New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-17

THE DISASTER IN GALVESTON BAY
CAPTURE OF THE HARRIET LANE.
The Gunboat Westfeld Blown Cp
a Naval Expedition Sent Out to Recap.
turs the Harriet Lane, At
All Hazards. ~

BY tho arrival Of the steamship Illinois, Capt
Babcock, we have New.Orleaus dates 10 JAN 3 8
The disaster at Galveston 10 fully confirmed thougs
but little lie said about 1t in the NewOrleans papers.
A body ofTexas cavalry sent from Newt Orleans To
Galveston got timely notice from frightened pilot
of the recapture of the place and the disasters 10 our
Aotilla, 80 our troops escaped, though in plain sigh
of Galveston, from which it is supposed that tlS
Harriet Lane was too much disabled TO pursne.
The expedition up the Mississippi bad not started :
nor wes it known when it would be of. {
The Rebels were eneroacbing upon the Union
lines in tie neighborhood of Donaldsonvie; but ~
danger was apprehended there.rom.
Rumors were common 10 the effect that the rattle,
Of Vicksburg began on the 3st ultimo and was con-
tinued daily; but nothing very definite IN regard to
it was known in New Orleans.
The affair at Galveston on tho !st inst bad carsed
q general feeling Of gloom among the army and
navy.
Admiral Farragut had cent the Brooklyn, the
Scioa, and half dozen Of bis best shps to recsp,urs
the Harriet Lane at all hazards and, If possible to
destroy the Rebel gunboas in Bayou Buffalo.
OF this expedition nothing had been heard in New
Orleans up to the 9Th inst.
Geu Dduhh Lao Deeu III COumhuu LbCutD5 Wv
nothing Of bic plans had transpired. II was known,
however, that he was not idle. Most Of bis troops
had gone TO Baton Rouge.
The disaster at Vicksburg was already known at
New.0 leans.
"A letter containing the frs. sccoun received Of the 0aL
weston affair forwarded BY CoresPoRdent the
steamer which day prior that which the JDinos
sailed. bn. has not yet reached ISL
Attempt by the Rebels TO Capture she Steam
err Cumbria, with Treops on Beard, -
their way 10 GaIvcston-Cspsurc Of .
Rebel Pretended PiIot-The Attack ~
Galveston - Fall ParsicuIsrs Of sAs
Affair.
From Our Special Correspondent
New ORLsAys, Jan. g. le63-3P NJ.
The arrival Of the Cumbra at this port afiords us
additional information in relation to the recent dis
sster at Galveston, Texas.
The Cumbria is an iron propeller Of English build,
captured in one Of the many attempts 70 run The
blockade. She left this city at o'clock on the even.
ing of the 3lst of December, having hoard $50 Of
the I'd Texas Cavalry, under command.o of Col Davis,
section of the % Vermont Battery, with horses,
&C.; also, Lieut. Noyes, formerly Of the I'd Cavalry,
bearinl the commission of Captain in the Texas
regiment. She came TO anchor at 10 miles sonth.west
of Galveston Friday evening" Jsn 2, lying there all
night. The morning dawned rainy and cloudy, the city
being but imperfectly visible. On the Cumbria's
weighing anchor at .. n and starting for the city,
she could neither see boat nor pilot. At II Q. m.
she fred gun as signal for the latter, without re-
Spouse. She then dispatched boat with ts crew 70
the city, and kept cruising up and down during the
whole Of the day and night. or course her boat Did
not return-it had been captured by the Rebels.
At 10 p. m. on Sunday morning a gcod-sizsS
sail.boat was espied making toward the
Cumbria, and simultaneously bark mov-
ing insidiously in the same direction
Presently the boat came alongside, when there APP
pc red in her four men, one of WHOM hailed CAPT.
Sumner of the Cumbria and asked how much wseR
the vessel drew. The answer was nine and half
feet The inquirer then stated that the bar had ten
feet draft of water. Being asked If be were pilot,
he responded No, not regular one, but that be
occasionally acted in that capacity, and was nov
employed to take out the bark but that if the Cum.
bria would foll8w him he would pilot her safely in,
going ahead andtaking souudngs. While parleying
thus, the saboat passed toward the stern and then
tackled back. Suddenly the Union refugees on board
recognized in the volunteer pilot Capt. Payne,
formerly commander of boat on the Brazos River,
and a notorious Secessionist. Hailng him by name,
they addressed questions TO him, TO hs evident aarD
and trepidRtion. On Capt. Sumner inqaIring who
was in command on shore, Payne responded Capt.
wainwright, and, seizng the rudder, headed his boat
for shore. Capt. Sumner then ordered him TO cone
on board the Cumbria. You have too many blue
coats there for me!' was the answer. I" IL youU
follow, III pilot you, but don't care to take the
respousibilitv of the vessels" Stand 10 your guns,
bows but don't open portfolios and give II TO them
until the Colonel gives the orderr shouted Capt Sam-
ner. while German lieutenant, with equal pres.
erce of mind ordered the Texans 10 load iheir
rifles instantly and to the boat. Tile Cambria,
be il remarked had neither cannon nor port.hoIesl
Seeing that he had no alternative, Payne, with
every mark of unwiilingness, came on board the
Cumb,ia, where lie was told TO consider himself a
prisoner, and severely questioned by the captain,
Col. Davis aud the Texans, all OF whom gathered
about him in anything but friendly mood. Very
coon, thoroughly alarmed for bis OWL safety lie ne
knowedged tie tru:h-that Galveston was IN tho
hands Of the Rebels tie Harriet Lane captured, the
Westtield blown up aud burned aud tha. the rest of
the Union hotilla had escaped only by flight. lie
added that his intentions TO tire Cambria were 10
run her aground on the bar when she must fall q"
easy prey to tue bark already approaching and 'De
boats of the Rebels and and that the Harnet Lane
would assist in the feat. In this fnal particular -
was Individually lying; for had the condiaon % 'oe
latter vessel allowed, she certainly wora rave cseo
used by the enemy. And from tho fsitit 81 We
O. h,on;,lad in NV vsstsrdays letter 70 IHs