The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-27
gAn NAVAL AFFAIR NEAR NEW ORLEANS.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 90, 1891.

eelYod hero the aIaIr appears TO be most dis
cieAisabio . the ofcor in command. A panic ap-
pears 20 have seized those authority, and tho Of
hcer coumIdng one OF tho ships abandoned her, ard
ordered asow match TO be applied the magazne. The
ship was saved from destruction only fby Junior officer
refusing to carry out the order taking the respons
bility.
The Richmond aud Vncennes only saved by tho
timely arrival Of the Mcclellan which owed them OF the
bar en- which they grounded The sinking of of tho
cutters gave rise TO the ridiculous report of Hoins that
tho Probe was sunk and tho subsequent report that tho
Vincennes was the lost ship.
Ono Of the officers has been ordered homo to take his
trial by court martial There no excuse for failure
to capture the whole o the eet Tho Secretary OF
the Navy and Assistant Secretary Fox have taken the
matter up warmly and viii order court OF inquiry
the whole affair.
CAPTAIN PcpEs OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
UNITED SrAFEs SryAwEr RfcHNovp,l
S.W. PASS MISSISSIPPI RIVER Oct IL, 1881. +
Sln-1 have the honor 10 make the following repor;-
AT quarter to four A. H., October ~ 1861 while tho
watch on deck were employed in taking coal board
from the schooner Joseph H. Toonc discovered
In coc proxality to this ship BY the time tb9 alarm
could be given she hal struck the ship abreast Of The por.
foe clannea tearing the schooner from her is,enpgs,
apa forcing hole through tho ships side Passing ait,
thc eAdeayorca 10 enoct brench III The stern but
talch Three panke IN tho ships side stove in
~ ~ so feet below Tho water line, making hole about
r inches IN circumference Az the irs niarm the crew
promptly and cody repaired to ber Quarters and tho
rn passed ables Of the sp the ea,ire port battery
was charged at hor with whrt et ca h Is impossible
20 discover, owing TO the darkness. A red light
shown Is signal Of danger, aud the squadron rndcr
way in very few minutes, having slipped their cables
Iordercd the Pre5le and vircsnues % proceed down
the southwest Pass, whc covered her retreat which
they did at about 450 A. II. At this time three
LARGE, ne RATS, stretching acsoas Ito river. wero
rapidly nearing u.s. While several Ia & cleaners
and q bark rigged propeller We're &c n asiern Of
tn m. The squadron proceeded down be ryor in tho
following order-Firs, the Preba; second, the Vim
cenues; third the Richmond fourth, the Water Witch
with the prize schooner Froc in tow Whom abreast OF
the pilot settlement tho pilot Informed that no did
not consider IL safe 10 venture 10 this ship in tho
river, but that he believed he could pass tho bar
accordingly attempted TO pass over the bar with tho
squadron, but in tho passage the Vnoenncs AID Rich
mord grounded white the Preble went clear. THIS
occurred about eight O'Clock, and the enemy who were
down the river with the fire steamers, commenced
firing At us while returned the fire from port
battery and rifed gun on the poorour shot, however,
falling short Of the enemy, while their Shelf burst on all
sides Of rs and several passed directly tho ship
At he past nine Commander Handy, Of the Vincennes,
nisakng my signal to tho ships outside the bar to get
Under way Tor signal for him to abandon Lis ship,
board the Richmond with all his officers and large
number OF the the remainder having gene boa
The Water Witch Captain Handy before leaving his ship
had placed lighted slow match at the magazine. Having
waited reasonable time for explosion directed Com
mandeF Handy TO return to his slip With his crow, to
start his water and II necessary at his own request TO
throw overheard bis small guns for the purpose Of light
eHpg lis ship and 10 carry out his kedge with cabo to
hcavc 0f by AT ten A. H. the enemy ceased firing and
Withdrew up the river During tho engagement shell
entered our quarter port and one Of the boats was stove
by another shell.
have this morning succeeded IN getting this ship
! over tho bar. The Mcclellan and South Carolina
using all cxcrions to got lhe Vinceanes of The
Nightingale hard and fast ashore 10 the end Of tho
! bar. have succeeded IN reducing tho leak Of this
ship 50 that our small engines keep the ship free.
60 place and have three plants put in have
cciycd rifle guns and placed the thirytw ponnder on
the orecaste and the tweyepounder Oh the poop Could
have possibly managed this ship in any other way than
keeping her head NJ and down the river, would have
stopped at fot iown TO give battle; but this wns found
hazardous owing TO her extreme length. The attempt
made but broadsdc could not be brought to bear
without running tine ship ashore. then concluded as
advised 10 start for e bar and trust to the ehance OF
III narlating tho affair Of the river omitted to state
that the sunk Of large cutters, and shot
1 from the enemy stove the gig.
am pleased TO say that tho vncenncs anoat and at
anchor outside my sarboprd quarter. Assistant Sur
eeon Robinson from the Vncannes s or tered To tempo
rary duty board this ship. Assistant Surgeon HOWELL
condemned by survey, VIII return IN the Mcclellan The
master of the nightingale vii deliver y tons Of coal to
the WGCtaen. This, together with Whist viii ase out
w trust tighten her so that We can haul her of Very
respectfully JOHN POPE, Captain.
10 Flag officer WV. A. aozESy.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE REBEL ATTACK ON THE
NEW oELRANs BLocgAprNG FLEET.
Correspondence OF tho Boston Merchants Exchanged
The following Is an extract from letter written on
board the United States steamship Richmond dated of
on Wednesday, October o. We nying at tho hcad
Of the Passes (up ths rver), when the Ivy down
ann began firing at us with new riot gun she had OBJ
tanned since her last visit TO At st laughed ut
her hut finally the laugh changed when the shes began
10 liz all about US while riaed gun 1--WE have only
onc) would not reach her. Meanwhile the Prebc,
| Captain French, and the Vincennes, Captain Handy,
blazed away at her, but an fell short, and ns she
much faster than either Of 1t would be bet
ter for to chase her so all could 60 to stand
| and take it, The rascal amused himself In his
for an hour when he hauled oil and steamed up tho
| river.
Our captain, Pope, at saw the importe o OBJ
tanning guns that would enable him cope with tlis fc
low his game OF long bowls, and despatched steam
tender Water Witch down t0the Niagara for red guns.
The next morning the Wacr Witch returned with word
at the Niagara had gone to Fort Pckens for guns and
that we must defend ourselves as best we could.
/ Thursday and Friday passed quiet enough; we were
| busy on the battery which we purposcd erecting
point Of land near where we were laying On Saturday
at haif-past three A. M there was tremendous shock
and confusion on deck. Immediately sprans on deck,
and onnd kind Of steam baterng ram alongside Of Is,
1 aud our mtE hurryfng 10 quarters.
The ram snaksh iron covered boat, closed com
| pe;cy with conicaf roof, from small hole in
which streams OF dense black smoke beicng forth.
My division at their quarters in three minutes from
the first alarm, and as the ram passed ahead OF Us gave
the order ready and let her have it, with what effect
the smoke md darkness prevent me from saying, but
know we did not see her again. During this time our
cub c Slipped, and under weigh. BY thfa
time iiuc OF "Greshts" was stretching across
the river blaze Of fame, while astern Of them Eve
large armed steamers camc stcanng down the river.
Just then the carpenter and informed chat tho
ram had made hole in side, through which the
water was pouring IN stream as large as mans leg.
| This stopped and captain decided 10 send tho
| squadron down tire river, we following and covering
| them. The Vincenncs, Captain Handy, entered the
Southwest Pass followed W the Preulc, Capt troncn
The Rresps dffted ashore Gear Of u.s. and escaped
conaagYaton Daylight broke cleared tho basin,
and by eight O'Clock A. close to the bar Tue
Prebe passed and went but the Vncenues and
our ship grounded AID there Now tbs battle
began TIE rebe steamers cooy took ~ such positions
as they considered desirable, and opened on us With
their rifed guns
! The IVY the McCroa aad The Wm. II. Webb were tho
most prominent the contest We responded, and our
! crew behaved admirably; and, notwithstanding shells
were gy Ing round In all directions, they worked at
their gins 40 though the whole matter was joke The
discharges from nire inch hroadsiic guns were ter
! rife but the boats kept eiscrcetly out OF range
Al about nine O'Clock the Vncenncs was abandoned by
her crew, and officers and slow match connected with
the magazine ami lighted But fortunately 1t failed TO
burn out Captain Pope at once ordered Captain Handy
10 return 10 his ship You can fancy our anaZenent at
his conduct OF the commander OF the vnccnnes. Well,
hv ton O'Clock the enemy withdrew and had the first
,onthful since night previous One Of the rebel
shels n twenty-our FOUNDER came through the after
unr into our smoking room but fortunately did not OK
Mode Another shell smashed Of our quarter boats
/ over my division
on Saturday we were glad to see tho Mcclellan com
inc in from with two ried Parrot guns for MS.
She made fast 10 and before midnight we had the
steamer South Carolina at anchor near us. On sunday
the two steamers succeeded in towing our ship and the
yncenncs on the bar and here we are all afoat and
ready FOR any emergency.
| ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE
OF FREDERICKTOWN.