, 1863-02-17

D. G. FAaRAauT, Rear Admiral.
ST. CHARLES Horz1, New ORLEANS. La,l
correspondence N. Y. iii Tribnnc, mn .I''' ;.
have another naval disaster to chronicle,
similar to, though, nots bad as, that which oc-
Cured Il month ago at Galveston, Texas, and,
like it, transpiring on the same coast. The
news, II TIC shape Of brief telegram from
down the river, announcing the capture Of the
United States blockadinE vessels Morning
Light and Velocity, and tue burning of the
former by the rebels off Sabine Pass reached
this city on the night Of The 2sth. 4 visit to
the Tennessee yesterday morning afforded NE
The following particulars:
The Tennessee IA large sidc-whccl steamer,
chartered by the Government as 4 transport
and gunboat) left this port on the 20th Of the
month. being under orders to carry dispatches
from Commodore Earragnt to Commander
Bell OF the bloclading squadron off Galveston,
and also to stop on her way at Sabine Pass for
the purpose Of putting on board of the Morn
ing Light Acting Master Partridgc-thc same
gentleman who experienced such an oppor-
tune escape from The notorious "4aD,' Wien,
deceived by hcr stimulation Of lawful British
vessel, lie was about to visit her from the un-
fortunate 1Iatteras, which she subsequently
destroyed
Arriving of the bar on the evening Of the
2lst, Just after sunset, the Tennessee Sighted Il
large steamer, strongly resembling the object
Of her quest, though her top spars and the
yards Oh her mfzzeu-nlast haf been renewed
and her jibbooln was rigged English fashion.
Behind her lay another vessel indistinct1y
ognizing the Morning Light in spite of her
disguise, and rendered additionally distr1stfu1
Of what might hare happened by the fact that
she showed no signal lights in answer to his
own, Captain Child, Of the Tennessee, caused
her to be hailed, and demanded hcr name.
''Ihe Morning Lii Eht!" WIS the reply. ''Then
send 2 boat !; we have A communication for
you" ''Weye neither boat nor crcw!" re-
turned the unknown respondent, although
the former could be disccrned, han,in. ut the
stern, by the officers Of the Tennessee.
"Whcre Is Capt: Dillingham;: - next demanded
siye, and exultant: '.Ashore and a priso-
ncr! the Confederatcs are in possession Of tho
vessel"
A short consultation on board the Tenncs-
sec followed this lisast trous Intelligence
Some Of the officer: we're disposed to tempt
known, however, that she had no 1ots tLan
eight brpadside guns and one sc, 0,pound Par
rott, MI ct which wcrc in nndonbted posses
sion If the rebels. while the Tennessee car
ricd but an incon6iderable armament Of how.
itzcrs, just sufficient for bloakude purposes,
peaceful caunsels prevailed, and Capt. Child
steamed for Galveston, forty miles to the
southwark, there to report the bad news to
C0M1nnnuer BELL. From the appearance Of
thu Morning Light, it was evident thai size
lad been recently attrckcl, probably that
| ycry day, and ro doubt existed that the
| schooner Velocity, her only partner in the
| blockade Of Sabine City, had shared her flte.
| Commander Bell nrAt morning dispat ciled
T; Two g1nboats, the New London and Cayuya
to tic rescue; had he done this immediately
on the receipt Of the information ucccssitat
i ing it, it might have proved effective. A.
| ordered, The gnnboats reached Sabine Pass nj
noon, and were discerned when about eight
| miles distance from it, by the rebels, then en-
gagged in attempting to secure their prize By
/ hauling the Morning Light over the bar by
the aid Of steam tug, a task which the shoa
wafer rendered difficult, if not impossible
rerceising this anu the approaching danger
| they instantly set fire to the captured yessc
and abandoned her, escaping OH shore. B,
the time that the gunboats arrived, 1t was t
| witness the Morning Light all ablazc, aud he
guns, exploded hy the contlagratlon, dis
charging themselves one By one III sonoron
.ieatI,-roar into the blue ether and brigh
sunny morning.
The wreck lies outside the bar, at about tiy
miles distance from the coast. From it til
rebels have probably obt,illed nothing beyon
the smallest portablcs. The New Lonlo
and the Cay,1ga remain on the station, block
aiding the port-lct lis hope with less proba
t,ility Of shameful defeat and discomdtur
than seems to have attended the Mornin
Light. They draw nine feet Of water, ant
therefore, may find it practicable to cross til
bar, and to visit Sabine City with condig
| punishment.