The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-13
The COAST GUARD.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
OSBoanp UNITED STATES 81 DOR or WAR JAMESTOWN
or FERsANpiSA, Fla, August 81, 1851
Re,ei Prise Vessel Runs Aground TO Escape Cdlsurc-
Escape Of Her Cre'o to he ShoreA Masked Battery O."
0.Lea1-TAe Vessel Fied and Destroyed by The Onion
Marines, de-
The blockade of thispor and the adjacent coast is kept
up in efficient by the United States sioopof-
war Jamestown Tho ship is in excellent order ana her
officers and enjoy good health. Tbs weather sun
continues fne and all anxously awaiting the oppor-
tunity TO capture prize or rebel prvaeer fernah-
dina we'll defended by mounted battery OF nine heavy
guns and numerous smaller batteries are posted along
tho shore On tho 9TH inst. the Jamestown while
cruising of the coast deserted sail her lee bow,
evidently running in towards land. Immediately
all sail was set and the chase began. The
stranger seeing herself likely be headed on tucked,
and made her way towards shore as rapidly
posshle but the soopofwar gained on her, and
then it discovered that the vessel, finding herself
closely pressed had run aground shoal nearly op-
poste Tue lighthouse eight hundred yards distant
from Tn shore soon after she stranded her boats were
lowered and her crew escaped carrying with them, no
doubt all available vauabes, and leaving the bark with
a sail on to drift farther in Shore in the hope of after
wards getting her OIL dischargng her cargo in boats
by this time tho Jamestown had got near enough it
thought bring the bark within range of her guns
the intention being destroy the vessel by Smelling her
The anchor then dropped and oil sails fred and the
starboard guns opened upon the stranded vessel
but all the shots fell Short and as tho sea
shoals very quickly along this coast /, was
not deemed advisable to run in any nearer
The shore 1t then determined to take her in boats
notwithstanding the fear of there being masked batteries
on Shore and which really proved to be the case for the
enemy had heavy ordnance mounted only short
pd nj lJJril
gagged in bringing down pieces of field artillery to
protect the bark in she attacked in boats.
Everything shore exhibited tho greatest excitement
and confusion. Companies seen marching along the
beach, with pieces of artillery drawn by horses, and
mounted gaoping hitler and thther among
crowds of people who now lined the beach making
quite exciting scene. Tho boats of the James
town were called away, armel and manned,
ana Consisted Of the launch, Offered by Second
Lieutenant Flas7er (who had command OF the
eApediNm), Assistant Surgeon Ceborne and Lieu
tenant Hewston, Of the United States Marines The
hrs CUTTER under the command OF Lieutenant Plythian,
accompanied by acting Master Chisholm and the third
crttcr, in charge OF Ndshipman H. r. Tyson. As
the enemy saw the boats hostcd ont they to
arm boat with small cannon and party Of men, evil
IDENTIFY with the intention Of boarding the vessel and de-
Tending her against any attack A the same time tho
slore batteries opened their fret az first thought
with the intention Of destroying the vessel but this
soon discovered not TO be their obioct--they
only trying the range of their guns All being
and were soon followed by the launch on
which was mounted a boat howitzer, aud was
cXceNenty manned for tho occasion. AS the eyDcdi-
ton nearcd the bark the launch took the lead having
her gun loaded with grape shot, and kept bearing tho
vtsses deck, where 1t was expected the enemy had
mounted gun, but fortunately they had not succeeded
III doing So The boats advanced IN good order, under
calling and most dangerous Gre from the batteries on
shore round after round being fired upon them, forth
nhely without doing any injury. Under this FIRE they
reached The vessels side the balls falling pretty thckly
over their heals and around them and in few moments
more the crows headed by their gallant o0mman ier and
Followed by the rest q tie officers, e1chcdhcr deck with
oatany OPPOSITION she proved TO 10 the bark varao, Of
Boston from the Cape ood Hope had been captured
only short time before by rebel priyateerthe JeG.
Davis--and her way to Savannah with prize
board Before leaving the vessel the pirates had
taken caro- to carry OF everything of value, and carried
ihe captain ana his wife away as prisoners with them.
Finding imposs bic to gt the ship OF, after all the
papers and instruments secured it decided to
set the ship Oh arc, which Immediately done, and
soon became enveoped in flames About this time gun
was fired from tho jamestown and the rccah signal hoist
Stripes were hhstcd at her gaT and then
tho boats showed OF as quickly as possible,
thm with the intention OF preventing their
the ship. But her object had been by those
beard the sloopofwar and she running in to
her boats with her guns The batteries on shore which
had ceased firing after the priz boarded again
commenced their cannonade, but all their balls fell shot
though several good lne shots made Soon after
this the steamer finding IL she continued the chase she
would sool be " thin reach Of the OF the James
town, turned round and made her way fast a. she
could towards Ferrandra The boats reached the ship
in safety aud in q short tine the jamestown sailing
away from the scene aavnr the chagrined Gators on
shore to the loss o their burning prize Towards
might the United States steamer Roanoke arrived bring
ing all hands two days fresh provisions and letters from
home both very acceptable 60 sailors especially in these
times rs all arc anxious to obtain news about the
Towards the end Of this month and throughout Septem
Der haavy gales and hurricanes experienced of this
coast All sailing vess ,s Ought 20 be- recalled and steam
substituted in their place. in gale Of wind
the latter beat or shore, while the former they do
not 70 nder at sea- almost to be driven in shore
and become total css. Steamers Of light draught Of
water say eight or ten feet eI1red and could
der efficient than sailing vessels, which, in
chasing small craft are always in danger Of running
aground We may EXPECT to hear of good number of
vessels being los, or this and the adjoining during
the ensuing mcnth Of September.
The following the officers Of the Jamestown
CdrlmCr1s--Charles Green.
First Lic'3~n1n'--N. r. Harrison.
Second Lfen,n1Rt-C W. FasSer.
Third Lieuesdpt--p. L. Phythian.
Snrgeon---lno, Raaenstein, MD.
ASsiSicnt Surge5n-C. j. Cleborne, Md
TdyTnds,ey--Jss. ". Wade.
Marine O1c0-porter n. IIewston.