The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-11
A BR1LL1ANr NAVAL EXPLOIT.
OBSTRUCTION OF THE PR1vArrER JUDAH.


DESTRUCTION OF THE PR1vArEER JUDAH.
From the New York Times.
u. 8. STEAM FRIGATs CoLoRADo.
OFF PENSACOLA HARBoR, Sept. IA, 1861.
| The monotony of the Blockade, 80 far
as this ship is concerned, was broken, last
night, by most brilliant achievement; and,
while cannot avoid feeling of sadness, at
the fate of the poor fellows who lost their
lives in the undertaking, it affords me much
pleasure to communicate to you the details
of an action that reflects so much credit
upon all who were engaged in 1t.
Some days ago, a large schooner was
observed in the harbor, in the vicinity of
the Navy-yard, and her appearance and
motions led to the suspicion that she had
been fitted up for privateer, and had in
tentions of trying to run the blockade.
By some deserters who escaped from the
secession camp and came to Fort Pickens,
these suspicious were confirmed, and further
information obtained that the schooner was
moored near the Stone Wharf, at the south
east corner OF the Navy-yard, and also, that
upon the wharf near where the schooner
was tnoored, battery was being erected,
and that one large Columbiad was already
mounted.
For several nights past, boats from this
ship have been kept "rowing guard in the
mouth of the harbor, on the look out for
this schooner, should she attempt to run the
blockade yesterday. Capt. Bailey went
ashore on Santa Rosa Island, for the pur-
pose of "takin' notes" in regard to the
schooner and the reported battery, with the
view OF getting up an expedition against
them. After obtaining all the information
be could from the deserters, and corrobora-
ting their evidence by his own observations
with the spy-glass, he decided that an attack
might be made with reasonable chances for
success, and by the time he reached the
trigate in the evening, he had the plans for
an expedition matured. Acting upon these,
Flag Officer Mervine decided at once on
sending boat expedition to the Navy yard,
for the purpose of spiking the mounted gun,
spoken of above, and burning the embryo
privateer.
About 8 o'clock NJ. yesterday the
detail of men and officers were announced !;
the boats hoisted out the men armed and
supplied with ammunition. The expedition
was placed under the command OF Lieut..
John H. Russell
The boats, with oars mufled, left the side
of the ship at about IL P. NJ, and pulled
into the harbor, keeping far enough from
the rebel SIDE to avoid observation. They
continued on up the harbor to point a
little above the Navy yard. Here the
course was changed, and each boat was
! headed for its especial object. From this
moment every thought and every effort OF
both officers and men were directed to the
successful accomplishment of this most dams
gerous enterprise. The parties in the launch
and second cutter were to board and burn
the schooner; those in the first and third
cutters were to charge the battery and spike
the recently mounted big gum"
Lieut.. Sproston, heading the crews of the
first and third cutters, landed at the north.
ern face OF the stone wharf, and made d.
rectly for the newly erected battery. Whe-
ther this battery was not manned at all, or
whether the men at it had been drawn from
their stations by the noise of the strife
which had already commenced at the
schooner, or whether they had travelled, u
is not known. However that may be, but
one man was found near the gun. True
> courage, whenever found, will command re-
spect, but the brave man sometimes loses
his life where his light-heeled comrades save
theirs. This solitary soldier stood his
ground, in the face OF thirty men, and dis
charged bis musket at Lieutenant SprostOn,
but simultaneously with the discharge Of
bis musket was that of Gunner BOrton {
pistol. The lone defender of that battery
missed his own aim, but fell under that OF
the more fortunate gunner.
In few moments the "Columoiad" was
spiked. and Lieutenant Sproston having ac
complished the duty assigned to him &C,
cOrding to prrvious orders recalled his men
to their boats.
The other division of the party in the
launch and second cutter, on approaching
the schooner, found that Instead OF being
moored in the stream, she had been hauled
into the dry dock slip, and was tied up tc
the wharf. Nothing daunted, however, al
this unexpected change in the programme
our gallant fellows dashed ahead 10 the slip
alongside the schooner. As they were ap
preaching the vessel they were hailed from
her decks five or six times, and were thus
prepared to expect hand to hand encoun.
/ ter. The cutter-being much the lighter
, boat-shot ahead of the launch as she ap-
preached the enemy's vessel, and as she
passed under her bows Was greeted by q
CALLING fire, but in moment she had crap
J pied the schooner about mldships, and
Lieutenant Blake and his men were on the
rebel deck. 10 another moment the launch
was under the schooner's guns, and, like the
f cutter, was received by deadly salute.
| Before the enemy had time to reload
Lieut.. Russell was upon her decks, followed
by the brave fellows of his boat, who had
escaped the murderous discharge of musket.
ry with which they were greeted. Forty
or more of our officers, seamen, and ma.
rines, precipitating themselves so uncere
moniously upon the enemy's deck, produced
a stampede among them, and nearly all Of
them fled from the deck to the shore. One
onlv ATTEMPTED to stand his ground apains,