Newbern weekly progress., 1862-05-03
Capture or ApaIachleoia. {
INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

iNTEhESIlNd - @PA4tIiOOAAh5.N r -
From the New York Herald's Apalachicoia
and Key West correspondence. published yes |
terday, We take the following interesting par.
ticulars of the capture Of Apalachieola, Fla,
by Con'r Stellwagen:--
An expedition vas formed on the night of
April Cd to make an attack on the town OF Ap- |
alacbicola. The expedition was formed Of
scamen from the United States gunooats Aer- |
cedta and Sycamore. 1t was under command
of Commander Stellwagen Of the Mercedita, |
and in charge of Lieut.. Abbot, two acting mas |
ters and two masters mates from the Merced-
ita also Lieutenant Blgelow, Acting Master
Fales. and Masters Mates Slamm and Babson
of the Sycamore. Also six engineers from the
two gunboats and two surgeons.
The town surrendered without making any
resistance, it being almost deserted by the
male population, but full of women and chill
dreu. The fort or sand battery was also dis
mantled, the guns being hurriedly removed up
Apalachicola RIVER. Two schooners wefe cap
tured in Alligator Bayou, near the town, ano
then the launch of the Sycamore, under charge
of Lieutenant Bigelow, with the second cut
| ter. under charge Of Acting Master Fales, pro-
ceeded up Apalachicola river about seven
miles, where they founl several vessels lying
| at anchor, and captured them. One was y
large schooner, partially laden with cotton.
which has cut out from the wharf and towed
down the river by the crew of the Sagamore's
launch. She had forty bales of cotton on
board A sloop was captured which had re-
Gently arrived from Havana with load OF cot
fee, running the blockade. She had also
cleared again for Havana. They afterwards
succeeded in capturing two sloops; and, think
ing they had ventured far enough into the en-
emv's country, they returned down the river.
Commander Stellwagen of the Hercedita and
Lieut. Commanding A. j. Drake of the Saga
more administered the oath OF allegiance to
few of the inhabitants, and preparation are be-
ing made to take formal possession Of the
town.
The greatest distress prevails at Apalachico-
la. One of the enemy captured by our men
, represents that there is not pound of flour
in the place or in the country rear no sugar,
or scarcely provisions enough to keep the in
habitsnts from starvation. The blockade has
been so effectual as to deprive the inhabitants
almost entirely Of the means of subsistence,
with the exception of what food they can get
from the back country. Apalachicola was the
largest commercial town in Florida; but at
present, with no commerce, the town has a
J. desolate appearance. The stores and ware
houses and depots for receiving and exporting
2 cotton are all closed, and no business what
t ever has beon done apparently for the last SIX
F months. The eXertions cf the officers and
crews
, sstance have been made the men were all pre-
+ pared for any attack, and the no oHitzers of the
boats would have distributed shrapnel among
the rebels with great effect. Only two
!, charges of canister were fired at an advancing
party of rebels, from which they fed in con
fusion.
The strong fort was probably deserted wher
the gunboats Mercedlta and Sycamore aP
preached the town. Had the rebels resisted
the approach of the gallant seamen the Saga
3, more would have opened her battery on tht
l. town, and could easily have destroyed th'
\, whole place, laying it in ashes. From the ac
IS tions of s0fse Of the men who came down II
= the whaffwhen our boats landed, it was evi
n dent there was a strong Union sentiment II
the town, although it has been overawed ans
l. downtrodden by the threats of the prominen
3 lrebels.
of Many would have embraced the Union sen
lie timent with heart and soul if they could hav
Of done it safely. There are several steamboat
n some twenty miles up Apalachicola river; bu
= they are etfectually blockaded in the river b.
1t the gunboats, and if they attempt to get ou
they will meet with warm reception.
The contrabands who guided the expedition
e acting as pilots in Apaachicola river, ~er
IT very useful, as they had minute knowledg
h of all the defences and the positions of the yes
st sells. Some of them had been employed o
. the fort and some 10 building rebel gunboa
A' The negroes state the gunboat to be sixt
y miles up the river, 1t is 120 feet long an
H. thirty feet wide has been long time on tn
Il. stocks, and as yet only the hull Is near con-
pletion
small force Of armed rebels came dow
l. and prepared to make an encampment opposlt
ID the anchorage of the Sycamore, farther dow
- the bay, few days since. They were shelle
. Immediately on being discovered. The rebel
d fed in precipitate haste towards Apalachicols
m and, being driven from that place, they hav
now fed to parts unknown.
The expedition was entirely successful, wa
absent thirty six hours and the results spea
k we'll for the patriotism and courage of thos
,r laboring for the restitution of the gloriou
u " Flag Of the Union over every inch of rebe
lious soil.