The New York herald., 1862-03-21
THE FLORIDA CAMPAIGN.
Onieiai Reports OF the Ohicers OF Comno-
dore Duponts squRdron-Inf fcrcsting
Particulars of the Operations ON the
Const Of the Peninsula, &C., sc.
COxMANpER pRAYroN's REpnRT.
UNITED STATES STEAMER PAwSEr.

UNITED STATES STEAMER PAwSEE,
fERSASDNI, March 4, 1862.
siR--rn obedience TO your order Of the "a March
! left at daylight on the next morning, accomps-
MED by the following gnbosts and other light draft
vessels. viz,--The Ottawa, Lieutenant Commanding
T. II. stevens Seneca, Lieutenant Commanding ID.
Ammsn Huron, lLieutsnsnt Commanding G. Downss
Pembns, Lieutenant Commanding J. 7. B,nkhead;
Isaac Smith, Lieutenant Commanding j. W. A. Nichoi
son; Penguin, Lieutenant Commanding T. A. Bddd.
There also with three armed launches Of The
Wabash and company OF sailors, all under the com.
msnd Of Commander c. r. p Rodgers Of that vessel az
wen the transports Mcclellan Captain Cray on board
Of which the battalion OF marines Of Major J. @.
Reynolds the Boston, wi Tia the Ninety seventh Pcnnsyl
regiment Colonel Guss and the armed cutter Hen
retts Captain Bennett We proceeded At once down the
Cumberland Sound The cation, however proved to
be quite intricate and Lesdes the Pswnse Ottawa aud
Huron (the latter the only with a pilot, except my.
self were alone able TO the fats at tho dividing
line between the tides that meet in the Sound from the
North and South.
with these continued on until al three O'Clock, and
when only three mcs distant from Fort Clinch sllSsx.
Cept the ~ ava grounded, and az the tide falling
hoTe was little hope OF getting hem on until its change
determined, therefore, TO push in that vessel with
the three armoi launches OF the Wabash On approach
ing Fort ClnCh it evidently dcscrtcd thai would
not stop b merely sent Lieutenant G. NJ white OF the
Ottawa, on shore, with an armed boat, TO hoist tho
american nag there, signal to yourself NJ anchor out
side "a tls Mohicsn This he did and returned 70 the
vessel later
On coming in sight Of Old Fernaudins a white flag was
displayed BY some person shore shortly after and
when passing New Fernandina, n few rife shots were
fred from some bushes, and railroad train was dis
covered just starting As II naturally supposed 10
contain soldiers escaping directed Lieutenant Com.
mandng stevens 10 try and stop ~ snd the road pass-
ing FOR some distance near tho river, aud we going
at full speed there was opportunity of firing several
shots at the two locomotives attached TO the train which,
SSoh four miles from tho own 's ssa wss
lost IN tho woods the other edo We afterwards
found ths track the bodies Of two mcn who had been
killed by our shots, Of whom soldier and the
report was that ex-senator Yulce board one Of
the cars and had also been struck but this think, was
O MISTAKE.
In the meantime small steamer discovered at
tempting TO escape up the creek ovef which the
railroad bridge passes, the draw Of which she went
through very after the train had crossed Several
shots we're sd her without effect aud as the Ottawa
could not 20 up the creek Commander Rodgers followed
hcr with Two Of his armed boats captured and brought
her aipDgsle. She found 10 be hled principally
win women aud Children, butalso had op soarde sgr