Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-05
poRr proKkss.


THE WORK WAS AccoxPLIsHED-THr JuDlrH BoAso-
I'D AND BURmD-A CoLUnBIAD SPIKED, &c.
a correspondent Of the New York Herald writes from
Camp Brown, Fort Pickens Florida, septr H. Is
follows: = 81 =
must give you su account Of the burning of the dry
dock and OF the exploit OF last night wherein the schr
was burned aud the coumbsd spiked enterprise so
of the naval service Of the United States
planned and executed With much GOODNESS and ntre.
pdy as mako every tongue here aud the bravery Oh
those engaged in il andevery heart mourns tho loss OF
those who fell. ~--S--
T6e readers OF the Herald will probably remember
that the dry dock lying at the Warrenon Navy Yard,
was removed by TIE enemy several months sincs CUT IN
TO the channel and sunk the OH sct being 70 inercept
the passage OF vessels INTO the bay in case OF an engage
ment Not content with the disposition thus made OF IL
plan was evidently formed to pump out the water raise
and aoat il further down. 10 q position opposite Fort
NcRe where the channel is very narrow, aud WHERE
sunk il would ,fctuay bar the passage inward Of any
vessel OF size. .. ~ ~. .-.t -,
Ca the night Of the Sls of August Colonel Brown got
an mixing OF the design on foot IRON the unrsi a sr al
the NAVY Yard tho quent passage OF boats 10 and
from the shore conveying what afterwards proved 10 be
ue for the furnaces TO the DOCK &C. His plans 70 DC
feat the Accomplishment OF the purpose which the enemy
had In view we're quickly formed. Selecting one OF his
uoet trusy officers lieutenant Shipey, he gave him or
ders TO hold himself in readiness with crew OF picked
men to man boat the following night cautiously 10 ap-
poach the dry DOCK land upon and SET fire to IT, then
retreat as speedily as possible for the fort. @ 5sr
Colonel Brown, in the meantime, made every prepara'
lion for general engagement. lie could not believe
that the enemy wouI allow handful Of men to approach
30 near his Batteries burn the DOCK and od their way
urmoested back TO the fort and he had fully determined
if the retreating boat fred upon, ut once to open
with all his guns upon the Navy Yard and the adjoining
batteries which, we all trusted, would lead to general
engagement. 49,,
Ali the next day Sunday employed in making
ore paratons. At the fort, bombshels were filed and
placed lent TO the moars the furnaces were hed
Sith fuel ready TO be igaited at moments warning, Ter
The purpose OF heating cannon bas and the Cheers ano
men were oil detailed their respective positions at the
guns.
In our camp there an unusual degree Of excite
ment Although could Dot expect TO take very &C.
tive part While the bombardment lasted, yet we oDged
Tor the fray to commence.
As there we're several guns upon the opposite shore
pointing directly towards our camp, everything was
placed in state Of readiness that removal could be
made at moments notice, and now We waited expect
antly for the coming daIkn to ..
Night came coudless, the heavens, lit up by hosts OF
stars looked beautiful beyond description. The opposite
shore wa, plainly visible and the enterprise seemed TOO
hazardous as 10 the planning OF it darker night had
been l,oked for Upon consultation it thought hes.
10 wait till the following night
All day Monday q stropg breeze blew from of the
Gulf rain was txpeced but fell Night came and
he sky cloudy.
few niautes after "tattoo" (une o'clock Lieutenant
Sipley left the beach in front OF the fort in boat with
sevtn poked men, rowing noselasy Ter the dry deck
The boat reached the dock without being challenged,
was lde fast, when the men sprang up prepared TO
counter and the sentres who had often been
seen stationed upon at night none we're fcugd, how
ever and they proceeded TO accomplish their work.
Comousbe material of various kinds had been prepared
and brought along, together with three large coumbiad
shells These placed in the boilers The con bus
rnrH aaoiva,, 81
90 aboard the boat Lieut.. Siipy remaining apply
the match which done, he quickly followed in their
wake Scarcely had distance Of twenty yards from the
ioosd structure been gained by the gallant little band
when The flames burst forth, followed amos. immediate
IL by the explosion of the saels which filed the air with
fragments that fell in perfect shower around the
treating boat but fortunately irjurng Of is
Az the frat streak of fame mounted upwards the "lorg
roll" sounded at the Navy Yard, tue soldiers stationed
there turned out in haste the engineers ran to their
guns aud everything was wild with confusion; but not
saot was fred the boat reached the shore in safety the
crew dssmbarked and proceeded to the fort TO
the congratulations of their comrades. Meanwhile tbs
whole sky was Illuminated by the tall spires Of fame
which shot upward from the burning dock.
Ali night the fierce element sped on in i's work Of
destruction and when morning dawned shapesss mass
of ruins floating upon the water was all that remained
Of the dry dock which cost the Government upwards of
a million aud half dollars, but which the mad demon
of rebellion" had Erested from its grasp
Who would have thought that the hot.headed South
erners couli brar all this amtlyY Some immediate act
of retaliation w expected, but none followed.
Nearly two weeks went by, and life in camp, which
mad been slightly swayed from is usual monotonous
course by the event just narrated turned back into tho
old channel.
The enemy made no demonstrations. Everything
seemed quiet upon the opposite shore The columbiad
planted upon the dock OF the Navy Yard f,owned upon
our camp, plainly visible, now that the dock yard no
longer intercepted tho vision.
BURNING OF TIE SCHOONER AND SPIKGNG THE
C0LUABIAD.
Yesterday was intensely hot. Night came, ard gen.
tie breezs sprIng up The sky cloudles' aud slum.
ber which had been wooed in vain through the
long hours CT the day by ihs men lying in the shade
Of their tents fell upon every soil in the camp save the
sentries Two hours of the morning had flown, when
the report Of several voeys Of muskey from the oppo-
se shore was heard by the senres followed shortly af
r by the heavy boom Of three large guns, discharged
rapidly, one after the other.
The whole camp was quickly aroused, the men, in al
most the tine 1t takes to narrae this were under arms
not knowing what to expect. Shortly, flames seen
shooting up from the rebel schooner upon the opposite
shore. few scattering reports OF musketry we're stif
heard Those gradually died away until all was silent.
As the d .mes Of the burning vessel shoue over the
water, three barges, filed with men, were seen mak9g
their way steadily through the water towards the en-
trance Of the bay. ., 800
Morning broke and We learned the particulars of this
las. enterprise. They narrated to me by n jor
Vogdes, st the fcrt, and are es tollcwJ:
Three blrges from the Colorado containing twenty
sailors and six!y.fve marines, under the command OF
Lieutenant Resell arrived at the fort shortly af,er
dark last night Captain Reynolds Of the marines, and
one or two midsbpmen accompanied the expedition.
Uoon each barge twelve pound hoWitzer was noun
ted, loaded with grape and sbrapnel.
Tie officers and dsembarked a, the fort, and re-
NAMED on shore until about O'clock then again en-
barked and made their way towards the Navy Yard.
Arriving within few hundred yards the boats seps.
rated one making for the schooner Judith lying along
side the dock short dist'nce of from the battery
where he ten-irch llmbiad s mouLted Too second
boat headed for the DOCK while the third lay of short
distance TO cover tho retreat with her gun.
They ,spisd by the sentries when of hundred
yards or thereabou ard FAILED The answer given,
Guard boats !" and they had p: the island
shore come distance above the Navy Yard, and came
do wn as II from Pensacola they mistaken for guard
boats approaching from tho latter place, Until but few
Yards inervened between them and their respective dcs
tna,ion. sentry upon the deck first discovered the
mistske snd fred his musket at the boat approaching