The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1863-02-05
i. From the Houston Telegraph,
The Victory O1 abloe.

1
from Sabine brings ns some .par,icn
lara Of the brilliant victory VI MAJ
Watelns and hls gallant comarades
OIL sabine
Maj Watkins, some weeks since,
organized an expedition by order Of
Mi Con. Magrudcr, having for It's
object the clearing Sabine Bay Of the
enamy and their capture.
TO cffrct the object the two little
steamers Josiah Bell aud Uncle Ben
were placed under his comms;.d, with
ahput 300 men drawn from Pyron's,
Spcight's, and Cooks regiments.
The Bell was armed with ~ pound
/ rifle cannon and the Uncle Ben with
two So.
The enemy learning, no doubt. that
the expedition was fitted ont in Sabine
river, and warned by oar success at
Galveston, left the Pass and took po-
si,ion in the Gull twelve miles dis
iant
The expedition got under weigh on
the goth aud ran down Ia the Pass.
On the morning of tho 2lst the steam
ers got up steam aud started for the
bar. They discovered at about twelve
miles distance two vessels, which
proved to bo the brig.of.war Morning
Light, mounting eight 32's and one
rifle gun, aud schooner, the name
Of which our informant does not re-
member, mounting two splendid dahl
grens
The Morning Light is the same yes
sci that destroyed Winston's Salt
Works. Her men, il will be remem.
bercd, were thoroughly punished In
that affair.
The moment the vessel discovered
them they up sail and ran To sea to
escape orr steamers. Al steam was
NJ once put on. aud AZ exciting chass
commenced,
At abou, 10 o'clock the chase having
continued ahon, Is miles. the Bell got
in range and the Davis Guards let fly
their first gun a, the Morning Light.
The chase continued for some miles fur
Their, giving our boys time to fire ten
or twelve shots, several Of which took
effect in the brig
The brig answered but was unable
to hi tl9 Bell at all, Having now
approached 10 within good nusket
range, II did not take long for the
rinemcn To clear the cnemy's deck.
Before the Bell reached her her colors
were hauled down, and our boys took
undisputed possession.
s It did not require long TO take the
schooner tl ...
Thus has Maj Watkins continued
the brilliant performances 'nAugura-
ted by Gen. Magruder ION our coast
and without loss of man or gun ad
ded to our navy. two excellent, yes
sells, II heavy guns and stores OF the
most valuable character. All honor
to him for his gallantry
How tho Bell and Uncle Ben were
fitted up need no, here he told. They
belong to the Magruder feet.
The galan, Major is still cruising
or Sabine. ready to receive further
contributions from old Abe to our
navy. d.
In the Sabine Pass fight the Bell was
manned by men from pyrcn's regiment
and Spcighrs battalion The gun was
managed w capt, Odlum and his DA-
vIs Guards Of this city, who are said
to have Cred with the most remarka.
bic accuracy, planting several Of their
shells ia the enemy's vessel. The
Ui.ais Ben was manned by. Speights
men Not n man was scratched on
our side. The encmy's loss was kill.
ed ard about 8 wounded.
The following is tho official report
Of Mai Watkins, OF the brilliant naval
engagement 81 the 2lst:
SABINE rass. Tyxss,
On Board the G. $ Gunboa, Bell
. Al .. January n, 1893.
CAprAiv 1--WE met the enemy this
morning 1 the Gull of Mexico. We
wlipnsd them, aud brought everything
To Spbiue Pass. | fought lhem--ies
guns ~ oar one
Ny oliice,s sirl men behaved pobly
We have captured iva vessels--one
81 sem full rugged ship, and the
other n schooncr--twclve fine gnns,
medical stores and ammunition in
abundance, together with one hundred
and nine prisoners.
| AIN here. Captain. awaiting fur.
tncr orders from the Major General