, 1861-07-18
The Niagara after the Prfvateef Snn3-
ter
Correspondence Of the N. 7. TimeB.l
U. S. STEAM FR1aATE NAsAnA, |

U. S. STEAM FR1aArE NAsAnA, |
KEI WEsr. July 9, 1861.
The Niagara arrived at this place early yes
tercay morning having left Fort Pickens on
the Sd. On the I'd the 0. g. steamer Massa-
chusetts, Commander Smith, arrived at Fort
Pickens, bringing intelligence to the Flag
Officer that the priTateer Sumter had escaped
t.om the mouth Of the Mississippi while the
Brooklyn WIS oVerhauling an English ship
1ht Brooklyn had got further away from Pass
q lOutre Than usual, aud then discovered a
vcssI under full head of steam coming
down the river. She Immediately put about
and tried hard to reach the entrance Of the
river and bead cf the steamer, but alas, it waa
too late! the Sumter escaped. This vessel
had I1t tyious]y, upon several occasions, come
down almost within gun-shot Of our vessels,
aid ] understand that Commanders Smith
Carolina, begged Commander Poor Of the
Brooklyn, to allow them to 60 in over the
bar and ergoge her, but he would not permit
THIN to &c it, which was altogether wrong
decision. Had they done 80 the Sumter
would have, in all probability, been captured.
and our anxiety now in regard to her never
occurred.
The Niagara mado ready for sea as soon as
POSSIBLE, .n6 sailed the following morning for
the purpose Of ct using off the west end Of the
Island Ct Cuba, as far east rs Havana, but nc
tel in with 10 yesse1ansWeriug 10 her descrip-
tion, and our coal being out, we put In here
for supply. Last night at IL o'clock, G spa.
patch from Consul General Shufeldt to Capt
Mckean, ststipg that he had received tele-
gram from G. D. Fowler, Esq United States
CoGsnl at Citufuegos, "a town on the south
side OF the Leland, IN lat. = deg. s., and long,
50 deg. q min. W. dated July I, 10 P. ", of
which the following Is q copy:
The priyateer Sumter has captured seven
AmerIcrn vessels, and just entered this port
with Ill Of them. (Signed)
&C. D. FOWLER, u. 8. Consult
On the receipt Of this, ''au hands" were call.
ed, 1To cs'al vessels brought alongaide, {as
We IRE ht anchor outside Of Fort Taylor, aud
up to this moment, T r. n, we have taken on
board 500 tons Of coal, and will sail at day
light in the morning, accompanied by tbs
Crusader, Lieut.. Commanding Craven, round
the western end Of the Island of Cuba, for
Cienfuegos AID Trinidad, where we hope
to ind .the Sumter,I and prevent her exit.
Major French dispatches for Havana the mail
boLt NonpareU, bearing q communication
from Cspt. McKean to Consul Gen. shufeldt,
in which. I understand, he requested Mr.
Shufcldt to hnve an interview with the Cap
tain. General Of Cuba, the result Of which will
be telsg sg1aphed to Cienfuegos through Consul
Fowler, and Capt. MeKean, no doubt, will be
governed BY Fhat the Captain.G eneral ed
ylses-Whether to seize her or blockade her
in the port. The sale Of the prizes will beim-
mediately stopped.
hare heard it from good authority that the
C6ptain.Geut1al has stated that he will not
permit priyateer to enter, or allow one to be
fitted cut il any port in the leland Of Cuba,
and Lave every reason to believe that he has
had the Sumter detained. There is also re-
pert that she Left C:enfuegos and entered Trim
lead, where the authorities have detained her,
l'y order OF the Captain General. Lieutenant
HeMmcs, or SIribliDg, {son of FLAG Officer
StribliCg) commands her, Erd her crew, it is
said, are I'LL M:Xicans and Creo1es, armed to
the teeth with bowie knives, pistols, cutlasses
DC. Her armament is good one, consisting
Of eight s-ireh gurs, and she is in every way
admirably calculated for good fight. Hag.
ing a powerful engine, she Is also very fast,
steanling II and II krots easily,
am Of opinion that tie Niagara is going to
have tie good lnck Of Capturing her some
where elcpg the coast On the other hand, If
Ebc has lett Cuba, her plan, no donbt, is to
capture the Eext California steamer bound
Forth. for We lave heard tint the rebels in
ten6cd to put 8 large number Of steerage pas-
sereers on board Q: her, who, as soon as the
Sumter hc1yes in sight, will rise up and assist
in tsking the chip. The convoy brig Balm
tr:6ge can do nothing with the Sumter, as her
guns arc too ehoFt. l would here suggest
tlat until the Sumter Is taken the California
steamers should be conveyed by steamer
With an armament Of Sinch Guns or rit1ed
ca1Eon, and that tile steamers themselves
mount several Of these guns, besides pro-
yidirg themselves with Emall arms to repel
GcarCers.