The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-16
A Naval RruSh At Shin leland

i TIOiu INC NEW TiCay uUe Oh tuc
| llth, we find the following OF the affair at
| Ship Island, which has been briefly noticed
| In our paper
| On Thursday last, the 4th inst, Captain
| Higgins formerly of the United States Navy,
and now of the Confederate Army, and aid
| De camp to Major General Twiggs, fitted out
the steamer Oregon, commanded by Captain
| A. L. Myers, and also the steamer Swain,
Lieut.. Marley, q. s. N, commanding, for the
purpose Of driving the enemy out of the Mis-
| sissippi Sound. The steamers sailed on Fri
| day last, both well armed and manned, and
proceeded as far as Bay ST. Louis, where they
| filed up the bags 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 side passage, and the
Oregon the outside, and proceeded to Ship
Island Pass.
Finding no enemy in sight the Greg On pro.
cesded to sea from Ship Island, All soon SAW
two vessels, and gave chase. They proved TO
be two fishing smacks of our own. The Ore
gon then returned To Ship Island and Capt
Higgins, Who was in command Of The expedi-
tion deemed it advisable TO take possession of
| Ship Island. Accor dinghy he signalized the
Swat IN to come to and go alongside of the
island. The Oregon then csme alongside the
| SWAIN and both proceeded 10 disem bark the
men and munitions of war, provisions, &c,
which was done in very short time. consider
ing they had no derricks for hosting out the
guns.
After the disen barkation, the guns on the
boats were put in battery, protected by sand
bags. The Swain was left at the island " lille
the Oregon proceeded TO New Orleans via Pass
Christian, for the purpose of sending a dis.
patch to Gen. Twigas to send forward rein
foi dement's of ammunition and men. The Ore
| gon then proceeded to New Orleans, where she
| arrived on Sunday morning. and was iFnme
diateiy ordered to take o \ board guns, gun ar-
| riages and munitions to reinforce Ship Island,
| Major-General Twiggs and Captain Higgins
anu Major Smith using every possible effort to
| get everything readiness The
| Gray Cloud was also taken into requisition,
and was loaf g and got gnier way on Monday
| morning at IL O'Clock, also well armed. The
Oregon followed the same night al ii o'clock
with provisions, and proceeded directly to
Ship Island.
at 6 O'Clock on Tuesday morning, when
within eight miles of the fort oil Ship Island,
| Capt. Myers saw 8 large U. 5. steamer and
| tender lying off about two miles outside the
| island. AT this moment our troops at the 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 10 the
| scene of action Major Smith direc ling the
Gray Cloud to follow at a safe distance.
Having arrived at the island Capt. Myers
| proceeded at once in his yawl, with Major
Smith, with a load of shell and powder, being
| received with cheers by Capt Thorn, OF the
| q. S. marines, and the sailors and soldiers,
| who at once carried the supplies 10 the bat
| ieries. The enemy had fired some thirty odd
rounds of she'll and round shot, which sank
| in the sand, and We're used by our gallant
| sailors in returning fire. The explosion of
| the enemy's shells did no other damage than
| slightly to injure one man in the leg.
The steamers Immediately commenced land
ing their guns and provisions, during which
| lime the enemy again opened fire. the shot
| falling short, but being returned with great
effect. 1t is supposed that the attacking
| steamer, the Massachusetts, Was hulled three
| times, and u she'll was seen to explode over
her decks, which, it is presumed, did great
| damage, as she Immediately hauled off aud
| put for the Chandelier Islands. a distance
| Of twelve miles from our batteries.
Great credit is due to Mai. Gen. Twggs and
| Capt. Higgins for the expeditions and prompt
| manner in which the island has been fortified
| and defended.
The following interesting correspondence
dated Mississippi City, July 9th, we find in
| the New Orleans Delta:
At last, with no small degree of gratifica.
ton to the sojourners on the coast, and those
| intending to come hither, as well as the fruit
| growers, wood cutters, coal burners, and
| poultry raisers of this industrious region, /
have to announce the most fattering pros
poets Of speedy resumption of the com
merce of the Mississippi Sound, bv the for
nidabls occupancy OF Ship Island. On Sa'ur-
| day morning at nine O'Clock the Massachu-
sets left the island, and it SO happened that
two hours after ward the Oregon made land
ing on the island, direct from New Orleans,
with resolute soldiers, including q squad of
experienced artillerists. Finding the island
nhoccnpied, they took possession of the un-
| finished fort, and in a few hours had their
guns in position for the Yankees. The Oregon
returned to New Orleans for more gums, and
| is ROW hourly expected. When this news
reached the people along the coast. a glow of
JOY and gladness was visible in every .ounte
aance. The terror to all the sailing craft now
eusconCed In back bays, bayous, rivers, and
inlats, was not only removed but could come
now without fight.
Yesterday (Tnesday) the Swain, a steamer
i'll the Government employ, touched at Barnes
wharf, having Col Barrow and other militia.
ry gentlemen on board, taking Lieut.. Col.
Allen and several officers stationed here to,
gether with some outsiders, including your
correspondent, whence she proceeded to Snip
Island. We remained long enough to make O
careful survey Of the bait finished ne " forth
fication. The walls OF the works are about
nine feet high /; the port holes are all compile.
ted with the iron castings. capable, with few
SAND bags, and a temporary two-inch plank
root, double covered with sand bangs, OF be-
ing as useful Ia this emergency Us If en- tirsly
completed. All that u necessary to Ak up tbs
tort after tais manner, il about Loo, 600 tee. of
two-ineh plank, and q few kegs OF nnlis The
plank could be sent there in three or four days
without cent Of money, from our enterpris-
ing mill owners hereabout
The concition OF the men on the Island (un-
I'll the Oregon returns) Is very preca rious, and
II u De true, Us reported late last night, that
some ominons looking square rugged sail were
thought 70 be visible towards where the Van.
KEGS come from, we are pretty certain Of a
fight, to us nader very disad van taxeous cir.
e1nstances The outsiders who visited the
Island we're very forcibiy i'm pressed with the
character, denleaaor aaa general bearing OF
the mili lary seGtlemsn We found on the isl.
aud, some Of whom nfe Ma val 0tiesrs and gum
nsrs from the mAn.of war McRas, who knOw
the danger u BE- AppIshsndsd and how 70 meet
We ars now. afau events, sure OF oar open
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