Newbern weekly progress., 1861-10-29
j. Bk0OBFiELD, Capt. Co. D,
9Th Reg. n. c. State Troops.
WHAT Is SAID IN THE NORTH OF THE
CONFEDERATE NAVAL VICTORY OFF
NEW ORLEANS


The Northern papers have the full Southern
account Of the recent naval exploit off New
Orleans. The New York Herald thus COM
ments, editorally, on the news:
The Richmond Examiner, of the 14th inst,
which has been received by flag of truce con
tans dispatch of naval combat between the
rebel vessels off New Orleans, under command
of Captain Hollins, on Friday last, and the U.
S. blockading squadron in which Captain Hol-
Inns claims that he had dispersed and drove
ashore the vessels Of the squadron, and sunk
the sloop pofwar Preble with his iron-clad yes
sci. The intelligence from New Orleans, by
way of Norfolk, if true, is by no means of
agreeable nature. 1t is the rebel commanders
account of his own performance, and must be
taken with considerable allowance of salt.
Now, it must seem strange to the reader {;
first, that in such victory no rebel was killed
wounded and, secondly, that if the inser-
gent Commodore successful, he could
not capture the Union fleet at once, disabled
as it was, but, on the contrary, found it nee
eSSary to re :reat for relniOrcenlentS. If this
statement be true, he will probably find he
has committed a blunder in coming up for re-
Inducements instead of finishing the work him
SELF for, by the time mis- reinforcements get
down the Mississippi, the Federal ships will
have been burned by their commanders, and
their armament and ammunition destroyed
while the officers and crews have escaped to
the Gulf, with the aid of their boats. The
blockading squadron consisted of the Vincin-
nes, twenty guns, and Preble, sixteen guns
sailing vessels, and the Steamers Richmond
twenty guns, Water Witch and Massachusetts,
Of the Steamers the Richmond is an ilrpor, ant
vessel, though very slow, the other two
of small account
That there fight, and that some disas-
ter has happened, is probably true, but till
the report comes from the Union side we must
regard the account in the Richmond paper as
a great exaggeration. 1t is evident that the
New Orleans rebels had learned all about the
expeditions which are being fitted out at the
North, and this stroke to anticipate them
by striking blow and winning small victory
which when duly exaggerated, might keep up
the spirits of the people who they are deluding
from day to day. Hollins calls it 6 a complete
success" Now, what was promised on the
part of the iron steamer and the rest of the
Hotilla? 1t was announced that they would
destroy the Brooklyn and raise the blockade,
and keep the port open; too, the steamer with
her iron plough, running down every Federal
ship-ofwar that would venture to await her
onset. It does not appear whether it was
by his guns or by his iron plongh that Captain
Hollins sunk the Preble As for the Brook
lyn, she was not there but the Richmond
which replaced her, is not said to be destroyed.
She probably draws too much water to ascend
to the head of the Pass, and is likely to be
still at the mouths, waiting for the iron steam
er to come ont. Hollins, however, deemed it
prudent to return to New Orleans instead of
taking that course. Nor does it appear that
even the capture Of the fort is part of his
"complcte succe." Such vaunting upon the
insufficient means in the hands of the rebel
| commander is OF piece with the gaseonade of