The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-10
Capture of the Star of the west.
HOW IT WAS DONE.

That valuable accession to the Confed-
crate States Navy, steamship Star of the
West, (nOw safely moored IN the river
below Algiers,) it seems was taken by a
very ingenious and well performed r4se
&c guare.
From Captain Muller, of the Island
City Rifles, Private Allen, of the Calves
ton Artillery. and Lieut.. Maclin, Of the
Artillery service at San Antonio, we have
the following partiealar~s
On Tuesday night last, Col. Van Dorm,
being at Galveston, called for detach-
ments from the City volunteer Compa-
MES to 20 with him on an errand which
he kept secret. In about two hours and
q half the Galveston Artillery, Lieut.. Van
Buren,, commanding; the Island City
Rifles, Capt. Muller, German company !;
and the Wigfan Guards, Capt. McGrath,
an Irish company, responded to the call
with detachments amounting altogether
to seventy-one men; thirteen artillerists,
twenty-nine rifles, and twenty-nine
Guards.
With these men on board, the Matagor-
da left Galveston at 5 o'clock Wednesday
morning, and put off for Indianola.
Reached Indianola at 5 P. NJ, with the
men invisible, being all locked up in their
state-rooms. Found the transport Fashion
there loading with U. S. troops and bag
gage, to put on board the Star of the West,
Capt. Howe, which was lying in deep
water, outside the bar; the troops en-
barking numbering about 6000.
The Matagorda put back, and at Saluria,
Is miles this side, Col. Van Dorm signaled
the Gen. Rusk. The Rusk coming along
side, the Colonel transferred his men
from one vessel to the other. At about
10 o'clock at night, the Rusk, with the
Ill LrrrI I'LL "a I,
in hailing distance of the Star of the
West, and was hailed. Capt. Smith an
swered, "The Rusk, with troops on board !;
can you take our line now % Certain
ly," was the answer from Captain Howe,
he fancying that the troops were United
States troops. 1t is stated that Captain
Howe asked why the Fashion did not
bring the troops, and was told that the
Fashion would be along in few hours,
with the rest of the troops and their bag
gage
The sea was rather rough, and after
some little trouble the Rusk got along
side and made fast. In a very short
time the Galveston soldiers were on board
with their guns; and Captain Howe
hardly had time to look at them, when
they suddenly presented bayonets, and
their officer commanded him to surrender
''To what flag am / requested to sur
render ?" asked the astonished Captain.
Ensign Duggan, Of the Wigfall Guards,
here displayed the Lone Star flag Of Tex
as and in his richest brogue exclaimed,
''That's it, look at it, me by 81; did ye iver
see the Texas flag on an Irish jackstaff
before ?" The Captain, having no means
of resistance, surrendered without saying
a word. He had a crew of y men and
goo barrels of provisions on board, but
e1s of the r l.
tions of the Federal troops had yet come
on board.
The prisoners we're all treated with
politeness The steamer was Imm ediate-
~ put about for Galveston and great
must have been the bewilderment Of the
officers Of the Fashion and Of the Federal
troops next morning, when they found
the Star Of the West no where in sight.
At Galveston. Col. Van Dorm put Mr..
Falval, first mate Of the Mexico, on board
the star Of the West as Captain, and like
wise the engineer Of the Mexico; and,
ordering the soldiers on board TO see her
safely into New Orleans, he left, to take
charge Of some COO troops who were
waiting there for him. to 20 back to In
dianola and see how the Fashion and her
GOO Federal troops we're getting on after
their surprise.
AT Galveston. when the Star Of the
West left for this city Gen sherman
had military charge Of the island
Hundreds of men we're working night
| and dav erecting sand forti6cations around
! the exposed parts Of the city-piling
I the sand I'D in boxes, barrels, bags, any
/ thing.
Gen. Sam Houston was at the fremont
House in Galveston, and was TO address
/ the people the night after the Star Of the
West left. 1t was reported that be
I has at last succumbed to the VIII
/ III the Deople. and intended making red
/ hot secession speech
The following Is an extract Of letter
! sent 10 one of the Galveston Artlllerlsts
/ by his father the day the Star Of the
/ West left:
/ cen. Sherman has authority 70 put
/ 100 men 70 work throwing up em6ank-
/ nnents on the beaeh-bags and barrels are
going ont to be filed and cannon are be-
ing placed in position
4 watch. under charge Of the cutter,
j. being kept night and day on top o.
/ Hensley's building. for vessels o. war aE-
I T.roaobfng when in sight, two guns on
/ the public square VII cal the people 70
arms
SAN Houston is at the fremont House
+ Cushing. Of the Telegraph, saw hin yes
terdav and telegraphed down TINS morn
ing that it j. all lie about sam oeihg i1 :
league and correspondence with Lincoin-
Lieut. Maclfn. who came through rom
/ San Antonio. reports that all estern
/ and Northern Texas Is little better than
military camp-the people organizing foi
for war everywhere