Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-25
another Naval 2rush with the Rasz y
In ID. NeE nIl.-aa Pl-arE-e. OF y.
We are courteoUsiy permitted 70 copy The fold y
ing interesting report:

We are c9urteously permitted to copy he folk w.
C. 5 Srz,xER FLo7lDA.
I1Ie Foatchartrain. Oct 20, 1867. Il
Sri have tie honor 70 advise you Of the retIra
Of this steamer - he anchorage CT this place Ne
isit h=re on Monday last, and proceeded ~ FAR a.
Ps=rI river, Tor the purpose Of woc5irg and fl nE
up our water IAsweighing cur anchor The foll "
ing moraiDg we discovered shat We bad fOuled Inc
telegraph wire that spans the river. Before We
could eXricate it, the posts which secure is in Bhs
marsh were drawn from their places. Every sfort
was made TO get il on shore and replace is but dur
efforts were frutess, as il WA deeply embedded n
the mud ADD covered over with drift logs The only
alternative left to drag It out with the machine
~, which We accomplished, and succeeded il ldnd-
ing it on the wharf at the mouth Of Pearl ritter.
This large wire had Immediately replaced BY
mIaT one, which trust will temporarily aas yer
70 keep up the communication.
From Pearl river We steed 10 the eaEtWart In
company with steamer. which | saw proper %
convoy past the enemy's fleet. Il was my intention
70 enter Immediately, but on the eve Of dropping
the snchor the vessel took the bottom, snd rem4In
ed imnovably fixed for thirtJ-six hours nOtWith-
standing every eXertlon TO set her OF. Il blew
quite fresh Friday and tbs steamer laid untOm
toErably, that was At one time apprehenaiVs hhat
would be compelled to lightsn her 20 get her OF
She has sustained no injury that can discover
cePt some arrangement in her steam chin hsy,
which can be repaired in q short time.
Ny principal object in l-AVing here wss q az
could get an opportunity TO drill and sxerciIe my
crew. but the several mishsps we have met with
here in messare. defeated this object and my men
are now almost as in experienced as they Eers h
we lefE.
After getting the steamer a5oat We proeeeSeIi -
far ss HOru Island Plss. vent sufficiently "a in
u TIE Gulf u satisfy myself that the enemy hall no
aiding vessels in this Pass nor hsve they edect
ed batteries anywhere in the neighborhOO1.
From Horn leland we steamed 70 the north Ward
AMI q. O'Clock discovered four Of the enelay'G
vessel az anchor under the batteries at Ship IsIand
directed the kloriis to be steamed Ushin gun shot
~ them as / thought It good opportunity cd try
the efficiency OF our guns. At ll:30 We openeH on
he fset with the ruled gun with encouraging effect
We had fred hut three shOts when discovered thst
me CT their stea-ers was under way. She dem /
uenced returning our fire with great Vigor bat 1
izir shell burst harulessly, some half mile from
L.. I soon discovered that the steamer was our /
quGl, particularly in speed She soon got a "a ToF
lbie position on pore quarter, and rapid and
'7uess was hsr IRE EePt Up was for some sm4 APP
1rsaensIEe mat sac yOEtc cripple "a. 4
Ous fire Was kept up Qs long as oar poorly eS1ip-
I'D battery " suli permit, and vas well directed,
Ut fear most Of our shell burlt long before dbey
'escH:d tia enemy. Our olly relisbe gun the
lAs.) b-eke down at the fourth fire. We were how
'eduCed to one qua. which We continued friDd a.
sPidly as we cCtld The lring wss kept uI on
10Th sides for over an hour, when the eneuly's khp
elssd firing ard returned to her consorts under
he battery atShip Island.
Unless the enemy got into sEOal water ! cRtnot
ccoUntfor Der hauling en- as she had Us ccEppldtsy
uisr her guns sac threw &. least tgeatT rEle1
bot entirely over as and many Of her shell burst
close proximity 70 Us; but an happy TO nt0rm
on that passed through It all without injury 20
Ie vessel or crew. Whether the enemy was in-
I-ed or not I m unable TO say. She steamed back
, her C0ns9rt5 with the same allcrity with which
re came ogt. Her Gag was down dGriGg the ilost :
{ tie fight and whether We shot is aONl, on shs
qgied It down as a ruse, carn'tsay
regret that the poorly equipped condition Of our
artery would not permit follow up this little
fair to 3 decisive end but under the cirdum-
zac5s thought 1t prudent to stand on our co 1rss
al act On the defensive. trust, however, thdt il
short s tLce az practicable, we win be furnl he'd
'itl the necessary apparatus Tor 0ar guus and 20
Die 20 give thea another trial.
take pleasure in Informing you tha. the GERS
ID crew OF the Florida, throughout this litts az
.lr, behaved IN manner worthy CT the highest
rs.se. -
The steamer that engaged Us IS supposed tb be
9 CGyler. She Is about 1900 toEs, very fsst and
.gri-s Al armament CT about ten guns, o5e Of 4
hieh at iess; is Of great range.
/ an, very respectfully, your obedisnt servant,
CHis ". Hans, Lieut. Commanding
'rJ Geo. y, HOLins, Commanding Naval STA ION
New Orleans.