The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-01-04
Yacht" and the Capture of the Not0-
riOus Capt. Tom Chnbb.
In GALVESTON HARBoR !
L. S. Frigate " SANTEE,"
November 20, 1861.


two volunteer crews, with twenty men in
each boat, under the command of Lieut..
James Il. Jouett; left this ship for the
purpose of surprising and capturing the
man. of-war General Rusk, lying under
large fort, and Gu, off from us by three
others, The second launch was in COM
mand of Lieut.. J. e. Mitchell and Mas
er's Mate Adams. When the boats
showed off at midnight, every man felt
that it was the last time we should meet,
and nearly every one had writ en-, as he
thought, his last letter home, and left
il with his messmate in case he should
not return alive. After cropping among
the shoals in The dark for two hours,
wi h mufn ed oars and orders given in u
whisper, they had succeeded in passing
the " Royal Yacht % and the three fors,
but in at cnlrting to get around the
| Eusk, anchored under for, unnoticed,
the boats grounded, and in trying to get
off they were discovered by the oars
making noise. They were now exposed
to the fire of the Rusk aud all the fors
and as Lieut. Jouett knew it would be
folly 10 attempt to take the Rusk, save
by surprise, he gave the order to pull
hard for the schooner. The schooner
Royal Yacht was acting as q guard
schooner at the en- rance of the harbor,
and about six miles from this ship. She
was armed vi h one gun, a thirty-two-
FOUNDER, plenty Of small arms, and a
crew of about twenty-five men. Our
boats pulled down on her fast, and when
wi hin about fifty yards, were fired into
from the schooner. One of our boats
landed on each side Of her, and very
warm fight took place before he crew of
the schooner could be driven below
Mr.. Carter, of Philadelphia, the gunner
in the boat with Lieut.. Jouctt, fred the
boat gun just as the boat was coming
alongside, and made hole in the
schooner at the water line. The firing
Of the gun, JUS at that time, kicked the
boat back, and Carter made desperate
jump and sprang on boad the schooner,
and took it single handed for an iustan.
when Lieut.. Jouett hauled the boat
alongside, and sprang on the deck, cal
ling to the men in the boat 10 coup and
at lhcm," which they did, but five of
his best men were shot down as they
boarded.
As Lieut.. Jouctt sprang on deck, and
ran forward, some one from the cabin
hatch thrus, boarding pike through his
right arm and into his side, pinning haS
arm 10 his side and knocking him off his
feet against the side of the vessel. 1t
was impossible for him to draw back, to
draw i out, so he was forced to spring
forward and break it off, leaving the
| pike licking in his side, which he did.
Ordering three men 20 guard hat hatch,
he ran forward, where he found the
brave Carter holding the forward hatch,
with eight men below. He had driven
them below, and was standing there
with pistol and sword drawn. Lieut..
Jouett, on pulling the pike from his side,
found himself growing very weak from
the loss of so much blood, and sat down
for an instant on the deck but finding
his sight growing dim, he made a great
cxertion and sprang to his feet, deter
mined to finish the work. The prisoners
were all below, and had refused 10 como
up to go in the boats, bu', on Lieut.. j.,
sending shell filled wi eighty bulls
down the hatchway as a hint of what
they might expect, they came up. Al
the prisoners gos into the boat, Zone boa
having left before wi h some wounded
men, and the ship was set on fire fore
and aft after spiking her guns, and tax
ing her arms and flag. She was sinking
and the pilot was wounded, SO they
could not bring her out.
They all got into the boat-thirtec,
prisoners, (three wounded,) and six o
our men wounded.
They were now six miles away from
this ship, head wind and tide, and mel
, nearly exhausted, with more prisoners
, than we'll men, the pilot wounded, ant
the night very dark. Lieut.. Jouct
felt that it would not be possible fol
him to hold out much longer his voice
was failing him, and he dare not let
person know lie was wounded, for fea
the prisoners would take the boat. ii,
could feel the hot blood gushing from
his side at every order he gave. IL
slipped his left hand under his jacket
and placed two fingers, with his flame
shirt, into the wound, to stop he cir an,
blood. Thus he sat for three tong
weary hours, speaking comfort to hi
wounded men, and encouragement t
the oarsmen, giving water to all wh
wanted it. They arrived at the shi)
just after daylight, and we were al
rejoced to see them. The prisoner
were put in irons, the wounded takel
care of, among whom was Lieut.. j., VIII
having held up SO longs gave way af e
all was done, and was carried below, re
fusing to have anything done to hi
wound till the others were attended to
The success of the expedition wa
most complete, and too much praise can
not be given to those brave officers AM
men who volunteered to 60 on so despe
IA c an undertaking as cutting out
ship under four for.s, and near a larg
|, town, exposed to the fire Of all thei
II guns, and some six miles away from tn
!, ship.
The captain of the Royal Yacht is
= notorious fellow, who was at one time j
=, Jail at Bos on, Massachusetts, on tn
&c charge of boarding, in Boston harboi
1t the schooner Saul, taking out the cargo
IT and set ing fire to the vessel. lie wa
If toko,, %o ~ AL I'm bu mann