Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-19
rHE BLoCKADEOF GALVESTON
Operations of the Squadron OF CAL
weston.

weston.
CAPTURE OF FIVE OF OUR VESSELS Ri THE ENEMY.
From the Galveston Civilian Extra Of July 5.
strong assurances of the watchful care which Mr..
Lincoln is disposed to exercise over US During
the day. the blockadIng schooner was seen cruising
in the channel, evidently sounding. At evening the
steamer started off toward Sabine; but morning
satisfied US that she had been at work The follow
ing items from the log book of Hendey's Look Out,
will show what has transpired since.
At daylight this morning the blockading steamer
was seen in possession of prize, which was dis
covered, at ! o'clock 80 min, TO be the schooner
Shark.
The steamer lay in OF near the same pcsi ion as
on Yesterday, with her prize At noon a sail hay
ing appeared 70 the east the steamer started IN chase
and by one o'clock had taken three prizes. Her
tender had also taken prize
Another sail appeared to the east at one O'Clock
40 NJ The steamer went to the n. W. and cap
tured her
The vessels supposed to be captured are the
Shark Garfield, Ryan, Water Witch and Co
ralia-
At 2 O'Clock the steamer had gone about ten
miles east shore, and was calling in her prizes.
The look-outs appear TO be well satisfied as to the
identity of these vessels.
The shark is supposed TO have heavy freight
from Berwick's for Galveston.
The Anna Ryan, cargo of lumber for Layaca from
Calcas:eu.
The G. raia, from Berwick's for Galveston, with
ergo Of m rchan6I,e for San Antonio.
The Garfield, from Calcasieu, cargo lumber for
Galveston.
The Water Witch, from Berwick 5, cargo for Gal
weston.
Several shots were fred at the four vessels cap
tured to-day before they were brought to-
LATER FROM OFF THE BAR-THREE FRzss RELEASED
OUR BATTERY BRINGS ONE OF THEN To ANCHOR
THE PARTICULARS OF TIE CAPTURE.
Fr.m the Galveston Civilian, July 6.
Our extra of yesterday evening gave the observa
tons from HeDdleys Lookout 10 reference to block
aiding operations off our bar. The intense feeling
which prevailed throughout the whole city when 1t
was announced that five pri were already IN the
hands of the enemy, may well be imagined. The
Shark was known to have passengers and freight
aboard for Galveston. AMI both her and the Anna
RYAN were owned here The signals during the
evening showed that the steamer aRd her tender
| were cruising eastward and all were on the ga
UiUe for the result.
Near shutdown. three schoOners were seen making
for the harbor under press Of sail. As the fore
| most of them came within mile OF the battery
/ at Fort Galveston, Capt. Conrad. IN command OF
the artillery seeing that she neither signalled nor
carried flag, fired a shot over her, which being
| uunoticed, he gave her two more, the last OF
| which passed about twenty feet ahead OF her I;
/ this hint seemed understood, and she rounded 10
/ and anchored. The other sch)0lers, about three
| quarters of a mile in the rear, also anchored.
| The fact being apparent. from the lookout, that
the schoOners were released prizes, the Junior edl
| tor of the Civilian, who watching the scene,
Immediately started in sail-bOlt for the purpose
| of boarding the schOOneTs and getting the news.
After sundry wsdIng and walking, to report him
self to Capt Conrad at ebattery, to obvlste
the slight necessity of lodging stray shot in the
dirk we got aboard the Louisa at near IL O'Clock
and received the agreeable intelligence that after
| being securely IN the clutches OF "Old Abe 81
hInds were released. Two Of of the schoOners, the
Shark and tee Anna Ryan, we're detained.
Among the passengers we met Col. John A Whar-
| ton, of Braz0 ia, who from his efforts IN Dehau o
the cause O. the South certainly had little reason 10
desire close acquaintance with the LlncolnItes
| We learned that the names of the vessels captured
were the Shark the Anna Ryan, Louisa, Garfield
ard Venus. The Shark was the ony one carrying
passengers from Berwicks. Their names are as
follows -
Messrs. John A. Wharton, Morgan L. Smith,
Blydenburg John Redmond, F. Simpson, lIdy an
child Capts. Patterson and Jamison.
The other schooners were loaded with lumber
The passengers availed themselves of the invita-
ton to come to the city in our boat, thus aHordng
As an opportunity to gain reliable account OF tht
adventures of the day, which we give as follows
| At4 O'Clock A. NJ, as the Shark was some three
miles off the bar, a slight breeze blowing, steam
ship hove in view, half mile of. She bore down
and fred gun across the Sharks bow, at the same
! time hailing and ordering her to heaye to, when
boat boarded, with twelve men and Llentenant
and announced her capture. The steamer then
took the Shark in tow, and went down the coas
some ten miles, speaking the tender, when lmmedl
atey bore away 10 the east the steamer then made
for the bar and anchored.
TTpon boarding the Lieutenant was gruH in hi
| manner and made show OF authority, ny ordering
all the baggage to be taken charge OF, declaring
that it should be searched. 1t was all taken pos
| session Of At about 10 o'clock the passengers anC
crew of the Shark were taken on board the steamer
They were received by Capt. Alden with erea
politeness but told that they prisoners OF war
and would be required to take an oath not 10 bear
arms against the United States during the present
war, or they would be sent to Key West. The
whole party declined to take the oath, COlone
Wharton remarkng, Then | go to Key west, Il
which the others assented. Capt. A. said he ha'
an UNPLEASANT duty to perform, but must pertdrn
| it. saving, Gentlemen you are prisoners OF W6r
Colonel Smith then told him that he had been cit
zen of Texas twenty-three years, and would undel
no circumstances take the oath. Capt. Alden ate
some conversation invited the passengers and GREY
to partake of a lunch.
+ During the forenoon the tender which was up Ia
coast signaled the steamer that three sail were Il
sight, when the steamer, with the SHARK IN 70"
! chased them down in q short time. Her speed wa
/ about twelve knots per hour, but did not seem
be doing her best The tender was also CHASING
and fired two guns at the Louisa. Inc prizes wei
= boarded and their crews taken to the steamei
i The steamer then sailed in shore, Signalling ID
/ Drizes to follow when all came to anchor. DurlH
the day the conduct Of Capt. Alden was urosne an
L | courteous. Frequent conversations were AaI' ~
ring which the passengers protested against oeln
e sent to Key West in lieu of a refusal to take ID
!, oath They were approached separately, and a
4 cave the same answer. The passengers were un
! fed in their refusal Col. Wharton saying that =
t considered it oue of the proudest moments OF =
life to be able to prove his devotion to his eountr
in that way"
Can't. Alden said that he bad been sent to Galve
ton to effect blockade and if the people Of Ga
e weston would let him Alone it was his desire not
,. interfere with them.
II The passengers hal about made up their min
70 that they were to go to Key West, when at
clock, they were agreeaby disappointed by CAPITA
e. Alden announcing without any previous intimsuo
n Gentlemen, have changed my mind in refeTen
c to YOU The passengers ard crew Of the Sh4'
h will be sent on shore 10 one of the iBdif-se
ne prizes" They acknowledged their appreciation
h this act of justice in fitting terms, and were conYe
ed on board the Shark to reclaim their osggag
Sc Capt Alden declaring that he had no claim on the
~ personal effects. Lieut.. Wilson, in command OF
Shark, delivered up ell but the private arms WIN