Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-01


The Burning of the Pensacola Dry Dock.
The dry dock belonging to the Pensacola
navy yard, burnt by party from fort Pickens
had been moved from IFS place, and anchored
at some distance from the yard. 1t was dis
covered that the rebels were preparing to
place it at the entrance OF the harbor near fort
McRac, and transform ii into battery What
followed is told in letter us follows
'On the night OF the 3lst of August Colonel
Brown got an inkling of the design on foot
from the unusual stir at the navy yard, the
frequent passage Of boats TO and from the
shore, conveying what afterwards proved to
be fuel, for the furnaces, TO the dock, etc. His
plans to defeat the accomplishment of the pur-
pose which the enemy had in view were
quickly formed. Selecting one of his most
tru,tv officers, Lieut.. Shipey, he gave him
orders TO hold himself in readiness, with a
crew Of picked men, to man boat the fol-
lowing night cautiously to approach the dry
dock, land II on and set fire to it, then retreat
as speedily as possible tor the tort.
Col. Brown in the meantime, made every
preparation for general engagement. He
could not believe that the enemy would allow
, a l'andiul OF men to approach SO near his bat
terieS, burn the deck, and find their way un.
mulested back to the fort, and he had fully de.
teIinmed, ii the reireatng boat was fired
upon, at once to open all his guns upon the
navy yard and the adjoining batteries, which,
we all trusted, would lead to general engage
ment. All the next day Sunday was EN-.
ployed III making preparations. AT the fort
bombshells were filled and placed convenient
to the mortarS, the furnaces were filled with
fuel, ready To be igmited at Il moments warn.
ing, for the purpose OF heating cannon balls,
and the officers aud men were all detailed TO
their respective positions at the guns
In our camp there was an unusual degree of
excitement. Although we could not expect to
take very active part while the bombard-
ment lasted, yet we lOnged for the fray to COM
mence. AS there were several guns upon the
opposite shore pointing directly towards our
camp, everything was placed in Il state OF
readiness so that removal could be made at
moments notice, and now we waited eX
pectantly for the coming darkness.
Night came, clUudess; the heavens, lit up
by hosts Of stars, looked beautiful beyond de-
script m. The opposite shore was plainly
visible, and the enterprise seemed too hazard
Gus, as in the planning Of it Il darker night
had been looked for Upon consultation, it
was thought best to wait till the fol owing
night All day Monday a strong bre eze blew
from off the Gulf ram was expected but none
fell. Night came and the sky was cloudy. A
few minutes after tattoo" (nine o'clock)
Lieut.. ShIpley lett the beach in front Of the
fort in a boat with eleven picked men, rowing
noselessy tor the dry dock.
The boat reached the dock without being
challenged was made fast when the men
sprang up prepared TO encounter and overcome
the sentres, who had often been seen stationed
upon it at night none were found however,
and they proceeded to accomplish their work.
Combus,ible material Of various kinds had
been prepared and brought along, together
with three large columbiad shells. These
were placed in the boilers. The combustibles
properly arranged, word was given tor the
men to go aboard the boat, Lieutenant Shipley
remaining to apply the match, which done, he
quickly followed IN their wake. Scarcely had
distance of twenty yards from the doomed
structure been gained by the gallant little band
when the flames burst forth, followed almost
Immediately by the explosion of the shells,
which filled the air With fragments that fell in
perfect shower around the retreating boat,
but fortunately Injuring none of its crew.
As the first streak OF flame mounted up.
wards the long rolf sounded at the navy
yard, the soldiers stationed there turned out
in haste, the engineers ran 10 their guns, and
everything was wild confusion; but not shot
was fired the boat reached the shore in safety
the crew disembarkel and proceeded to the
fort to receive the congratulations OF their
| comrades. Meanwhile the whole sky was
| umined by the tall spires OF flame which
| shot upward from the burning dock. All
| night long the fierce element sped on in its
work of destruction, and when morning
dawned a shapeess mass of ruins floating
| upon the water was all that remained OF the
dry dock"
A letter in the New York Herald gives the
following account of the proceedings of the
expedition after approaching the navy yard =
CARRYING within few hundred yards, the
boats separated, one making for the schooner
Judith, lying alongside the dock, a short dis
lance OIL from the battery where the ten-nct
coumbiad is mounted. The second boat
headed Tor the dock, while the third lay Oft a
short distance TO cover the retreat with her
gun. They were espied by the sentr'es when
off hundred yards or thereabouts, and hailed.
The answer was given, Guard boats and as
they had crept up near the island shore, some
distance above the navy yard, and came down
| as if from Pensacola, they were mistaken lor
| guard boats approaching from the latter place.
until but few yards interviewed between them
and their respective destination. a sentry
| upon the dock first discovered the mistake
and fired his musket at the boat approaching
him, then turned to give the alarm, but was
stopped by well aimed bullet.
The men sprang ashore just as the long roll
sounded 10 alarm the soldiers stationed there.
The other sentries fled. The'gun was reached
| and one man, before prepared. proceeded to
spike it. Just as he had most effectually COM
pleted his job, confederate officer-rushing
ahead OF his men, who were congregating
from all directions, few hundred feet off,
confronted him. The marine turned, drew
his cutlass, and cut him down then hastily
followed his comrades into the boat and put
!. off from shore, followed by shower of mus
ket balls. Meanwhile the crew of the other
boat which had taken the schooner in charge
were not quite SO successful. On nearing the
vessel some twelve or fifteen shots were fired
at them, killing two, and it is feared mortally
wounding three others They kept ON, how
ever, under CALLING fire, boarded the schoon-
er, cut down two or three of its crew who
failed to make their escape, then collecting all
the combustibe material they could find set
fire to it in the cabin, 3fter which they cut
the schooner loose and let her DRIFT away from
her moorings. They then embarked again in
the boat, bearing with them one man, killed
aboard the vessel it is said by mistake, he
being taken by one of the rebels and cut down
by his friends.
Lieutenant Russell was wounded quite
severely in the shoulder; captain Reynolds
was also slightly wounded by musket ball
while retreating. The enemy, several hun.
dred strong had by this time come together
and kept up a rafting volley of musketry
upon them Word was now given to pay
them back; the howtzers were brought to
bear upon the dark mass eongregated upon
al. 4. HI