Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-11-21
LATE FROM OUR SQUADRuNS ~ THE
GULF, AND on HE PACIFIC.
ErirUci ~ e letter from Commosiors CoAAer
20 ;Ae Socrriury ofikc Narw
II y Sulp CtNurptANp
or VExA CnUz. ortob,r Isle

20 ;Le SocrEiury Oftke Nurw
u = sur CUNBEuLANp.
OR NEyN CEUz. October IA. 1916.
IL - wlth feelings OF deep mor,ihcatio,
ths;l apprike the department OF the failure o.
another attempt Ia enter The river OF AlNar
DO.
"on the morning OF the 18Th. a liitle nne
sunrp'. ! reached the cutranc. of ,h,t ri,,r
with the steamer Vixen. the three gunbaa Is
the pfze schooner Nunuia, mounting fnui
guns, aud Tie revenue ycsscls. schooatr For
wart ant s'ram q M Lone. accompanied b,
IA Mississippi Commodore Perry l. was
intended tbs latter should eaHnnustir the BAT.
trN, while Zee smaller vessels ,nr-,,d thc hdr.
IL Wos hound, hnvcver. she could not sp.
rtoiCh near enough go make uny impression
GA The Work with her shells, Til. batter,
mounted seven guns, and immcJiatcl, be
hihd a., GA an elevated knoll. wsss platform,
un which Wasa mounted pivot--uu. Know
ing ihr small pDWcJ Oi tlr steamers un which
depended to toW me small vessels over the
hat, end up the urcr. wa, itsifoiis al having
a favorable Wind To- ASSIST thfm. For this pur-
pos ! d'lHyed mo,ing until nearly two o.
CitNi bat sc-ilg uo prospect of the usual s.a-
bred sritiu- iu- rttnniurd 90 proceed -
The first drl-ion, composed ul thc Refer aud
Boulta, ln tow Oi the Vixen. got under way,
out NorU;a. Forward, and Pctr4l towsa hy
The hclaue. As ihcy approached tho bar.
the current became stronger causing the
steamer, io steer badly, sud ,,s,uing their
progress 60 mot more than a mile, or a mile
and bali ihc hour.
The hist division continued - advance
steadily. and bad en- sumo time engaged
with the battery, when bed the moriGca-
iiou 10 sec the McIane aground on the bar.
aod the vessels shc bad la tow, ioul OF each
other ~ the guaies disorder.
A. II was evident NO support could b. e1
pecicd irom the Second division Tor rome time
d az ail, aui as thr tarec vessels composing
,he hfat, were wholly inadequate TO prosecute
TIE at'ack, even II they could pass the battery,
Win which wc wcrs engaged, | was cOns,rain
cd To- order ,hc Vixen 10 be put about, und re-
Psss The bar.
1t may be- as well to observe here. that be.
sides the battery at the entrance oi the river.
there = another at the Town, one and half
miles distant, OF three guns. with two briggs
each mounting nine guns, schooner OF seven
guns, and Two guuboats, each carrying long
z -pounier-aN - dispose as TO command
the channel. By the time the Vixen Joined
her; the MCl.lne was again afolt. without
having sustained any material injury
1t WAS 90, ious, however. herdmrt Item
ieet two inches Was To great To pass the bar
in ~ present slate. Generally. there are from
thirteen To fifteen feet GA il, and my inlouua.
ton led ms Ca believe ] should find that drpih
NOW, bat the late fools have probably lessen.
ed Il, as ora sounding, previously to entering.
There were barely twelve feet The Vixen
struck twice IA gting over. though driving
only seven iccL fhe current Was also strong
er lu ihr ulver than expected, AMI evenif slia
could PISS 90 b'r, ielt convinced the power
OF 'he Mcl.ane WAS inadequate To make head
ugiiusi itw ith auy vessel in tow. Thrss cou-
shegouons--and the lay being too speut--in
doced me- however, much against my incl.
milton, io abandon any further attempt al
PRESENT To enter ihc riNer.
Except for short time, from early in the
spring To tbr COMMENCEMENT al the rainy sea
son, no one, not aequsinted with them, eau
have any conception OF tie difficulties attend
ing naval operations un thlscoast The north
winds. during the winter months, are sudden
aud violent, accompanied by high a. snd
strong currents. No judgement can BE- form
81 as 90 what moment they may commence.
I budrr such circumstances an opinion may ~.
easily formed OF the difficulty ui landing a
b~ly oi incn on the open coast. aud also OF
lhe dangci from the elements attending il.
j am. Nvry especially,
Your Obeii.mi servant.