Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-19

astonished our troops to hear these dogs of
war barking from this building so near them.
The artillery in the streets was not iaic by any
means, but made desperate attempts to batter
down the brick building on the pier, in which
our men had been quartered, and which the
rebels probably knew contained all our am
muniton, and they supposed our men would
be compelled to take shelter in it from their
cross fire. In this latter conjecture they were
greatly mistaken, for our troops were lying
upon the ground, protected by their barri-
cades.
The gunboat Owasco rendered valuable
service by sending dozen well directed shots
into the windows of the market building be-
You'd the wharf, which etfectualy silenced
most of the guns in the building To Col.
Burrill must be attributed great praise for the
courage and skill, as well as presence of
mind, displayed during the action. | was in
formed that Col. Burrill who was in haiing
distance of the Owasco, directed the firing on
board, and it was entirely owing to his in
structlUns that the batteries were so speedily
silenced. After the rebels had captured the
Harriet Lane, they run up flag Of truce in
order to prevent our men from firing on her.
And the gunboat Owasco, having also run up
the white flag, Col Burrill, who could not
comprehend the meaning of this apparent sur
render or defeat, sent Adjutant Davis in a
boat rowed by refugees, to the Owasco, to
learn the cause, While waiting for the ex-
PLANTATION, Col. Burrill had to surrender.
''wBo is TO BLAME?"
1t seems to us surprising that Gen. Butler
did not send troops to Galveston long before
he left New Orleans. But here is something
from the New Orleans correspondent of the
Boston Journal -
60 1t is a delicate matter to review the action
of a man who, through long service. has to
all appearance been faithful to the trusts re-
posed in him. But one of the greatest mis-
takes during the affair at Galveston, was the
destruction of the Westfield, which, in the
opinion of intelligent eyewitness of the
fight, was entirely uncalled for. There are
strong reasons for believing that she was run
aground in violation of the orders of the pilot.
1t is positively asserted that on the day when
Col. Burrill reported to commander Renshaw
on board the WeStheid, the commander was
entertaining company OF rebel officers in his
cabin; that they (the rebels) insisted that
Col. Burrill should leave the ship, or they
would do so; that commander Renshaw re-
quested Col. Burrill to retire and report the
next day.
'Renshaw was warned of the intended at
tack. Hungarian soldiers who had been forced
into the rebel army, instructed their wives,
living in Galveston, to 90 to the flagship, even
at the risk Of their lives, and inform the com
modore that an attack was to be made at the
appointed time. These women, devoted to
the flag of their adopted country, went off to
the flagship in an OPEN boat and informed the
commodore of all that they had been advised.
Why did not Renshaw, giving credence to
the story of these loyal women, get his ships
into position to meet the attack? The rebels
were well aware of the position, and as | said
in closing my account of the affair, took adj
vantage of the scattered condition of our
ships. They (the rebels) came down to the
Westfield on Christmas day, under the pre-
tence of requesting permission to send down
a steamer loaded with provisions for the starry
ing people of Galveston. This was the party
which Renshaw was entertaining when Col.
Burrill reported to him with his command.
The capture of the officers and men of the
42d was merely an accidental victory to the
rebels. Col. Burrill, had he followed his own
judgment and the advice he received before
leaving New Orleans, would have disembarked
his command on Pelican Island, under cover
OF the gunboats, and completely isolated from
land attack. But acting under the advice of
the naval officers, who assured him that he
would ne perfectly safe in the city, under their
guns, he threw his little band into the very
jaws of the enemy. When the flag of truce
was raised, he requested the commander OF
one of the gunboats to take off his men. No
doubt there are reasons for the refusal of the
commander to do so. All is mystery in regard
to the affair.
sit is conceded on all sides that comman-
der Wainwright fought his ship in admirable
style, and had all the other gunboats done
their flntV nOblxy tba rabalc ,unuld NOT how
celebrated their victory with such shouts as
echoed over the harbor of Galveston on this
new years day. Until recently there has
been comparatively small force of confed-
crate troops in Texas. Two months ago
5000 federal troops might have marched from
Galveston to Austin, the capital of the state,
without much opposition. Now it will require
an army 100000 men. Magruder is in Tex
as. He has been at work for months raising
and organizing an army of conscripts. He is
ready for tight, and he has commenced it. His
army, or portion of it, consisting of 5000
troops, was concentrated at Virginia Point
on the main land, about five miles west from
Galveston, where he erected strong fortified
tons, commanding the bridge over which runs
the railroad connecting Galveston with the
city of Houston, and the channel west Of Pei
lean Island The rebel works consisted of
three batteries, mounting twenty heavy guns,
at Eagle Grove. On the island and near the
Galveston end of the railroad bridge, the en-
envy erected battery, and placed in position
two 32-pounders, one 24-pounder, and one 49,
FOUNDER, which commanded the approach
from the town.
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CAMBRIA.
The steamer Cambria, from New Orleans,
with troops, reached Galveston the day after
the battle. 1t was known to our men that she
was coming, but nothing was done to intercept
her and warn her off. One of those aboard
the Cambria gives the following account of
her adventures -
ave left New Orleans on the evening of
the 3lst of December, with horses, mules,
and commissary stores, two companies of the
LIST Texas cavalry, and twenty-five Texan
refugees-men, women, and children. We
arrived off Galveston on the I'd of January,
and cast anchor about 8 p NJ, in extremely
rough weather, the atmosphere being so dense
and foggy that we could see nothing whatever
at very short distance from the vessel.
The next morning the fog continued una
bated, and, knowing nothing whatever of the
disaster that had occurred to our arms only
two days previous, we hoisted flag for
pilot, and fired several shots from the only
little gun we had on board, more entitled to
the name of pop-gun than cannon. AS
we received no reply whatever, and no pilot
came near us, the captain, about noon, sent a
boats crew of sly mon to SaaIx for ono and