Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-05
From the Apa1achiola Times of Sept. 25th.l

| from the ApaIachiola Times of Sept. 25th.l
The C. 5. PrIvateer ssF. s. Bartow,,
Fired into by the u. ;. War steamer
| "R. X. CuyIer.,'
The following particulars were furnished
us by one of the party engaged in the expe-
| dition:
On Tuesday, the 9th inst, detachment of
| fifteen men, from the Perry Artillery, under
command of First Lieut.. B. F. Simmons. was
| ordered to cruise with the privateer F. S.
| Barlow, between tina eastern and western en-
frances of our harbor. Soon after leaving
| the city, however, subsequent order was
| transmitted to the officer in command to
communicate with the keeper OF the Dog Is
| land Light House, for the purpose of learn
| ing the movements of the blockading steamers.
| On approaching Dog Island, on Wednes-
| day morning, the U. S. war Steamer r. r.
| Cuyler was discovered lying at her usual an
| chorage, outside tie East Pass bar. 1t being
the prevailing opinion among the officers of
the Barlow that the Cuyler could not pass
| over the bar on account of her draft of wa.
| ter, the schooner was kept on her course and
was fast nearing the Light House. 1t was
| soon discovered, however, that the Cuyler
| was steaming in rapidly, and as retreat to-
! words Apalachiola was deemed impractical
BILE, on account of the light wind, the sChoon :
eI COuTs0 was ulTSCIeU IOE CEOOheu
A few minutes after, the Cuyler ran up the
U. S. flag and opened fire on the schooner
with her rifled cannon. The first shot passed
between the masts Of the Barlow, and struck
| short distance beyond.
In the meantime the Bartow's "a FOUNDER
was loaded, and the schooner prepared for
action, although the Cuyler was beyond the
range of our metal. The steamer now open
ed her broadside upon the schooner, and the
shots fell thick and fast around her in every
direction, but without doing any damage
Finding that resistance was useless, the order
was given for the yawl to be hauled forward
for the purpose of abandoning the schooner
In the execution of which, by some inexpli-
cable accident the painter was not made fast
and the boat drifted astern. Soon after the
schooner grounded. The gun was then Or
dered to be fired, and retreat made to the
shore distance of half mile. AS soon as
our purpose was discovered by the enemy, his
shot was directed to US in the water, several
OF which struck only few yards behind u,
While in the water two of the steamers boats
were lowered, but almost Immediately hoist
ed, and her course turned towards the bar
On reaching the shore, the officer obtained a
SKIN, and with two men returned to the yes
sci. The skiff was Immediately sent in pur-
suit OF the lost boat, which was soon recov-
cred and sent ashore TO convey the men back
to the schooner. On their return, finding
the tide rising, portion of the ballast was
thrown overheard, the schooner hove off and
towed up Crooked River distance of half a
mile
Parties on shore who had witnessed the en-
gagement stated that twenty-seven shots
were fred by the Cuyler, out of which six
shells were seen to explode.
The next morning about 8 o'clock, the Guy
Ter Was discovered steaming westward, as
was believed, and which subsequently, ap-
peared, for the purpose of bringing the
steamer Montgomery. at West Point, to as
sist her, she being of lighter draft.
News having reached the city of our stu
alton, a detachment of ten men each from
the Apalachicola Guards and Perry Artille-
~ arrived in boats that evening about four
O'Clock. An hour afterwards the Cuyler re-
turned, followed by the steamer Montgomery,
which soon passed her, and ran in and anch-
ored within half mile of the entrance of
Crooked river. the former anchoring about
one mile astern. A night attack by boats
being now considered probable, the Barlow,
as soon as darkness approached, was toWed
some distance up the river and scuttled.
A picket guard was. then stationed to
watch the movements of the enemy, and the
main body lay in ambush on the river bank.
Later in the night the pickets came in re.
porting the landing of several boats, which, |
however, proved uufOunded, although early
the next morning the steamers boats We're
seen sounding the mouth of the river. At
daylight as nothing further could be accom-
plished, detachment was left in charge of
the schooner, and the remainder of the party
marched overland to Vents, distance of if
teen miles, from which point they reached
the city in boats.
A sufficient force has since been sent to |
raise the schooner, and we expect, in few
days, to report her arrival alongside the |
wharf, again ready for whatever duty may
be assigned her.