The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-01-29
Correspondence Of the " Y Herald
Running the BlOckade-Rlew she Peusaeola
Got Out Of the Potomac.
Fortre: $ Monroe Jan. Is

Fortress Monroe, Jan. Is, 1862.
The United States steamer Pensacola left her
anchorage of Alexandra, Va On the morning
OF the llth of January She had been DELAYED
few days by dense iog. and it was feared that
some OF the plans for passing the batteries OF the
Potomac would be frustrated. The weather be.
came fine on the afternoon of the llth, and the
ship was anchored of the White House. sbout
seven niles above Indian Head. aud out O. sight
OF the enemy. She had already been painted
black, oven 10 the inside of her ports Her gill
work, outside. was covered with black. The air
ports were entirely closed upon the inside. and
not a raw OF light wss allowed TO be seen. Even
the lights OF the binnscles we're completely COW
cred, merely allowing the smallest place for the
man at the wheel To read the compass
At midnight on the 18th she weighed anchor
and headed for the batteries down the river.
The speed of the slip was 50 Wen timed that.
when she nesred the first battery on Cockpit
Point, the moon went down and IL high VA
ter. She had no, foot of water under her keel
at this point OF the river. Two small tugs we're
lashed on the port side to provide against sny
accident. The suspense WAS great ss che ap.
preached the batteries. The light of the bate
~ was in full view. and soon il began {, bear
abeam, when il was suddenly ex,inguished. and
the first shell csme singing along, AMI passed q
lew inches above the smoke stack. The guns OF
the Pensacola had been kept trained upon the
supposed position of the enemy, aud the execu-
tive officer gave the order to the divisions TO fire.
Quicker than thought the captain, who was the
very devil Of GOODNESS Itself coantermandei the
order, quickly observing that the enemy wished
to draw our fire, in order 10 reveal our position.
The men, leck-string in hand. oheyed the ccun-
ter order. Then came another shell from the
same point. passing clean over head, through
the riggong, but a dead ire shot
Tn. engineers were now put To their best and
the shin moved a; an eleven knot speed, az quiet
as death The tugs were compelled TO keep dowl
their steam, in order TO keep them quiet.
, pause followed, aud Cockpit Point battery
vas passed and became silent.
The gres, batteries of Transport and Shipping
Point were reared. Only The bluff Of the last
could be distinguished We passed il abeam
J and as il became qua-tering sheet Of flame
lighted up the darkness of the land, aud the sho
and shell flew through the rigging and AROUND
the lower mastheads aud lower yawls.
Observing this, we kne~ that the huh Of Oh,
5 good ship was safe for unless We fired the ele
: walton of the enemys guns could not he recui
ed For all this il was a severe trial for officer
and men, TO stand with guns trained upon thei
ASSISTANTS and not deliver reply. There neve
was a ship in better train Tor a conflict, or NOR
s deliberately governed BY officers. We all kne'
Q the government did not wish the ship to be criT
pied in the Potomac at any price, and We fe
that she must be reserved for a battle grouu
where 10 shell would be thrown away in dara
|, ness.
4 The firing OF the rebel batteries was certainl
. magnificent. The last shll fired was an eigi
=; FOUNDER, rifle aud came direct astern, passin
between the mizen topmast and the topmast ril
cling, barely clearing the main aud fore
g a direct line. and struck the water just ship
!, length ahead.
The safety Of the Pensacola is due to the pr
cautions taken to conceal her huh, 10 the SCUM
Judgment and coolness OF her officers who guide
her through the passage, and TO the simple bl
G natural skill in which she was handled. sing
CLEAN of light or a puff from the steam pip'
:, Of the tugs would have drawn upon her beaut
inl hull the unerring shell of the enemy
At half pas, five on Sunday morning the sh
was pas, all danger, and the only memento le
by the rebel batteries, which had been montl
I erecting for her destruction, single musk
I. ball. which landed upon her deck from shrapn
!, that burst over her
Such was the passage of the Pensacola dow
e the Potomac past the boosted batteries Of Il
\, enemy, and she now lies quietly at her anch'
A, of Fortress Monroe.