Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-19
HIGHLY INTERVENING FROM PEN
SACOIA.
Particulars OF the Firing on the Federal
Launch.

| u VI NAO OA INC
! Launch.
Correspondence OF the Mobile Advertiser and Register
] PENSACOLA, Sunday Night, July 1.-THE AdUsrti-
ser and Register telegraphed last night the fact
that detachment Of the Montgomery Mounted Ri
dt had fired upon boat filled with Federal sailors
The Riffs under Capt. ClantOn, have for some time
/ been performing the labOrious and dangerous duty
| OF guarding the coast in the neighbOrhoOd of the
East Pass of Santa Rosa Island but without inci-
1 dent until Friday morning. About seven in the
morning of that day, detachment Of tho company
under Capt. Clant1n. discovered approaching the
Island shore, small boat or launch from the block
aiding steamer lying mile two distant.
The men Immediately concealed themselves beEiI d
a mound Of sand and awaited their approach TO
/ within a very short distance of the ambuscade,
! when they were discovered by the crew. tt e
lunch immediately stopped, and attempted to pull
/ round when Capt ClanIOn demanded their approat h
| to the shore. Fer moment, it seemed the inter-
! ton of the launch &c obey his summons When the
officer in charge Of the boat drew his sword and
dered return u the ship. Capt. Clsnton & second
time ordered their approach to the shore, accompa-
! MED with a threat to fire on them if diSobeyed.
! which was diSregarded The Rifles then opened
fire at short distance, when the officer in command
! supposed to be midshipman-reeled and fell
across the guards Of the boat
lie Is supposed 10 be killed or desperately wound
ed. Several others in the launch were thought to
be hurt or killed the boat Ian eight cared One)
got out of the sCrape with the assistance Of only
n
hundred yards Some Of them, it is thought, must
have been killed. The gun Of one Of the men
missed fire the first yolley he claimed the prvi-
! lege of a fire, however which was granted and it
was thought with success. These are all the par
tculars Of the affair have been able to gather
These fellows, it seems have been in the habit Of
running about in their boats, for some time. near
Il shore, with the purpose of supplying them
Sc YES with water, well as dropping the lead,
and Capt. Clanton determined 20 put stop to their
audacity, and set the trap into which they came
very marching. Molten lead must have been
8 poor substitute for the cool spring water with
which the rascals have been in the habit of shaking
their thirst The result Of this, some think, may
be serious matter, and that their small boats may
retaliate on our coast guard. Let them try it, if
they want Capt. LOvells little feet TO make em
scratch gravel"
There has been addition to the squadron for
the last day two at the anchorage. Like old
Patterson, the feet is inactive.
LATER -Capt. Clinton. with nearly ali his CON-
mand, has returned TO this side. They are conf
dent of having killed five or six. They fred at
about one hundred yards. The flags of the steamer
were al half mast when they left their retreat for
camp. Three guns were discharged from her,
which they suppose were summons to other launch
es to return or look out -