The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-29
THE CRUISE OF THE U. S. STEAMER MCCLELLAN.

september 81 Win stores powder, &C, LOT inc lo's III
the Gulf and arrived of Fort Pckens and anchored near
tho frgate Colorado al two A. NJ Thursday September
49, having touched and delivered cargo the way at
Key West and Tortugas After sunrise went in close to
the fort and anchored, and commenced delivering pow
der shell, &C., &C. From this date until Wednesday,
October g. we were detained under orders OF Coonel
Brown, commandant Of the Department Of Florida
On the morning Of Wednesday October 0, at about four
o'clock fire was from the ship and, from the APP
pearance was supposed TO be at the Navy Yard at War
rngton. At half past five under way stood
towards tho frgate Potomac when boat was seen
coming from the fort Passing close the Of the
frgae, Captain Powell requested Captain Gray TO take
him in tow, that the rigatc might be coser shore TO
this Captain Gray assented but deferred the towing until
after he had had communication with the boat which he
then ran In for TO SURPRISE Lieutenant Reese Of
the Engineer corps, board and informed that
the fire proceeded from Camp Brown the camp Of Colonel
Wilson'S regiment which had been attacked by the rebels
from the mainland who had landed in force during the
night He brought orders from Colonel Brown for tho
Mcclellan to take body OF marines from the Potomac
and go close to the shore and land them and then to
she'll the rebel force. After again communicating with
Captain Powell, of the Potomac, took the frg ito in
tow he suggesting that time would be necessary TO
get the marines ready, and that in the meantime we
could tow him in shore. At $50 took him in tow
and in few minutes his hawser parted. Captain
Gray DESTROYS OF at once going In shore without The
Potomac, but Captain Powell insisted on being towed in
which work finally concluded at halfpast eight.
Over half hour elapsed before the marines came
on board We then stood close in TO the island but 1t
apparent that in consequence OF the hndrance Of
lowing in the Potomac too late to prevent the
Decentralization of the enemy at the points they had
ectcd Surprising that some portion Of them had retreat
ed further down the island the captain proceeded some
tyycly milo dowu in lint
discover any Of the enemy they having got off at Five
Mile Points After putting the marines on board the
frgae proceeded close to the fort, and received
orders from Colonel Brown to ut once to the mouth
Of the Mississippi or to the head OF the Passes
and deliver dispatches TO Flag Officer Mexican,
on board the frgate Niagara AT four O'Clock p. N.
day under weigh, and at halfpast five O'Clock
next morning the Niagara off apOutre, and
stood for her, and at harpa six O'Clock Capt Gray
went ON board and delivered dispatches Tho Niagara
then shaped her for Fort Pckens and at half past
seven o'clock under weigh for Ship Island, with
orders the flag officer for Capt. Bailey Of the Colo
rado At half past three O'Clock p. NJ anchored under
the stern of the Colorado, and had communication with
her and gunboat Massachusetts At past five O'Clock
weighed anchor the Colorado doing the same At mid
night spoke United States frgatc mississippi blockadng
Mobile bar and after communicating sailed for Fort
Pkens and anchored of the fort next morning. Friday
October IL and at eight O'Clock reported to Col Brown
At ten O'Clock got under weigh and went out to the Mag
|
and stood in for the fort. With the energetic aid OF
Captain Guest, Of the Niagara, we, at four O'Clock
r. NJ received on board two ried gunssx and thirty
| Founders, with she'll &c, and mounted them on fore
castle deck At ten minutes Of six O'Clock received orders
from Flag officer Mexican to proceed to and
not finding Of the ships of the fleet at the Pass
then so around to the Southwest Pass and cross tho
bar and 20 to the feet at the head OF the Passes On
Saturday October ~ at six O'Clock A. NJ brought to
schooner which proved 10 be the United States despatch
schooner Dart from Barataria Bay, who unable to
give any Information as the position Of the fleet Ar
O'Clock
NJ and hearing the discharge OF heavy guns up the Pass,
the captain determined to cross the bar at once and pro-
| coed up tho river.
On the way up took on board DR.. Bradbury and two
men, with their boat, who said they were going
| up the river beyond the head Of the Passes, and
that the Doctor bound for the city OF New Orleans,
but having written pass Captain Gray made him and
the prisoners We now learned that the Iieet which
expected find the head of the Passes had been
driven down the river through the Southwest Pass by
the head Of the Passes and seeing nothing Of the
feet and hearing the continued firing in the Southwest
Pass the Mcclellan was turned and headed down the
Pass Soon after this the firing ceased, and the rebel
steamers were coming up the Southwest Pass and
two Of them turned into Passa POutre and followed
down. At eleven O'Clock recrossed the bar, and
at p NJ made the fleet, and ut two p. NJ. anchor
ed close the steam rgate Richmond inside the bar at
Southwest Pass We found the frgatc and the sloop-of
vincennes and supply ship Nightingale hard and fast
aground the Prebe and Water Witch outside At three
O'Clock put the two rifed guns on board tho Richmond
and in half hour was alongside the Vfncennes, and
commenced working to get her off The captain Of tho
vincennes had thrown all his broaside guns and
after bits Of the Mcclellan, tearing satcrooms and
sections Of the upper deck Soon after cast Off and
alongside the Richmond, where we lay that night at the
request of Captain Pope During the night all the prepa
raons made in the ram should como down, TO
abandon the Richmond and vincennes and blow them up,
and the Mcclellan to take the officers and board
and go to The enemy, however, did not come down
again that night
The next morning, Sunday Oct 10, quarter past six
commenced pulling away ut the Richmond, and In three
quarters OF hour succeeded in getting her aoat,
aud went ont with her the bar. We then returned
n A. III.
junction with the South Carolina, Captain Alden After
repeaed pulls and Jerks she started at half mast eleven
when she made sail and went ont the bar During
the last hour employed In getting of the Vncennes tho
rebel Mt the head of the Passes and
Of them down the Pass to within three miles
and after observing the operations Of the sue
cessfu release of the Richmond and Vincennes went up
the river of them seen again In the Pass
the time Of the McClelans departure at noon next
day.
At Ave O'Clock Sunday We made fast to the Nigh-
gale, and after gging away for nearly an hour her f
teen inch hawscr parted, and finding she did not
laid alongside Of her for tho night and at daylight
next morning commenced pulling again. but TO pur-
poe she drawing seventeen feet aft and had but
nine feet Of water there and fourteen feet at her bow
She has probably oated before THIS intended
transfer part Of her cargo 10 the other vessels At
eleven O'Clock Of Monday took board fifty for
the Niagara and Colorado the mails and dispatches and
started for Fort Pckens and anchored under the stern
Of the Niagara early next morning
Just before leaving the Southwest Pass Capt Pore
Capt Gray of the Mcclellan the following note with
the results OF survey hold on the Mcclellan under
orders Of Capt Pope -
-,
NY DEAR SIRPermit TO express to you my sincere
thanks the friendly aid you have rendered this ship
and the vncennes in getting them aoat And have to
express great regret that you have much injured your
fine steamer, appears by the accompanying report.
| In great haste, yours, truly, JNO. POPE Capt.
Capt. GRAY, commanding army steamship Mcclellan,
| at Southwest Pass Miss.
Captain Gray greatly regretted his inability to get the
Nightingale afoat He had already used up all his lines
and after parting the large hawscr Of the Nightingale
and having bits checks left to make fast to- and
having used the masts to the extent which he thought
they would bear he concluded 70 give up the effort.
The unfortunate circumstance which prevented the
Mcclellan from rendering glorious and important service
country explained by the following extract from
the official report Of Col Brown
also despatched staff officer on board tho steamer
Mcclellan with orders for him TO take position opposite
the landing place and open the enemy, unfortunately
the time directing him to GO TO the Potomac,
lying near, ask for men TO assist him In
landing necessary Capt Powell directed him to tow
his ship the of action, which 80 delayed him
that he did arrive until after the enemy had vacated
Can't Powell acted the best OF motives, and, under
ordinary from correct principles but the
result was unfortunate, the Mcclellan could have
driven the rebel away, and must have made
prisoners OF most VI the invaders.
THANKS TO COMMANDER LOCKWOOD.
OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
FORTRESS MONROE, Oct. IS, 1861.