The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1861-07-27

A NAVAL BRUSH AT sHJr ISLAND.

VICTORY
On Thursday last The 4.h inst Can,
Higgins. formerly Of the [. S. navy.
and now Of the Confederate army. aud
Aid.de Camp to Major Gen Twiggs. fitted
out The steamer Oregon. commanded by
Capt. \ l.. Myers, and also the steamer
Swain, Lieut. Marley, G. 5. n. com.
handing. Tor The purpose % dfi sing thu
enemy out Of the Mississippi sonnd.
Inc steamers sailed on Friday last, both
well armed and manned and proceeded
As iar as Bay st Louis, where they filled
up tie bags which they had provided
themselves with. with sand They left
the Bay a, O'Clock Saturday morning,
iur the cruising ground oi the enemy.
the swain taking the main land or side
passage, and The oscgan the outside.
aud proceeded 10 Ship Island Pass
Finding no enemy in sight, the Orc
gon proceeded to sea from Ship Island,
and soon say two ves.els, and gave
CHASE They proved to be two fishing
smacks II our own Thc Oregon then
reformed io Ship Island aud Capt. Hiy.
gus, who was ia command Of the expc.
diii"n, deemed il advisable to take pos
session of Ship Island Accordingly lie
sienaiized the swan TO colnc to and go
alongside IF the Island The Oregon
then came alongside VI tho Swain, And
both PROCEEDED 10 disombark the men
and munitions Of war, provisions, &c,
which was done in a very short time.
considering they had 30 derrioks for
Auising ont the guns
After the discml an aiinn, the guns on
the boat were pat ia battery, protected
by faad-5ogs. The Swain was left at
the island while the Oregon proceeded to
New Qt.eaus, ria Pass Christian, tor the
purpose 81 sending dispatch to Gen.
IwiGgs o. send toFward rcinf1rcrments
20 ammunition aud men The Oregon
then proceeded to Ne. Orleans. where
sbe af,ifed Oh Sunday morning, aud
vas Immediately ordered to take on
board guns, gun carriages, and iaun.
iioue t. reinfurre Ship Island Major
Gen. iwEEai and Captain Higgins. and
MAJOR smith using every possible effort
% get everything in readiness The
steamer Gray Cloud WAS also taken into
rcqns.tiru, aud was loaded and got nn-
der way on Monday morning, at II
dtlock. also well armed The Oregon
followed the same night, az / n'clock,
with pforis'0us and proceeded drccil,
to ship Island.
+ At 6 O'clock On Tuesday morning, when
within eight niles 81 the For, on Ship
Island, Capt Myers saw large L. S.
steamer and a tender. lying oif about
two miles outside the island A, ,his
moment, Cur troops a, The sand batteries
f 4fsgktpA AF, an 4.
=. : > ~ abss-r .rssl far Witty
t4sud coming up slowly the Oregon took
oil her ammunition. aud proceeded II
once g the SCENE of action, Major Smith
directing ihr Gray Cloud to follow at
safe distance
Having arrived at the island, Capt
Myers proceeded at once ia his yswl.
w,th Major Saith. with load Il she'll
and powder, leiag received with cheers
by Capt 4aom, Of the G ; Marines, and
the sailors md soldiers who at once car
ricd the supplies to the batteries The
cHsmy Lad hfei some thirty odd rounds
- she'll and round shot. which sank in
the sand aud were nsad by our gallant
sailors IN returning Ire The explosion
OF the euemys shells did no other dam
age than slightly - injure ono man in
tie leg
The steamers immediately commenced
landing their guns aud provisions, during
which time the enemy again opened fire.
the shot falling short. bnt being returned
with great effect l. is supposed thai
tho attacking steamer the Msssachn-
sctls. vas hulied three times and a shell
was seen % explode over her decks.
which il is presumed. did great damage,
as she Immediately hauled %, and pu,
Tor thn thendricur Islands a distance Of
? miica lrou cur batteries
Grc@, cfedi, is due to MAJOR General
Twiggs. apd Capt Hiegina Tor the cspe
dituus and prompt manner IN which Ibis
island has bceu fortified and defended
The lallowhg Is the lis, of officers
who were attached To this expedition
Capt T. Higgins, commanding Licuts
Marley, laom and Huntington Sur.
geon lynah. 90 South Carolina, psfsos.
scmplc Miashipmau, Reid. stfne. Com.
stock, Dalton aud Rabey. wi,h d sailors
and - martinez.
After taking possession e the island.
Capt higgins detailed The following ofi
GERS. with the mariues and sailors. to
hold auA defend IL Lieut. Watlev. com.
manding Lieut., Thorn. % the marines.
Surgeon Lyman, and the midshipmen.
After the enemy had retired, the STEAMER
Swain arrived wiih Lieut.. Col II W
. Allen, Il t1a fourth regiment. from Miss
i.sippi City. with three companies
MAJOR Smith is nov in command, for
trying the island anl larger force
may shortly be expected So much fof
, our t,.f naval fresh with the enemy. IN
which II j. bnt iusi ,n say that our nt'i.
t GERS snd mcn all acted with the greatest
, spri, and gallaniry piessHa
TER WAY fnr Nogrn Grr, RS Nswa.-