Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-19
The. Battle OF the Passes~The Enemy,s
Account,
Tfoa De New 0rleans Pioayune, o.. 10.

Ffo2 the New Orleans Pic2yune, oc.. l6
We are indebted to the courtesy of Gen. Twiggs
for the following telegrsphic dispatches received
from Col. Duncan, commanding at Fort Jackson:
Fort JACKSON, Oct. 14-s o'clock T. N.
To Major General D. E TWiggs:-About 10 o'clock
Saturday morning, while the fight was progressing
in the Southwest Pass, DR.. Bradbury was arrested
m n small boat about mile below the Head of he
Passes. by the u S. Steamer Mcclellan, Capt. Gray
formerly of the Star of the West, commanding. At
ter taking him prisoner. the steamer put about and
went out of Pass a-L'Outre and around to the
Southwest Pass, Immediately going alongside of the
Richmond. The following information is therefore
reliable as the enemy's account:
The Richmond was struck by the ram instead of
the Preble. She was struck little abaft of the
fore chains small indent9ton in her copper is Wis
ble; her great injury being below the water line
1t with great exertions only that she WAS kept
aloat gong down the Pass, and she wss there ruH
aground to save her. The Vincennes also went
aground and her guns were thrown out to tighten
her Some time Saturday every preparation was
MADE TO blow her up-a match having been actual
" applied to the train which accidentally went out.
This Wss stated by one Of her own officers.
don't know If any one was injured on the yes
sells One of our shells burst in the cabin OF the
Richmond The South Carolina and Mcclellan were
both required to get off the Vincennes. The Nc
Clellsn got off the Richmond; they got off Sunday
about 10 O'clock, as seen from the Southwest Pass
Station. This morning the Richmond was all by
the stern; bows out of water. The Mcclellan
brought out two rifled cannon, which gave the
greatest satisfaction. the officers saying they
now ready for the Ivy. The guns were taken on
board the Richmond immediately and placed in po-
sition. The doctor thinks the bore of the guns is
about three inches say six Founders, the mstes
OF the one on the Water Witch; they certainly do
not exceed twelve pounds.
Dr. Bradbury was treated with the greatest cour.
tesY, more as guest than as a-prlsoner, and was
allowed TO leave after the Richmond and Vincennes
got off the bar The U. S. clipper ship Nightingale
is aground on the outermost east mud Jumps of the
S. w. Pass. The enemy's account of the battle of
Santa Rosa is that our force made very bold and
brilliant attack but were repulsed with great loss
a boat having got aground the receiving of our
troops which was fred on from the beach with
great effect. They acknowledge that Billy Wilson
ran 10 his shirt and that another regiment between
him and the fort did the fighting
J. K. DUNCAN, Col Commanding.
Col. Duncan's dispatch to Gen. Twiggs gives the
enemys account of the results of ths battle of the
Passes If it is to be relied upon, it makes the
succees of the Confederates greater, in some re-
spects, than we have counted on, in the damage
done to the VinCenDes, and especially that to the
Richmond, which was the best and the best armed
ship there, being q new steamer while the VIM
ceHnes and the Prebe were sailing ships rather old
If the Richmond has received the damage reported
she vii, have to be taken Of for repairs.
It's & suspicious circumstance that nothing what
ever s said OF the Prebie, which it is all but
tam was the snip struck DY the Manassas. What has
become Of the Prebe? Did she sink?
It is not believed here that the Richmond was
struck ny the ram at all. If she be so damaged as
is reported, 1t must be by shell or shot.
There may be some uncertainties left as to the
particular amount of damage inflicted on the block
aiding feet by the attack of Commodore Hollins; but
that It was great, and hugely dsprOpOrtioned to
Cv comparative force of the Gssaants is confessed
by themselves. The more We think of it the more
striking is the daring gallantry with which the
ne liton was planned and executed. On the Fede
raj side the disgrace must be bitter than the
loss even if it had been of two three ships. If
their officers had shown pluck or their men cou-
rage the disasters might have been set down to the
fortunes of war, and no calling reflections remain
behind but from the bagInnIng they had Bull Run
panic.
With three large armed vessels, carrying forty
guns, they took to flight st the approach Of little
fleet, composed merely of raced fowl boats, ard
rying altogether not more guns than one of their
runaway ships. Ii did not used to be SO, with the
navy of the Uniteu States when the Southern blood
warmed its heart. It would never have turned tail
with such precipitancy, at least without knowing
who was coming upon them. We are almost asham-
ed for the common interest used to have in that
navy, that it should nave scampered off in such
haste and never stop to fight the little fellows that
were after them, URtil they got stuck in the mud.
and could not run away further. These forty guns
then opened on the squadron, with the results stat
IN the enemies own accounts, which so far at
least authentic IS to admit heavy damage, sus~
tanned only when they could run no further!
They might nave better risked heavier loss by
anding up a little while at least gainst the tow,
toat squadron, than have suffered the shame Of
Ich defeat.
WHARF, is the Preble?