The New York herald., 1862-11-06
THE EXPEDITION TO SABINE PASS.

THE EXPEDITION 10 SABINE PASS.
-~r~~~~~~-~~>-~>>~~>~~-~~-
Fuu Details or tho Naval Movements
that Led 20 she cspture, &c
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENTS.
OS BOARD UNraD srArxs MoerAs ScaoouRl
HENRI Jams, SABNE Pass, Texas. sept. ~, 1902 !
TAs Rscew Rioctads Of TEXAS Partially Jrsgecsal
Op~uttoMs ofSke Mortar ftOtGys-Cruiss or tAe Tccs'
Csa3-Ths PaSs0gs Of S0bGnc Pdss--TM M9At-Txe
Lardimg- -Erpsditsor % DESTROY As Rasreaa Bridge,
&C., DC.
You doubtess wiu have heard through rebel sources
OF the battle al this place this YOU Since tho
breaking out Of the rebellion hundred tous
powder arms II proportion and provisions In large qan
titles have been INTO this harbor and even Vie aos
that the yellow fever has ragged here for tho past month
or 20, and being brought from Havana, proves proty
eonclusivey that she blockade has not beoa secua
- might have been. Avessel of light drausht could
have had psss moaey 70 any extent BY remaining asar
the buoy.
The mortar 6otia, ~ IN "e6sctivs arm of ths ~.
vice." 10 doubtless fresh the memory Of hs people
taking such active part N ths reduction o Forts jack
and st. Philip, well aso q vicksburg You are
that several Of the mortar vessels n Northern
waters at this e The balance have been at Pensaocaa
since the nrss part Of August We have acted WITH aad
. mortar schooner been IN ali the engagements the
not has encountered since tho commission Of tho ves
sell besides several expediions In which we acted
very credabs part per report Of several oorrsspoa
dents tho New York papers. Captain Pennington. Of
this vessel being energetic ocer and wishing 70 80
active ssrvics applied 70 Lieutenant Bresse. COM
mandag second division mortar Aotla, for orders y
cruise the osast 0 Texas he being familiar with al sf
s harbors having been In the cotton trade between the
poss Of this State and New Orleans for number Of years
while In the merchant service.
Permission being granted. SAIL the 1sth inst,
with orders proceed direct Sabine bar and there
await the arrival Of Commander Renshaw. who commands
that portion Of the Hota Remaining In the Gu
Arriving of the bar Sept. 81, discovered rcbel
steamer lying inside the harbor Capt. Pennington ct
improvssA secesh dag, hoping that hs might dsooy
her within range Of guns Seeing tho stars and bars
at our topmast head, the steamer at up her
colors and steamed towards W rapidly - possible
Being compelled 70 60 about 70 prevent running
aground the steamer pied quarter boats, when she
turned having come within about two and half miles
OF vessel and with all speed sought protection undof
the guns Of the battery We have since learned she was
loaded with cotton and about 70 run the blockade
On Monday morning. at seven O'clock steamer hove In
sight, which proved be the United States steamer Ken.
sington, Acting Master Crocker, who came ABOARD
and informed Captain p that ho had orders from Admi-
Farrgut TO blockade the port and practicable attack
Rachel Seaman, Acting Master Hooper. in
the ong Captain Crocker very desrous Of having
s s n @
being 10 remain of the jbar until the arrival Of tho
steamers Captain considered well before coming 70
decision but finally assentsd to CO operate in the attack
The Rachel arriving that night
the bar the following day. The next morning, the wind
beng light we forced wait for strong breeze
force her through the mud. About three O'Clock that a
succeeded In getting about half way
but the favorable breeze that we had at starting
vim nut In n calm Wa nm IN bar
where we lay until the following day. The Rachel
Seaman passed in few minutes, here being plenty
Of her. and anchored inside the habor Of
range Of the battery. The next morning the wind
still light but three O'Clock, squau striking from
the northeast passed over In tine style While on the
bar we fred three shell from mortar. The first one
Captain Pennington has since learned burst over the
battery, low down and nearly buried % the powder boy
yards from the ortcation and at i've O'Clock prepared
10 open fire. As the rebels saw US training
falling little short, and before firing the second shell
they up and at aganthis time with more
cess, several OF their shot passed over us Their
position 70 Are upon them. This fact was communicated
to Capt. P. by citizen who was 10 tho battery a. the
time OF the attack We also oponcd 6re from long thr
but could not reach them by several hun
yards. The Seaman opened the battery from her
from the former and two from the latter which fell short
The rebels seemed to have particular hatred Of tho
pasa S::usy and win % effect a. forty
minutes past six T. the snsmys battery was siencsd
but we kept up he - attack until seven ?. NJ, when We
hs boats comprising the nrs and second cutters running
forced 70 return without accomplishing the purpose
visited tho battery and found the armament 10 consist or
With 4: c They had
also thrown al their grape canister and shot In the river
which are visible At low water O1e thousad pounds
Of powder we're found, which Captain Pennington tO0k
Visiting the town, Captain Pennington was well ro-
csived, all shaking hands with him. About forty I've
Of the nhabitants remain. They stated that as an
old trader he was welcome, but ~ United States
' ne; D asy TIE e. =.
bursting as terrible, louder possible than the report
Nothing Of interest transpired until the night Of
the 27th, when an expedition was proposed TO burn
Q bridge, which the railroad crosses ten miles
prasc. should be- carried out ss we had been informed
that the rebels about TO send some two thou
sand troops 70 drive US from our position in the har
conclusion was arrived at in regard 10 the destruction
Of the bridge. Capt. Pennington consrrng with Capt.
Hooper the latter promised boat and assist
After duly muing and executing the prelimnariss
necessary occasion Of this kind, everything being
cutter and the seamans boat, ali under The command Of
Captain p proceeded the lake. The utmost qut
nscss,asy ss they would cert, certainly be ,ed on 4 disco
ously landed expecting every minute 70 be attacked
they supposed that point 70 be guarded by strong
fed every preparation was made to Are ,he bridge After
the object had teen accomplished OF the men hear
ing person cough communicate the fact 70 the Captain
when ho ordered the house from which the sound pro-
ceedsd TO be surrounded. On entering two mon and
boy found, who brought down TO tie boats
From thern we learned that the had been far
tho bridge the day BEFORE at four O'Clock NJ, aud
also that Colonel Spaghts who had charge Of the forces
at this point was at the bridge that night mail
captured coming in which contained Galveston Houston
and Louisiana papers to the oath inst, well al
twenty-five letters which contained valuable inor
nation. After seeing that the destruction Of the bridge
certain and also boarding two schooners which we're
found 70 be worthless, the expedition started on It's
turn, arriving at the vessel ~ FIVE O'Clock A. NJ 10