Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-20
4 Naval Brush at Ship Island.

| ate Government.
A Naval Brush at Ship Island.
| From the New Orleans Picdyune Of the 18th, we
| find the following of the affair at Ship Island:
On Thursday last, the 4th inst, Captain Higgins,
formerly of the T. S. Navy, and now of the Confed-
crate Army, and aid-de-camp to Major Gen. Twiggs
fitted out the steamer Oregon, commanded by Capt.
| A. L. Myers, and also the steamer Swain, Lieut.
| Marley c. S. N, commanding, for the purpose OF
driving the enemy out of the Mississippi Sound
The steamers sailed Friday last, both well armed
and manned and proceeded as far as Bay St LOUIS,
where they filled up the bags with which they had
provided themselves with sand. They left the bay
| at o'clock Saturday morning. for the cruising
| ground of the enemy, the Swain taking the nam
land size passage, and the Oregon the outside,
| and proceeded to Ship Island Pass.
Finding no enemy in sight, the Oregon proceeded
to sea from Ship Island and soon saw two vessels,
and gave chase They proved to be two fishing
smacks of our own. The Oregon then returned to
Ship Island, and Capt. Higgins, who was IN COM
mand of the expedition deemed it advisable totake
| possession of Ship Island. Accordingly he signal
lied the Swain to come to- and go alongside OF the
Island The Oregon then came alongside oil the
Swain, and both proceeded to dsembark the men
and munitions of war, provisions, &c, which was
done in very short time, considering they had no
derricks for hosting out the guns.
, After the Decentralization, the guns on the boats
were put in battery, protected by sano-bags. The
Swain was left at the Island, while the Oregon
proceeded to New Orleans via Pass Christian, for
the purpose of sending dispatch to Gen. Twiggs to
send forward reinforcements of ammunition and
men, The Oregon then proceeded to New Orleans,
where she arrived on Sunday morning, and was i'm
medately ordered to take on board guns gun car
riages, and munitions to reinforce Ship Island Maj.
Gen. Twiggs and Captain Higgins and Major Smith
using every possible effort to get every thing IN
readiness. The steamer Gray Cloud was also taken
into reouiston, and was loaded and got under way
on Monday morning at II o'clock, also well armed.
The Oregon followed the same night at IL o'clock,
with provisions, and proceeded directly to Ship
Island
At 6 o'clock, on Tuesday morning. when within
eight miles of the fort on Ship Island Capt Myers
saw a large U. S. steamer and tender lying off
about two miles outside the island At this moment
our troops at the sand batteries opened fire the
steamer, which was Immediately returned, and the
battle commenced in good earnest The Gray Cloud
coming up slowly, the Oregon took off her ammu-
milton and proceeded at to the scene of action,
Major Smith directing the Gray Cloud to follow at
safe distance.
Having arrived at the island, Capt. Myers pro-
ceeded at once in his yawl, with Major Smith, with
load of shell and powder, being received with
cheers by Capt Thorn, Of the c. S. marines; and
the sailors and soldiers, who at once carried the
supplies to the batteries. The enemy had fired
some thirty odd rounds Of shell and round shot,
which were sunk in the sand, and were used by our
gallant sailors in returning fire. The explosion of
the enemys shell did no other damage than slightly
to injure one man in the leg
The steamers Immediately commenced landing
their guns and provisions, during which time the
enemy again opened fire, the shot falling short, but
being returned with great effect. 1t is supposed
that the attacking steamer, the Massachusetts, was
hulled three times and shell was seen to explode
hprG iS
damage, as she Immediately hauled off and put for
the Chandelier Islands, distance of twelve miles
from our batteries.
Great credit is due to Maj. Gen. Twiggs and Capt.
Higgins for the expeditions and prompt manner in
which tn. island has been fortified and defended
The Battle at Laurel Hill.
CINCINNATI, July ia special dispatch to the
"Gazette" reports that Laurel Hill was evacuated
on the night of the 18th inst The Confederate
troops were overtaken by the advance of the Hes
slams on the 10Th, when the rear showed battle to
recover their retreat At the next ford Gen. Garnett
was killed. Col. Ramsey, of Georgia, succeeded Gen.
Garnett in command, and the pursuit ceased. The
result of the whole affair is that Laurel Hill camp,
with equipage, forty baggagewagons, field chest,
and two regimental banners were captured Four
Georgia Captains and Lieutenants were taken among
the prisoners Gen. Garnett and twenty of his men
were killed The Generals body is at head quarters
awaiting orders from Richmond.
The News from the Northwest.
We learn from gentleman who left Beverly on
Friday, at ten O'clock that the enemy entered that
place shortly after he left We learn from him also
that we were somewhat mistaken in our account of
The fight at Rich Mountain. The facts are as fol-
lows: Our picket guard consisting of the following
companies: The Upsher Greys, Captain Higgin-
botham; Buckingham Lee Guard Captain Irving;
Capt. Curry's company from Rockbridge; Hardy
Blues, Capt Mullen, and one other company, and
Capt Deanies artillery company, with one of their
pieces, were attacked near the top of Rich Noun
tain by detachment of the enemy, numbering some
five thousand men.
Our entire force engaged did not exceed $50 men,
but they fought calamity, and although the enemy
had such heavy odds against US, gallant little
band repulsed them three times, and killed large
number of them. The conduct of Capt. Deanie on
this occasion, is thus reported by surviving men,
bers of the Upshur Greys: After his whole CON-
pany were killed or driven from their gun, and he
wounded, he fired the piece three times and after
being attacked by the enemy with their bayonets,
he shot two of them with his revolver The forces
remaining in the fertilization evacuated their posi-
ton during the night, and nearly all of them es-
capped Our entire loss in killed and wounded and
prisoners will not exceed 200.
Gen. Garnet commenced his retreat from his DO
stion at Laurel Hill on Friday night in the direction
of Beverley and advanced to within three miles of
that place. when finding the road blockaded he coun-
ter-marched and took the road leading to st. George
in Tucker county, which he had passed. The enc
my in pursuit of him, and had encamped near
the st. George road and when Gen. Garnett reached
that point, and turned off in the direction of ST.
George they attacked him in his rear and cut up
his army in terrible manner, killing him in the ac
ton. Nothing further has been heard from Gen.
Garnetts forces, but it is presumed they made their
escape with considerable loss in killed and wounded,
lcfor and, oc. IL