Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-01
A COMMUNICATION FROM CoMMO-
DOESE DUPONT.

Flag Officer Dupont has sent the following
dispatch TO the secretary of the navy -
FLAGSHIP WABASH, off Mosquito Inlet,
Florida, March "a, 1862 Sir: | have to re.
port to the department some casualties that
have occurred to officers and men belonging
to two of the vessels of my feet-casualtes
as painful as they were unexpected, but the
loss of tine gallant lives has expiated the error
of Judgment which enthusiastic zeal had in.
duced
The department was informed, after the
capture of Fernandina, that as soon as l could
take possession of jacksonville and ST. Au-
gustine, / would give my attention to Mosqu-
to Inlet, 81 miles south of the latter, which,
according to my information, was resorted TO
for the introduction of arms transhipped from
English ships aud steamers at the British col
ony OF Nassau, into small vessels OF light
draught.
| accordingly ordered the Penguin acting
lieutenant commanding A. Budd, and the
Henry Andrew, acting master s. w. Mather,
to proceed to this place, the latter to cross the
bar, establish an inside blockade capture any
rebel vessels there, and guard from ineendia
rism large quantities of live oak timber on the
government land, cut and ready for shipment,
t. which the department had called my atten-
ton.
VII TcdCuliiS mere SELL VII the ga l. was
boarded by the executive officer OF the Pen
gum, and informed that lieutenant command.
ing Budd, with acting master Mather, had
organized an expedition from the two vessels,
and had moved southwark through the inland
passage leading into Mosquito lagoon, passing
Smyrna with four or five light boats carrying
ing in all some torty-three men Soon after
this report, which L heard with anxiety, the
results were developed.
1t appears that after going some fifteen or
eighteen miles without any incident and
while on their return and within sight of the
Henry Andrew, the order of the line being no
longer observed, the two commanding officers
quite in advance landed under certain earth.
works which had been abandoned or never
armed, near dense grove of live oak with
underbrush. A heavy and continuous fire
was unexpectedly opened upon them fcom
both these covers. Lieutenant commanding
Budd, and acting master Mather, with three
OF the five men composing the boats
crew, were killed. The remaining two
men were wounded and made prisoners.
As the other boats came up they were also
fired into, and suffered more OF less. The
rear boat of all had a howitzer, which, how
ever, could not be properly secured or worked,
the boat not being iitted Tor the purpose, and
could, therefore, be OF little use. The men
had to seek cover on shore but as soon as it
was dark, acting masters mate Mcintosh re-
turned to the boats, and brought away the
body of one OF the crew vino had been killed
all the arms, ammunition, and flags, threw the
h0wiJzer into the river, passed close to the
rebI pickets who hailed, but ELECTED no re-
ply, and arrived safely ON board the Henry
Andrew.
On hearing of this untoward event direct
ed commander Rogers to send off the launch
and cutters OF this ship to the support of tile
Andrew. The boats crossed the bar at md.
night, and the next morning the vessel was
hauled close up to the scene Of the last al
tack but no enemy could be discovered. The
bodies of Lieut.. Budd and acting mas Ter
Mather were received Under flag of truce,
and the comm nding officer, a Capt. Bird,
who had come from camp at a distance,
made some show OF courtesy by returning pa
pers and watch as ii ashamed OF this mode
OF warfare Tor these were the very troops
that with sufficient force, means, aud material
for respectable defence, had ingorlously fled
from ST. Augustine on our approach.
| enclose a copy of my instructions to acting
Lieutenant Budd, the original OF which was
found on his person, and was one of the papers
returned by the rebei officer
Lieutenant commanding Budd and acting
master Mather were brave and devoted officers.
The former commanded the Penguin in the
action OF the 9TH of November, and received
my commendation. The latter, in the prime
of life, was man of uncommon energy and
daring, and had no superior probably among
the patriotic men who have been appointed in
the navy from the mercantile marine.
Very respectfully, S. L. DUPONT.