The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-10-22
Correspondence of the n Y. Times.
A Brilliant Naval Exploit.


COLA HARBoR.
S. STEAM FRIGArE CoLoRlpo,l
Off Pensacola Harbor, Sept. l4th 1861.
The monotony of the blockade" so
far as this ship is concerned, was broken
last Right, by most brilliant achieve
ment.
Some days ago large schooner was
observed in the harbor in the vicinity of
the Navy Yard, and her appearance and
motions led TO the suspicion that she had
been fitted up for a privaeer, and had
intentions of trying TO run the block
ade.
By some desertcrs who escaped from
the secession camp and came to Fort
Pickens, these suspicious were confirm
ed, and further information obtained that
the schooner was moored near the Stone
Wharf, at the southeast corner Of the
Navy Yard, and also that upon the
wharf near where the schooner was moor
ed battery was being erected, and that
one large columbiad was already mount
ed.
For several nights past boats from this
ship have been kept rowing guard" in
the mouth OF the harbor, on the lookout
for this sci o)ner should she attempt to
run the blockade Yesterday Capt Bal
ley went ashore on Santa Rosa Island,
/ for the purpose Of tahin' notes" in re.
gard to the schooner and the reported
battery, with the view of getting up an
expedition against them. After getting
all the information he could hom the de
serters, and corroborating their evidence
| by his own observations with the spy
glass he decide that an attack might be
made with reasonable chances for sue
cess, and by the time lie had reached the
friga;e in the evening, he had plans fol
an expedition matured. Acting upor
these, Flag officer Mervine decided a
once on sending q boat expedition to the
Navy Yard, for the purpose of spikin4
the mounted gun spoken of above, anc
burning the embryo privateer.
About eight O'Clock p. NJ. yesterday
the detail of men and officers was an
nounced the boats hoisted out the mel
armed and supplied with ammunition
The expedition was placed under tn,
command Of Lieut.. John H. Russell.
Four boats, with oars muflled, left ia,
side of the ship at 1 | p. NJ, and pulle,
into the harbor, keeping far enough from
the rebel side 10 avoid observation. The
continued on up the harbor to point
little above the Navy Yard Here thei
course was changed. and each boat wa
headed for its especial object. From
) this moment every thought and every eff
, fort Of both officers and men were direct
/ ed TO the successful accomplishment o
!, this the most dangerous enterprise Th
parties in the launch and second cutie
were to board and burn the schooner
those in the first and third cutters wer
|, TO charge the battery and spike the re
! Gently mounted big gun"
Lieut.. Sproston, heading the crews o
the first and third cutters, landed at tn
northern face OF the Stone Wharf, anC
made directly for the newly erected bat
terry. Whether this battery was no
manned nj all, or whether the men ut
had been drawn from their stations b
the noise of the strife which had alread
commenced at the schooner, or whethe
they had +" travelled" is not known
However that may be, but one man wa
$ found rear the gun. True courage
wherever found, will command respect
. but the brave man sometimes looses h
life where his light heeled comrade
J save theirs. This solitary soldier stoo
his ground in the face of thirty men, an
: discharged his musket at Lieut.. Spro'
ton, but simultaneously with the di.
; charge of his musket was that of Gunn'
Borton's pistol The lone defender
(, that battery missed his own aim, but (e
under that Of the more fortunate gul
ner
10 In few moments the columbiad W
spiked, and Lieut. sProston, having a