Washington telegraph., 1862-12-24

western OF the 18th inst, we have news
from Galveston, as late as the 4th. The
Federal vessels then in port, were the
two ferry gunboats, West6eld and Gin.
ton, the steamer Harriet Lane, the pro-
peiier Owasse, the barque Island City,
and pilots schooner. They are 10 con-
tinual dread Of an attack By the Confed-
crates from the bay.
On the night Of the LIST instant, the
city was shelled from these vessels. Some
twelve or fifteen shot were fred into the
middle of the town, injuring many Of
the buildings, and causing great conster-
nation amongst the inhabitants. Many Of
The women and children fed to the
prairie for protection. We do not learn
that any lives we're lost.
The alleged cause Of this Smelling, is
as follows: A large number Of citizens
AID deserters from the Confederate army
have assembled at point called Kuhn
wharf, aud placed themselves under the
protection of the Federal guns. They
seem to form a sort Of separate commu-
nifty, being supplied occasionally with
meat from their friends in the city, which
goes through them to the Federals and
IN default of supplies from The city, they
live upon salt meat aud biscuit, furnish ed
from the vessels Of cours, they are
held In contempt By the true Southern
citizens, who remain 10 the city, and the
federal officers feel a corresponding obli-
CATION to protect them from violence.
1t happened on the night above men
toned, citizen passing near Kuhn's
wharf, was hailed by sentinel, aud
ordered to stand. lie refused, and the
sentinel fred pistol at him, which he
returned by shot from double barreIed
gun. Those 90 the wharf fred ia return,
and this was quickly followed by the
Smelling of the city from the federal
boats
FROM the following dispatch, it seems
that the Federnls regret the occurrence,
and are heartily tired Of their mongrel
pets:
Thursday night, Dec. 4, 1867. Last
Thursday, deputa ton, consisting Of
Mr. Grover, our mayor, Major Watkins,
OF Gen. Magruder'- staff, and Others,
waited upon Capt. Renshaw, to know the
reason the city was fired upon. The
deputation was very politely received,
under flag Of truce. Capt. Renshaw' :
answer is said TO have been an apology.
He said he was At Pelican Split at the
time, but that he Immediately got irto a
boat, aud proceeded 20 the vessel that had
commenced the firing, and asked the
cause that the officer ia command said
he had fired because the pee pie on the
wharf had been fired upon that he
Capt Ren,haw, tod him lie should OF
have tired until ~ attack was made on
himself; THAI lie should not have fired
Into the town. The officer hen was put
under arrest; and Capt. X. assured rh4
deputatiou thar such a. 0ccnrrenr should
net again take place. it POSSIBLE to BE-
avoided aud that, at all events, the
women and children should not he fred
upon.
To avoid any further difficulty Of the
kind. 1t is said, and | believe it is true,
that Capt. RenShaw has ordered thar thr
men on the wharf shall take the oath 20
support the Lincoln government, and
then be sent away wherever they prefer
to go, ut shall not remain there. And
that, in case of refusal to take tile oath,
they shall be sent back to town. They
are, therefore, IN some sort Of i quandary
Communication still remains open be-
tween our forces aud the main land
y Confederate schooner lately ran into
Sabine Pass, rst being nware that It was
IN possession Of the enemy. aud was cap
ired.