The Portland daily press., 1862-06-30
OFF WILMINGTON BAR, n. c.,

Z. 5. s. Victoria May Is, 1862.
MY DEAR SIR: AtsA. NJ weighed anchor,
to stand off to sea, and whilst in the act of do
ing so, the fog lifted, flor it was very foggy)
and we saw steamer close in under the land,
steering directly for Port CasweI, under full
full head Of steam. l Immediately started
ahead for the purpose of cutting her of, hold
ing her under my guns, for she was not more
than mile of, when first discovered. The u.
S. Steamer "State of Georgia. saw her about
the same time, and Immediately fired at her, of
which the chase took no notice. then gave
orders to fire on her, with her with our 80
FOUNDER rifled gun forward. The shell passed
over her amidships, but she still kept on her
course. We then fired again at her. The shell
this time, fell right under her bows She still
kept on without regarding our firing. Our
next shot was good line shot but passed over
her. The State of Georgia all this time was
sending shot and shell thick and fast around
her. Our fourth shot struck the water and RI
cocheted over her decks. She Immediately
hauled down her flag and hore to for stopped
her engine.) At that moment discovered
boat filed with men pulling from the steamer
to the shore. / Immediately gave orders to
fire upon the boat Our first shell passed over
and burst in the woods, but the fourth shot
struck the boat, falling directly in the midst of
the crew, who had just landed The people
on board the steamer told us afterwards that
one man was killed and one wounded and that
the rest fed into the woods in every direction
The boats were Immediately sent and took
possession of the steamer, which proved TO be
the confederate steamer " Gordon" which has
so often and so successfully run the blockade;
she has however recently changed her name
TO " Nassau of n. p" She was loaded with
Enfield Rifles, ammunition, clothing, &c., for
the Confederate army. She had ON board
large number of persons, although several had
escaped by the boats. There still remained on
board thirty, including two ladies. One of
them was young woman, the daughter of
John M. Maffitt, formerly Lieutenant in the
United States Navy, recently of the Confede-
rate Mosquito feet, and the other was widow
Knox, probably in pursuit of husband. Mr..
Law of Savannah, formerly of the firm of
Claghorn a. Co. of s., was also passenger,
and claimed to be an Englshman Also there
was Mr.. Waters, very important individual.
who appeared to have the control of the cargo
and the few remaining papers on board.
The steamer was taken off TO a safe anchor
age and coaled from the State of georgia"
sufficient to take her to New York Lieuten-
ant Haxton and an Assistant Engineer, with
ten men from the State of Georgia. also two
Master Mates, an Assistant Engineer and nine
men from U. S. steamer q Victor was sent on
board as prize crew, and at 1-2 O'Clock on
and started for New York.
The Nassau" was commanded by Capt
Walker, the celebrated SLAYER, who has passed
under the names Of "Capt. Williams" "Capt.
Hope and several other aliases No one was
hurt on board the steamer, and the loss of life
of those who attempted to escape in the boat,
though much to be deplored,w was only occasion
ed by conscientious discharge of what felt
to be my duty. 1t was only owing to fortu-
nate raising of the fog just at the time it did,
that we succeeded in capturing the steamer.
Had the fog lasted twenty or thirty minutes
longer, she would have passed under the guns
of Port Caswell and have escaped us. As it
was i had chased her into about 10 or 20 feet
of water, and my boat drew IL feet. This
Capt. Walker is one of their chief Williams, and
recently arrived at Nassau from Liverpool,
with large cargo for the rebels of which this
is supposed TO be a part He left his own
steamer (the Fanny Lewis) at Nassau to take
sI... -. yu~.t-
the balance. 1t was lucky "grabr when we
took this Goliath of Rebellion. If he does
not succeed in retaking the steamer, which l
have no doubt he will attempt to do, the rebels
have lost one Of their chief Decils, i. e. one of
their chief Sea Derils. The former Captain
who took her out, j. NJ. Maffit, hadn't the
pluck to take her back, but sent his daughter
to claim the courtesy of the Navy, if taken,
and thereby save herself from imprisonment.