The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-10
BOLD DEMONsrRATION BY THE
PIRATES..THEIR CAPTURE. ~


night. She was heavily armed and pro-
visioned for two months. Steamers were
immediately sent in pursuit, and the two
are now engaging her.. The guns can be
distinctly heard here. ..tus
PORTLAND, Me-, June 27.-The United
States revenue cutter, which, as we re-
ported this morning, was run out of this
harbor, and pursued by two steamers, it
is now asccrtained, apparently came to
anchor and took in sails, and soon after
was discovered to be on fire. At twenty
minutes past two she blew up with ire
mendous report, and nothing of her is now
visible. From the observations it is sup
posed she was blown up by the crew. The
steamers are returning.
PORTLAND, (Me.,) June 81, P. M.-The
crew of the cutter Caleb Gushing, seemed
to have escaped, before she was blown up,
in boats-probably to schooner near by,
as the Forest City chased one down to-
wards Green Island, caught her, and is
towing her in. The Forest City had only
twelve-pounders, and the Chesapeake only
six-pounders, but their intention was to
run the cutter down at once, as they we're
no match for her thirty-two-pounders.
PORTLAND, June ~, P. M.-Captain
Lescomb of the Forest City, says he came
within gun-shot Of the Gushing half an
hour before the Chesapeake came along.
The Gushing fired at the Forest City six
times, without showing any flag whatever.
The Forest City then laid to, waiting for
the Chesapeake to come up. When the
Chesapeake arrived, after consultation, it
was agreed to board the Gushing. The
Chesapeake took the lead in this, being a
propeller, and also being protected by cot
ton bales. The rebels perceiving the in
tentions Of the Chesapeake and Forest
City, became frightened, and abandoned
the Gushing in two boats, and sent off a
third boat, with the regular crew, whom
they had placed in irons. This last boat
was almost Immediately picked up by the
Chesapeake. The other two boats, with
the rebels aboard, steered tor Harpswell
shore, and were pursued and picked up by
the Forest City. The rebels proved to be
twenty-three in number.
The Forest City also picked up small
boat, containing Mr. Bibber, who had been
set adrift from the Gushing. Mr.. Bibber
and his partner were captured yesterday
by the rebels, while in small fishing boat
off Damers Cove Island. Mr.. Bibber in
formed Capt. Lescomb that he was cap
tured by the schooner Archer, off South
port.
The schooner Archer came in last night,
and anchored below Minoo, intending to
burn two gunboats building in Portland,
and cut out the revenue cutter Gushing
and the steamer Forest City. This they
but at two O'Clock this morning they board
ed the Gushing quietly, and seized small
portion of her crew then aboard, put them
in irons, and made their way out of the
harbor through Hussey's Sound. After
passing the forts, Capt. Lescomb learned
the intentions of the rebels, and immedi-
ately pursued the Archer, which was max
ing her way to the eastward as rapidly as
a light breeze would permit. Capt. Les
comb captured the Archer, and found three
rebels and Bibber's partner aboard, and
towed her up to the city.
By Mr.. Bibber's report, Capt. Lescomb
thinks there are three or more schooners
with rebel crews aboard on our coast de-
stroying our fishermen. The Archer had
only howitzer on board, and SAe schoon-
ers are probably lightly armed.
The Forest City passed a suspicious
looking black steamer off Cape Porpoise,
at 2 o'clock this morning, when coming
from Boston, which at first made for the
Forest City, but afterwards kept to the
southeast. The Forest City arrived up
about half-past four O'Clock, landing the
rebel prisoners at Fort Preble.
s o'oLocK, p. M.-Your reporter has just
come from Fort Preble. The command
ant there will not allow the prisoners to
be questioned tonight. There are two
rebel officers among the prisoners, named
Lieut.. G.. ". Reed, with a regular COM
mission from the Confederate navy, the
late commander of the Tacony, and Eu-
gene FL. Brown, Sd Assistant Engineer Of
the Florida, detached from the Tacony.
Two books were found on the prisoners
"a memorandum book, with instructions,
&C., which | was not allowed to see, and
another, an account book, containing in
fact, part of the list Of vessels captured
by the rebels. The eomlnandant of the
fort informed US that it appears from
memorandum, that Lieut.. Reed and his
crew went aboard the Tacony about the
18th Of May. On the morning of the
25th of June he seems to have burned
the Tacony, and gone on board the schoon-
er Archer.
Lieut.. Reeds last memorandum says,
cit is my intention to go along the coast
with the view of burning the shipping in
some exposed harbor OF cutting out some
steamer
A police force went to Fort Preble this
evening to demand the prisoners in behalf
of the civil authorities, but the command
ant stated that he should hold them as
prisoners Of war, subject to the COM
mands of the War Department. II is re-
ported by the crew of the Gushing that
boats crew of ten men escaped from her
this morning. If this is so they may seize
another schooner and make more trouble
The regular crew of the Gushing have
been put in confinement, to await the ex-
animation. Lieut.. Davenport states that
between - and O'Clock last night, some
Suspicious looking men dressed like sail
ors, came aboard the cutter, and hearing
an unusual noise, he went on deck to see
what was the matter, when he was imme-
Il.