Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-02

The Escape of the Orcto.
The following letter, from an officer on
board the gunboat r. r. Cuyler, gives an ac-
count OF the escape of the rebel steamer
Oreto, which seems to have been the result of
the most gross negligence. The facts should
be at once investigated. No punishment can
be too severe for the neglect which allowed
this steamer TO escape, with the most ample
warning of her character and purpose, and al
most without an effort to detain her.
UNITED STATES STEAMER Il. r. CUYLER,
OFF EAST COAST OF YUCATAN, Jan. 2l.-For
the first time within the last five days | have
an opportunity to pen you a few lines, which
l fancy may possess more interest than any
thing | have written heretofore. The work
for which the Cuyler was especially appoint
ed, viz the capture of the rebel steamer
Oreto, has been laid out before us, and we
have failed to accomplish it, thus adding an
other to the too numerous instances in which
we have been foiled by the superior daring,
and neck orHothiag pluck Of the ''dashing buc-
cancers" OF jeff Davis. The Oreto las escaped
the blockade, and will give you the particu-
lars as faithfully as | can. Thursday, the
10Th, and the night and day before, the wind
was southeast, which is nearly on shore; at
times it was quite gale, with thick ram or
mist most of the time, so that we could not
see the land. Thursday afternoon the wind
hauled to the north and cleared up, and we
discovered at anchor behind Mobile Point a
barque rugged craft, which we knew to be
the Oreto, the first time we had seen her
since we had been on this station, but had
previously seen her at Nassau last August
The circumstance of her showing herself at
such time, so near the outlet Of the bay
was strong evidence that she intended to
run the blockade. A sudden change in the
wind, and consequent clearing up, revealed
him, and we had ample time to prepare for
him.
About o'clock the Pembna ran down to
us from the flag ship, and spoke to u.s. to the
effect that the commodore expected her out,
and ordered us to anchor half way between
our present position and the flag ship, and if
she passed us, we, in company with the Onei-
da, to give chase. 1t had been usual for one
of the small gunboats to anchor inside the
bar every night. but on Wednesday night
there was no boat inside. AT dark the wind
blew Il perfect gale. There was no moon and
it was very dark Altogether, it was just the
night to run the blockade. Two men were
stationed at the chains, ready to slip at a mo-
mentS notice, and other precautionary meas
ures were taken, but it blew too hard for him
the first part of the night
| was awoke about o'clock by a shout
from several voices, which / made out to be,
''The Oreto-Beat that drum-Quarters."
was out of my BIRTH into my clothes, and at
quarters before the drum beat its call. The
gunner's mate was just burning the signal APP.
pointed for such occasions. At this time she
must have been astern. Our chain was slipped,
and we on her track as soon as possible under
the circumstances. In about thirty minutes
we were under way with our battery cast
loose ready for action. The reason OF the
delay OF thirty minutes is this Formerly our
orders were, if steamer was seen, for the
commanding officer to slip the anchor and
then report now more red tape is necessary,
and the officer reports to commander, who
who comes on deck before anything can be
done.
1t still wanted two hours of daylight. The
Oreto was in sight with the night glass. All
was excitement on board, and it was evident
we were not gaining on her, and doubt was
felt if we caught her at all. She was first
seen on our port bow, between us and the flag
ship, under steam alone, and passed within
three hundred yards of us. Had our port
battery been manned, we could have made
four ugly holes in her. As soon as she was
fairly by us she dropped her sails and was off,
with at least half an hours start. We put on
all sail, got ten tons of coal aft, and all hands
aft also, to trim the ship by the stern in order
to bring the propeller deeper in the water.
Our gun deck was literally afoat. We con-
tinued the chase all day, but at night in the
darkness she changed her course and we lost
her.
Had the Oneida accompanied us as ordered
to do, our chance would have been double
what it was. We concluded to keep on and
run down to cape ST. Antonio in hopes to in
tercept her there, but did not find her. There
were seven vessels of us off the port-we had
fifteen hours warning-and her only way out
was through the main ship channel, which at
the bar is less than mile wide. They ran a
big risk and IRON. | should like to see some
such daring displayed on our side once in a
while. Everything was done to increase our
speed, but | have seen the ship go fourteen
knots an hour with steam alone, and on that
day her utmost was twelve and half knots.
The prime cause of her escape was neglect
to prepare for her, and remembering commo-
dore Prebles case think the department will
soon decide where the fault lies. Tell the
friends that the Cuyer is all right and is
bound south to try and find the Oreto, and
that in any event the Cuyler is good for the
Oreto. We shall coal in about a week, and [
will then report progress.