The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-19
THREATENED RAID OFF MOBILE.
Our Naval COrrespondence.
UNITED STATES STEAMER SUsQURnAN ANNA,
Or MOBILE, March 3, 1863

OfF MOBILE March 3. 1858. !
ImpOrtan, NIls from Mcts-Arrra Of Three Deseters-
Attempted Raid Our Fea-hs Faiimc-Rebci Gun.
boats and Rams, dc.
all alive and kicking. Three deserters
from rebedom came OF TO the fleet last week. Their
names William Holton, OF New Orleans James
Carr, Of New York, and Michael Dillon, Of Ireland
They obtained boat Friday, February 20 from the
First Lieutenant OF the rebel gunboat Selma 10 which
they belonged to 80 Clustering In the vicinity Grants
Pass which artificial communication or canal
joining Mobile Bay with Mississippi Sound and by adroit
mauGuvcrng they succeeded in getting beyond the reach
Of the OF the steamer and into such shoa water that
the selma could not pursue them. They then pulled for
the gunboat Clifton in the sound succeeded in reach.
lug her on Monday morning. the 23d ut, after hard
struggle with the winds and the waves for about sixty
hours
learn from James Carr that some -four weeks since
Admra Huo banan Of the rebel navy in command at Mo
bic started to come out and attack in the md-watch
with i've steamers, including ram; namely gunboas
Morgan, Gaines, selma Baltic and the river steamer
Crescent The latter loaded troops board ny pur
poses whe on their way down the bay the Selma struck
and ashore to keep Der from SINKING which
Put stop 10 the expedition for The time but the attempt
10 be made again as coon as they get more
boats or rams ready.
Also learn that i've gunboais have been 10 process Of
construction Tor long time at place called Selma I'D
the Alabama rver, and Two Of them on their way
down TO Mobile 10 receive their guns &C. but all Of them
are to be ready by the LIST OF April Of them are built
Tor rams and the other three intended for sea steam
crs. They are more less protected by iron plating
The machinery OF the new steamer s OF a mongrel cha
racter composed OF old boat engines altered
aud arranged so as 10 suit the emergency.
always very pleasant 10 receive desertors from the
rebels proves the fact that every man now in arms
against us IS not necessarily secessiouist or
AS there many thousands OF men now in arms who
arc compelled through brute force in the ranks
of the rebels.
We very sorry that any accident should have pre-
vented their effort 10 out and attack We should
have been delighted In an opportunity ~ extend them
warmest Greetings. We are always ready for them
n fact may say that every vessel this station has
been expecting them for long time, consequently our
the rebels has been OF the vgant cha.
racter, particularly OF very dark nights
almost forgot 70 mention that about the 10th ult AZ
learn James Carr, there effort 10 reach
this ship with submarine torpedo which TO DO at.
tached TO the bottom OF the ship and b. discharged or
poded by means Of clockwork tina, arranged to run
ten minutes before gung the powder, that being con.
sdered time enough u allow Of the escape parties
the region OF danger but like all previous efforts Of
ect and subsequently sunk But SURPRISING II had
cecded, what would you have thought Of your humble
servant gong on the double quick
The city OF Mobile must be a most charming place OF
residence. The conscript law includes every male
nearly so, between the ages q infancy and idiocy
ceptng only those who own wenty or more nggers and
the law IS carried out the most relentless and cruel
manner by the press gangs of King Jen Men taken
wherever they be found and carried or noic ri.s,
matter what family necessity prevent or forbid his
going why II that system Of increasing armies
practised would have force powerful enough to
crush the rebels with much your foot would
crush al fly While free at the North In the
south the masses abject slaves To few ambitious
politicians such things show how hard the shoe pnches
them In Dixie.