Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-29
[. S. srEAMER Ruonr IsLANn.
Hon. GIDEON WELLEs,
Secretary of Navy,

o. 9lhANLN N"opL ISLAND
DtAlt oN' iAHboH' january lV'n' 1000
Hi"' nave 'nC no"or 10 report Mr. brown b
statement 10 De- Ill substance, as iolIoWsi
"'''' having "'u' Two '''p' 10 inc MONITOR
ue e'"rleu On 'hu 'hiru' anu upon Iea'lhs inc
nnouo iS'Snu' ho ID" inc rou h8n' burning at
'"o h'SS'du VI lhe Monltor' anu apparently
"oou' ono "i'Io u'sto"'' 40 'nc "inu anu sea
"Crc against n'ml' ho iilaue Out Httle progress,
YET ho continued s"'hlhg un'li "ithh quar-
UT oi hilc OIL Tue Moh''or' "hcn the i'sh'
became eNunguished' IL appeared to settle
gradually IN inc water rs no approached her,
ano 'heh Ii disappeared "hen he approached
what he SUPPOSED to nc the position Of the YES
SCI h' could perceive II" o'hIr trace oi her Ca
! cePl an EDDY apparently produced Ivy the sink
lhE oil vessel. lie remained near that posi-
uoh as long ne NJ dccnrd prudent, in order TO
rescue any oi tue men VINO might be IN the
water, but found none
He then started for the Rhode Island, which
then appeared to be two miles distant, the
weather being overcast, attended with a light
rain; wind hauling to the ,porlbvard. soon
after, he lost sight of the Rhode Island. hint
Afterwards saw tho first, second and third
liGhts she burned; headed for her and finally
lost sight Of her lights. This is the last he
saw Of the Rhode Island.
He then made drag Of the boat, mast. nv
which he kept her head 10 ses and the rev on
the lookout for si,,usl,, A, no mara couId h.
seen, he then pulled for the Northvard and
Westward, finding tho scu to be too rough ia
pull directly touC West, huplug to fall in with
some Of the numerous cnasllng vessels. He
kept the crew pulling all night. in order 70
overcome the great strength Of the Northeast
current, considering that If they did not exert
themselves to do 30, they would be out Of the
track Of all vessels.
At daylight he discovered schooner. some
four or hyU miles away from them. He also
mentioned seeing a small black boat, some
distance off, with two or three men in her, sec
ing her as she rose three times upon tho waves
aud then disappearing At this time they were
very much taken up with tho management Of
their own boat, the sea being very irregular and
coming from all quarters. After losing sight
oil the steamer already referred TO, Mr.. Brown
I saw large ship, close hauled, the wind being
at the time from the Northward and Westward.
lie had approached sufficiently near to see the
/ men upon her decks, but she passed without
noticing his signals. He then pulled directly
( in for the land, which he estimated was about
forty (4O) miles distant.
! This was about $50 a. M, on the 3lst ult.,
and about an hour afterwards emade schoon-
or to leeward. He got up the crews coats for
sails, and peaking his oars to assist ran down
for her, and at II a. M, arrived alongside. The
schooner proved to be the "a. Colby" Capt.
H. D. Hartman, of Bucksport, Me-, bound to
Fernandina, with bricks for Government use.
Mr.. Brown and his crew were received with the
greatest degree Of kindness and attention, and
taking the boat on board. The captain was re-
quosted TO land the officer and his men at Beau
fort, n. C., which he consented to do, and in
running in for the coast with view of ascer-
tanning more correctly his position, being with
( out observation struck on the Dramond shoal
of Cape Hattcras, causing the schooner to leak
very badly. The same night the vessel anchor
cd under the land near lIatteras Inlet.
On the following day, the LIST inst, Mr.. Brown
went on board the l. 3. steamer "Miami, -
. Capt Townsend, reporting 10 him the situation
of himself and crew, who dispatched twelve
. (l2) men TO aid In assisting the schooner, and
the same afternoon they started for Beaufort.
At sunset they were oyertaken by the miami, -
+ taken in tow, brought into Beaufort, reaching
there on the morning OF the I'd Inst
/ IpOn arriving there, Mr. Brown reported to
Captain DrayIOn, the senior naval officer re-
uuestinr that hImselr and crew mipIt no nor
,,i,,.d n ro,,o;r 80, h,,.rI nc, Ca,,,,,I =.