freeman, and the boat-
swain, aro among them. The former is a 'Welshman, but
was formerly in our navy; the boatswain is a Philadelphian.
The harbour of Bahia, which is a very large one, was
found to be difficult to blockade, as there are two channels,
each about 15 miles wide; and Capt. Collins, of the Wa-
chusetta, determined to enter the harbour, with the inten-
tionof either sinking the Florida or capturing her.

The officers of the Kearsarge (gays the 2raveller) were
treated with the highest consideration in the English and
French ports which they visited after their victory over
Semmes. Whenever the Kearsarge went into Dover the
78th Highlanders used to gather on the hill and receive the
ship with hearty cheers. At Dover, Hastings, Folkestone,
in England, Boulogne, Ostend, and Cherbourg, thousand
of people' visited her. Many distinguished naval officers of
both countries came on board and inspected with great at•
tention the armament and general arrangements of the ship
In France a dozen distinguished painters made sketches of
the fight, and the Emperor sent his own marine painter
down to make in perfect picture of the engagement. We
understand that all the bonds taken from captured prizes
were found on board the Florida. Although they would not
sell for 5 per cent. of their face in any country, it is gratify-
ingshipowners who have been victimised to have them
secured.to

Captain Winslow yesterday, in company with his son,
called upon Admiral Stringham, at the Navy Yard. The
admiral received him in the most cordial manner, and.
warmly congratulated him on his capture of the notorious
Alabama. Captain Winslow had hardly entered into con-
versation before the Navy Yard battery gave a thundering
welcome, which was duly replied to from the Kearsarge.
Subsequently Captain Winslow proceeded to Roxbury,
where he exercised the elective franchise. His appearance
in the ward-room was the signal for enthusiastic applause.
The city has invited Captain Winslowand his officers and.
crew to a reception at Faneuil Hall. Captain Winslow has
accepted the invitation, and the affair will come off on
Thursday at noon. It will be a grand occasion. The Board
of Aldermen wiU make the necessary arrangements at the
meeting this afternoon.
Capt. Winslow and his officers are expected to be present
at the opening of the National Sailors' Fair, at the Academy
of Music, this evening.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 8.
The following despatches were this morning received by
the Navy Department announcing the capture of the
Florida:—

Boston, Mass„ Nov. 7,
SIR,--I have the honour to report the arrival of the
Kearsage off Scituate, from the Rocas. Left the Wachusett
and Florida at St. Thomas. The Florida was captured in
the harbour of Bahia by the Wachusett, Oct. 7, We bring
16 prisoners and one of cer from the Florida.
(Signed) " Joins; A.. Wns-sLow, Commander.
" The Hon. Gideon 'Welles, Secretary
of the Navy."
" St. Thomas, West India Islands, Oct. 31,
via Boston, Mass., Nov. 7.
" have the honour to report the arrival here of
this ship, with the rebel steamer Florida in company, The
Florida, with 58 men and 12 officers, was captured about
3 o'clock on the morning of the 7th cetober hi the Bay of
San Salvador, Brazil, by the officers and crew of this vessel,
without loss of life.

"Five of the officers, including her commander and the
remainder of the crew, were ashore. The Florida had her
mizenmast and mainyard carried away and her bulwarks
cut down. This vessel sustained no injury. A detailed
report will be handed you by Paymaster W. W. Williams.
—'Very respectfully your obedient servant,

" 11. COLLINS,
Commander U.S, steam's:cop Wachusett.
4! Hon. Gideon Welles."