Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-22
Capture of Anderson.
Statement Of DR.. Hanley one of the officers mder Co..
Frank P anderson

Statement Of DR.. Hantey, one of the officers under COL
Frank p anderson.
We landed on the Oath November at the mouth of
the Colorado river with forty and five officers IN
der command of Col. Anderson. We proceeded up the
river to take possess of Leafs Island and for the pur
pose of cutting off communication on the San Juan
river. We worked way up in common fOur-oared
boats against three mile current. 1t hard pulling
and took twenyfour hours, without sleeping tomake
twenty-four miles. We rowed all night, and landed
early next morning in the surf We left Leafs Island for
fort Castillo on the 29th by order of General Walker
to get the steamers if possible and take possession of
the fort.
We landed one mile below Fort Castillo at O'Clock
on the night of the Sd of December After cutting our
way through the chappara at the side of the river we
gained the open clearing aronnd the fort at II o'clock
that night. We rested until l o'clock next morning
Dec. 4th when We attacked the fort and after killing
man, took it by surprise. We captured six pieces
of cannon with $50 stand of arms and made prisoners
of Col. Francisco Alderado and eighty men under his
command. We also got possession of three Steamers
On the 5th sent the steamer Ogden and captured
the steamer Virgin nine miles above at Zorro RAPIDS
On the 9th we started the steamer Morgan down to
Cen Walker, with prisoners taken from steamer Virgin
and the fort.
We heard no from down the river until Dec Is,
when informed by COL Rodgers of the arrest
of Gen. Walker and his men, and their return to the
United States After the receipt of this intelligence we
burned the fort spiked the cannons, and shipped on
board the Ogden all the available property, cattle &C.
and left Castillo the Goth to 90 down the river We
stopped nine miles above Greytown, on the San Juan
river where we were visited, Dec. a. by Capt Joshua
R. Sands. At eleven o'clock man-of-war boat under
his command, with force of marines from the United
States fgate Susquehanna, put off from the steamer
Morgan. When about 300 yards off, he commenced
bowling very politely. When Captain Sands approach
ed US, he asked d" who was commander? ' Colonel
Anderson answered " he was" After which Captain
S. replied, will you come on board, sir? COL An
derson went on board of the Morgan alone was asked
on the upper deck and in the presence of three of his
officers, the following dialogue took place
| Capt. Swell how are you getting along ND here?
| Col. Avery well.
Capt. S.-Tve come up to take YOU
| Col. A.-Have you orders from Commodore Paul
ding?
Capt $40, sir, I've orders directly from the de-
partment
Col. Al think l am out of your jurisdiction.
| Capt. 81 could take you in Kamschatka
| Col. A.-Well, sir, suppose l will have to 90.
Capt. S.-Yes call your men on board.
Col. A.-You had better go on board and tell them
yourself
Capt. 81 will. Will you go in my boat?
Col. A.-No, thank you, will 90 in nv own boat.
Captain Sands then came on board the Ogden and
and left soon saynghe would send an engineer and pilot
on board, get up steam and take us down. We arrived
in the harbor the 18th December when we were shin
ped the Fulton, and thence proceeded to Aspinwa
where we arrived the LIST Of January, 1858