The Shreveport weekly news., 1861-07-22
A Naval Brush at Ship Island.
4 VICTORY


army and Aid-die-Camp to Major Gen.
Twiggs, fitted out the steamer OrcGccc:::,
commanded by Cap. A. l.. Myers.and
:. also the steamer Swain, Lieut.. War
ley, G. s. n, commanding, for the
purpose of driving the enemy out of
the mississippi Sound. The steamers
sailed on Friday last, both well arm
ed and manned, and proceeded as Ear
rs Bay St. Louis, where they filled
up the baga which they had provided
themselves with, with sand. They
left the Bay at . O'Clock Saturday
morning for the cruising ground of
the enemy. the Swain taking the
main land or passage, aud 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 aud
gave chase. They proved TO be two
fishing smacks of ourown. The Ore
son then returned to Ship Island. and
Capt. Higgins, who was in command
of the expedition. deemed it advisa-
BILE to take possession Of Ship Island.
Accordingly he signalized the Swain
20 come and go along side of the Is
land. The Oregon then came along
side Of the Swain. aud both proceed
ed TO disembark the men and MUM
sions of war, provisions, &c, whirh
wns done in very short time. consid-
ering they hadno derrick. for hosting
out of the guns.
After the cmharka;ion. the guns on
III. boats er"put in battery, protect
I'd BY sard-hags The Swain WIS
lct. at the island while the Oregon
proceeded to New Orleans, ria Pass
Christian. for The purpose OF srndim-s
II dispatch 20 Gen. Twig-e I" send for
ward It inl0rccntS "f ammunition and
men. The Oregon then proceeded 10
New Orleans. where she arrived on
Sunday morning, and wa. Immediate
~ ordered TO take on board guns. car
r,ages and ammunition /" reinforce
Ship Island Maj. Gen. 'Iwigg-. and
Capt. Higgins and Maj. Smith using
every possible effort /" yet vtlling
in readiness. The steamer GRAY
Cloud was also taken into req,Iisitinn
and was loaded and got under way On
Monday morning. at II o'clock, al-n
we'll armed. The Oregon follow ed
the same night. at II o'clock, with
provisions, and proceeded directly 7"
Ship Island.
At & O'Clock on Tuesday morning.l
when within eight miles of the fort
on Ship Island, Capt. Myers saw Il
large L. :. steamer and a tender. "
ing off about two miles outside the
island. At this moment, our troops
at III. sand batteries opened fire on
the steamer, which was immediately
returned, and the battle commenced
in good earnest. The Gray Cloud
coming up slowly, the Oregon took
off her ammunition. and proceeded
AT once to the scene of action, Major
Smith directing til. Gray Cloud to
follow ut a SAT-. distance.
Having arrived at the island, Capt
Myers proceeded at once in his way.
with Major Smith, with load Of
shell and powder, being received
with cheers by Capt. Thorn, Of the
G. S. Marines, and the sailors and
soldiers, who at once carried the sup
plies to the batteries. Th. enemy
had fired some thirty odd rounds Of
shell and round shot, which sank in
the sand, and We're used by our gal
liant sailors in returning fire. The
explosion of the enemy's shells did
no other damage than slightly to in
jure one man i'll the leg.
The steamers Immediately com
~,
visions, during which time the enc
my again opened fire, the shot falling
short, but being returned with great
effect. l, is supposed that the at
lacking steamer, the Massachusetts,
was hulled three times, and shell
was seen to explode over her decks,
which, it is presumed, did great dam
age, as she immediately hauled off,
aud put for the Chandelier Islands,
n distance of IL miles from our bat
teries.
Great credit is due to Mai. Gen.
Twiggs and Capt. Higgins for the
expeditions and prompt manner in
which this island has been fortified
and defended
The following is the lis, of officers
who were attached to this expedi-
ton; Capt. L. Higgins, comman-
ding; Lialts, Marley, Thomas and
Huntington Surgeon, Lynch; Pur-
ser, Semple; Nidshipmen, Reid,Stone,
Comstock, Dalton and Robey, with
65 sailors and So marines.
Alternating possession OF the island,
Capt. Higgins detailed the following
officers, with the marines and sailors
to hold and defend it: Lieut.. War
ley, commanding; Lieut. Thorn. of
the marines. Surgeon Lyman. and