Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-29
Government Dispatches Received from
the Gulf Flotilla.

the Gulf Flotilla.
WASHINGTON, April 28.-By the arrival of
the steamship Connecticut at Hampton Roads
on Saturday, the navy department has re-
ceved dates from the Mississippi river to the
18th inst, including dispatches from flag off.
Ger Farragut, and Capt. Porter, of the bomb
fotilla. AT that time the steamships Missis-
sippi and Pensacola were over the bar, and
the fiotilla was moving to be in readiness 10
take their positions.
1t appears from these documents that, while
sailing from Ship Island to Pass a'Loutre,
with the mortar hotilla, lieutenant command
ing Guest, in the OwascO leading, the schoon-
err at night chased and captured the two con-
federate schooners Eugenia and President,
loaded with cotton, and bound for Havana,
they having escaped through Britain Island
passage. The captain OF the Eugenia was a
uoted blockade breaker He was commander
of the Miramon when she was captured. He
gave his word of honor to Com. Mexican to
come out of Mobile after getting provisions,
and leave our waters forever. He broke his
word, and N the Eugenia has made several
successful voyages. According to information
obtained from one of the prisoners, the sol.
ders would fight little at fort Jackson, but
when that FELL
people in New Orleans think the rich and
big men would all clear out and leave the rest.
Times are hard there. There is no work eX-
cept for carpenters, who get four dollars per
day working on tile gun6oats. They are paid
in confederate notes, and in many stores these
will not pass. There are five gunboats on
the lake, besides the two new ones not yet
equipped, and good many in the river Some
went up the river a short time ago with the
steam ram and ten thousand men,"
Capt. Morris reports the death of Frederick
Beth, captain of the after guard, and Nicholas
L. Conner coXswain also the injury OF James
Panham and acting master John D. Robertson.
The former sustained confusion in the head,
the latter a fracture of both bones Of the lett
leg. The accident happened on board the
Pensacola by the parting of hawser
Flag officer Farragut encloses a report from
acting master Thomas to lieutenant command
ing Hunter, commanding the steamer Mont
gcmery, of the capture of the schooner Co.
lumbia OF Galveston loaded with cotton and
bound to Jamaica. The expedition was at
tended with much danger. Those engaged i'll
it not only encountered heavy sea all night,
but were fired upon from the tort at St. Louis
Pass, Texas, shot passing through the side
of the launch Owing to strong flood tide and
head winds, and the rebels long roll having
been beaten, the party from the Montgom-
cry not being able to bring out the schooner
with safety Destroyed her by fire.
The steamship Hatteras having captured
the steamer Wallis, of Ship Island, sold her
to Gen. Butler for transport vessel. An ca
petition from the United States bark Pursuit
captured the rebel steamer Florida, which was
lying about 20 miles above St. Andrews town.
They succeeded in cutting her out, and on
their way up the bay, also captured the slOop
Lafayette, with fifteen bales of cotton on
board On the way down the expedition was
induced by flag of truce to send boat
ashore. When the boat within gunshot
distance, there rose from the bushes IL party
of about thirty or forty men, and fired on the
boat killing one of the seaden and wound
ing several others
Elae. officer Farragut under date Of April
10Th communicates reports made TO linn by
lieutenant commanding Reade, OF the steam
er New London, dated March 10Th, and April
5th,-ot two engagements between his vessel
and others, and some rebel steamers.
"On the afternoon of the u inst, We LETT
Shin Island in company with the U. s steam
er j. 2. Jackson and the transport steamer
Henry Lewis, with the Connecticut ninth vol
uuteer regiment on board, to co operate with
the army for The purpose OF eflecting land
ing at Biloxi. The landing was made the
evening of the same day, tile New London
and j. p. Jackson anchosng OIL the town.
The next day, about hall past tour p. NJ,
the troops embarked, when all got under
inc day to effect landing at Pass Chris
tian. AT 10 p. M, having taken favorable
nosition for the night, we came to anchor.
"On the 4th of April, at forty minutes past
four A, NJ three rebel steamers were discover
ed standing down to make an attack. The
action was Immediately begun by the New
London. jackson, and Lewis, with the rebel
steamers Oregon, Pamlico, and Carondelet;
and after its continuation about thirty MIN
MES the Lewis was with Withdrawn on ac-
connt of the crowded state of her decks, and
the New London and Jackson continued the
fire for one hour and lOrty'hVe minutes, when
the enemy withdrew, apparently much IN
jured
"Ablut nine An the United States steam
err Hatleras joined US, and, being senior oincer'
took command while the landing was being Ell
fected at Pass Christian. rebel merchant
stelmar appeared to the eastward, and was
Immediately pursued by the New London and
Jackson. After the chase Of one hour she
was captured. She proved to be the rebel
steamboat z. G.. Wallis, loaded with turpen-
tine, rosin, and lime"
The second report is as follows ION the
afternoon of the 25th, two rebel steamers were
discovered at Pass Christian. The New Lon
don got under way and stood for that place,
and approached as near rs practicable on ac-
count of shoal water. The rebel boats APP
preached within two thousand yards, when
the engagement begaI the New London be-
ginning the action, finding the enemy not dis
poged to come nearer The fight lasted one
hour and fifty minutes.
"Durinv that tine we fred one hundred and
sixty one shots of all kinds. No one was in.
iured on board Of this vessel nor was the yes.
sci herself The vessels Of the enemy engaged
were the steamers Oregon and Pdmlico. From
their movements each Of them seemed to be
struck two or three times.