Daily national Republican., 1863-02-11
ID. g. FARRAGUT,
Rear Admiral.
U. s. STEAM sLooP BRooKI,yN


On Galveston, January 25, 1862.
SIR; am very confident that the Harriet
Lane Is within Galveston waters, The sea
broke heavily on the 18th and 10Th from one
end Of the shoals to the other, and nothing
drawing over six feet water could have posi-
oly crossed the bar, and nothing could have
passed through the gunboats anchored there
without being seen, although the night was
very dark. Subsequently the officers acenn-
panying the flags Of truce tried to create the
impression that she is out-one of them saving
so plainly-I don't believe II. 80 -
This morning Lieut.. Mitchell reported that
he could see squareFigged vessel, sails
looscd, from the malntopmast head, which he
taks TO be the Harriet Lane. she lies bevond
the upper harbor, In the direction Of Virginia
Point, and was doubtless carried over the shoal
water by the rise during the heavy easterly
weather. -. ..
Very respectfully, your obedont servant,
H. H. BELL, Commodore.
To Rear Admiral d. @. FARRAour, Condo. w
q. Blkd'g Squadron, u. 6. Ship Hartford.
New Orleans, La. -. ..a. + - 90. -" >
U.S.. STEAMER NEW LONDON, .,sa
.f OFF SABINE, SABINE PASS, 7s
January %, 1868.
sIR: On tho morning Of the Esd inst. | was
ordered in company with the gunboat Cayuga
to proceed with all possible dispatch to Sabine
Pass, Commodore Boil having received infor-
nation that the ship Morning Light and schoon.
ers Rachel Seaman and Velocity, blockading
there, had been captured by the rebols. We
got underway about dAybreak. AT half past 19
m. on the 23d, we discovered the morning LIght,
and soon after saw steamboat leave her and
stand into the Pass. simultaneous with the de-
PaTture OF the steamboat saw dense smoke
rising from the ship. ... .
ordered tho Cayuga, being the fastest yes-
sci, to go ahead with all speed and save the
Morning Light, II possible, On our nearer an
proach, we discovered that her sails were
loosed, Jibs up, the ship before the wind and
heading toward the Pass, and in flames fore
and aft as high as tho foretop. At tWepty-fye
minutes before three, the mikzenmast and
maintopmast fell over the side. At three D. m, :.
arrived near the burning wreck, sent about 70
make examination, and found It utterly impoa-
slble TO do anything to save the Morning LIGHT,
The IRE was started In the afterpart Of the shin,
The enemy towed hor Into ten feet Of water.
perhaps with the hope OF getting her over the
-Four Of her guns were discharged BY the
heat, three on the port side and one on the star
board side, the latter having fallen into the
hold, and the shot coming out Just above her
copper, our boat being near at the time. Two
Of her shell exploded. -
The enemy had undoubtedly removed the
powder from the magazine, as no exploaion
took place except the guns and shell. / do mot
THINK the enemy took any of her guns, as we
saw seven, and the eighth may have fallen into
the hold, as the deck was much cayed In when
our boat reached her. . H'l.Ist.a. '07
The wreck Of the Morning Light, showing
nothing but her stern and stern posts and a
large iron water tank nearly amldshIps, now
lies In ten feet water, on the outer edge OF tho
bar, from the light house N. w. distant about
four miles. Her bower anchor and chains can
be got, also large anchor showing the ring
awash about the torehatch. We saved one tor.
gallant SAIL and one royal, also top-gallant
and royal yard. Nearly all her spars are so
charred or burned 50 badly as to bo useless,
All that can be, / will have saved. -Four of her
boats which we saw were stove.
As'to the schooners Rachel Seaman and We
locity, the former, l learned, had escaped, the
latter wss captured with the Morning Light
=
Very respectfully, your obf servant, g
A. READ,
Liout. Commander.
Rear Admiral D. G. FARRAGUI, -
Commanding Western Gulf
Blockading Squadron,
Flag-ship Hartford.