Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-01
Brilliant Naval Expeditisu-Ths Rebel
Pftynteer Judith DetFsyed.

The u. g. sunboat Rhode Island, which az
rived in New York Saturday night, brings the
following intelligence Of the capture and de-
structon Of the privafeer Judith at Pensacola,
on the night Of the 18th:
Three barges from the Colorado, containing
twenty sailors and sixty FIVE marines. under the
command Of Lieut. Pusse:l, arrived at Fort Pick
ems, where they remained some time, awaiting a
favorable hour for the expedition Each barge
grape and shrapnel.
About one O'Clock in the morning the expedi-
ton left the fort, and made their way towards
the navy yard Arriving within few hundred
yards, the boats separated, one making for the
schooner Judith, lying alongside the dock, a
short distance off from the battery where the ten
inch columbiad Is mounted The second boat
headed for the dock, while the third lay OF
short distance, to cover the retreat with her gun.
They were espied by the sentries when of hun
dred yards or thereabouts, and hailed. The an
swer was given, ''Guard boats;n and, as they had
crept up near the island shore, some distance
above the navy yard, and came down as IL from
Pensacola, they Were mistaken for guard boats
approaching from the latter place, until but
few yards interviewed between them and their
respective destinations. A sentry upon the dock
first discovered the mistake, and fred his musket
at the boat approaching him, then turned to give
the alarm, but was stopped by a well aimed
bullet
The men sprapg ashore Just as the long roll
sounded to alarm the soldiers stationed there.
and one man, before prepared, proceeded to spike
IT Just az he had most effSctually com pleted bis
JOB, Confederate ofhcer-rushing ahead of his
men, who were congregating from all directions
few hundred feet oR-confronted him The ma
rine turned, drew his cutlass, and cut him down;
then hastily followed his comrades into the boat
and put of from shore, followed by shower Of
lnusket balls. Meanwhile the crew of the other
boat which had taken the schooner In charge
were not quite so successful. On nearing the YES
sci some twelve or fifteen shots were fred at them,
three others. They kept on, however. under a
CALLING fire, boarded the schooner, cut down two
or three Of its crew who failed to make their e.
cape, then collecting all the combhstible material
they could find set fire to IL in the cabin; after
which, they cut the schooner loose and let her
drift away from her moorings They then en-
bdrked again In the boat, bearing with them one
man, killed aboard the vessel, Il 10 said by mis-
take, he being taken for one Of the rebels and cut
down by his friends
Lieut.. Russell was wounded quite severely In
the shoulder; Captain Reynolds was also slightly
wounded by musket ball while Tetreating The
enemy, several hundred strong had by this time
come together, and kept up a rafting volley Of
inusket'v uPon them. Word wss now given to
pay them back; the howitzeTs were broug bt TO
Dear upon the dark mass congrepa ted upon the
dock: they quickly belched forth their contents
which did tartul execution. There Is no way Of
estimating the result but Ii Is supposed that 60 or
40 were put h0rS dR combat. The men now bent
to the oars with will, rounding the point Of land
upon which Fort Pickens is situated, and headed
or for their vessel.
The schooner was completely DESTROYED. She
was OF about $50 tons burthen, and had on board
one pivot and four brOadsde guns Her loss will
be very much felt by the rebels