The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-26
THE CRUISE OF THE SAN JACINTO.

UNITED STATES STEAMER SAN JAcNro, Nov. 20. 1861.
The San Jacino, first class steam sloop mount
ing fifteen guns lately attached to the United States AZ
rcan Squadron under the command Of Flag Officer Wm
Inman left ST. Paul do Loando the 10th OF August last
her to the United Sat.s, in tho temporary
command Of Lieutenant y. NJ. Fairfax, United states
Navy who ordered to await at Fernando Pc the
rival Of Captain Charles Wilkes, United States Navy On
the Goth OF August Captain Charles Wilkes took command
OF this ship. Lieutenant Fairfax returning TO his former
position executive officer. We left Fernando Pc the
Goth Of August. cruising close To the shore for the pur
pose Of asccralnng any Of the Confederate prvaeers
had taken any prizes to that coast Arrived at Monro
VIA LIBERIA the 18th, and at st. Vincent, Cape Verbs,
the 25th September Seeing by the papers that
raj Confederate privateers had run the blockade,
and taken several prizes in the West India
Islands, Captain Wilkes determined TO cruise
about these islands, and to capture some OF them
before returning with the San .Iacino to New York.
We arrived at st. Thomas on the 10th Of October,
and found the fowhatan and lroquos there On the 1h
tho British brig Spartan arrived in port her master
called Captain Wilkes and informed him that the
5th OF October while in latitude degrees 80 minutes ~
and longitude AZ degrees 25 minutes W. he boarded
by steamer evidently vessel in Disguise after
answering all questions he could get other informa
ton in return but that they n cruizc Captain
Wilkes showed him photograph OF the SUMTER which
he Immediately recognized the vessel by which he
boarded. Captain Wilkes then advised Com. Palmer, Of
the roQuois TO cruizc Immediately after her the roqois
being the fastest steamer Of the three aud TO follow her
far Rio even II necessary at the time the
San Jacinto cruzcd in the West Indies and Caribbean sea
to overhaul the Sumter In the event Of her returning
there The Iroquois left St. Thomas on the l3h and
the 18th of October, in company with the Pow
the vicinity of the windward Islands, and visited
Port Royal and Kingston, in the Island Of ia
maica, the Grand Cayman, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Key
West Key Lobos, Sagua la Grande and the Bahamas.
Although for twenty months engaged in active cruise
for savers the West Coast Of Africa and much re-
duced in the number Of her officers and crew, the San
JaciDto has becn for the last weeks continuously
cruising in search Of the sumter On arrival mt Glen
fegos learned by tho papers that the Theodore had
run the blockade at Charleston and arrived Havana
landing the rebel Commissioners Messs Mason and
side with their secretaries Messrs Eusts and McFar
land and the families Of Mr.. slidcll and Mr. Eusts at
Cardenas, and that they would proceed overland Ia-
vana. AS soon Captain Wilkes heard OF 1t he deter
mined pursue the Theodore and intercept her return
Charleston He took therefore, sufficient coal to go
short cruise, and left Cicnfuegos the Goth Of Oc;o
arrived Havana tho 2sth and learned that the
Theodora had departed her return to Charleston,
aftcr being well received by the authorities OF Havana
and being presented the Tacon theatre by the ladies'
of the secession States, with splendid Confederate
flag. Messrs slidell, Mason and suite still at
at Havana boarding at the Hotel Guiana, kept by Mrs.
Brewer. One of our officers visited the hotel with some
OF his friends, and met Mr. Mason in the paror. We
learned from Consul General that the Confederate
Comms oners we're waited upon by II. 3 NJ Consul Mr..
Crawford, in full DRESS and officially introduced by him
Captain General Serrano, of Cuba. When Capt Wilkes
heard Of their intention to take passage in the British
packet for Europe he conceived the bold plan TO intercept
the British mail steamer and in the event OF these four
persons being on board, to make them prisoners. We
filled up with coal in great haste, took in provisions Gas
part of daily ratons for the exhaustcd)
and left Havana the I'd instant On the 4th in the
morning steam gunboat heing in sight from the mast
.
Tloodora and orders were given TO beat 10 quarters.
Scarcely four minutes elapsed, and the San acnto
ready receive her foc but doomed to dsap-
pointment--t turned out to be H. b. N. gunboat
Stag, bound from Key West for Havana We ar
rived the Same day at Key West in search Of the
Powhattan other steamer assist US in inter.
cepng the British packet. There being another passage
through the New Bahama channels. Capt. Wilkes plan
was that steamer should cruise there while the San
JNnto cruising in the Old Bahamas, so that the
mail packet could not escape vigilance the Pow
hatan having left Key West the day before aud no
steamer except the Huntsville (and she caeking being
in port captain nothing dauntcd, fully resolved 10
undertake the boldly conceived enterprise alone On
the morning Of the 9th we left Key West. and running
the north side OF the island Of Cuba touched a. Sagua
Ia Grande for the purpose Of teegaphng TO our Consul
General at Havana, Mr. schufelt, to inform Of the
tiinc Of the British mail steamers departure from lia-
wanna but received no information. From thence We
seered for the Old Bahama channel about twenty miles
east of the north side Of Cuba 240 miles from Havana
Grande Tho channel contracts there TO the width Of
fifteen miles, and we could not very well miss tho
object of search. There laid OF and on
during tine night Of the 18th, all battery loaded,
and the buwars around tho pivot gun the forecasc
removed Captain Wilkes issuod order to Lieutenant
d. NJ Fairfax our executive officer to have two bouts
ready manned and armed to board the British packet
soon she should be hove to under guns and in tho
event Of essfs Mason Slide Eusts and Mcfarland be-
ing board Of her. to make them prisoners and send
them Immediately board the San Jacinto. and also TO
offer in his name to their families bis cabin in the
they should determine to take passage 10 tho United
States in the San Jacnto assuring them that all the aten
ton and comforts could command would be placed
thcir service, and closed The order with tho following re-
mark: q" trust that all those under your command, in
executing this important ind delicate duty will conduct
themselves with all the dclcacy and kindness which be-
comes cur naval seryice.p In accordance with this
order Lieutenant Fairfax had the and third cut
tors Of tho ship manned, armed, and kept in read
ness, he hayug the command Of the enterprise. In
tho second cutter wore tho following ofc.rs--
Lieutenant D. NJ Fairfax, commanding; Second As
slant Engineer, James Buchanan Houston Boatswain
j. p Grace, With an armed crew. In tho third cutter