American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-01-30
THE cattle OF GALVESTON.

From the Houston Telegraph Jan. s
As General Magruder was on his wav to
Texas. accompanied by Judge Oldham. Nj.
Forshev and others. the question of retakine
Galveston Island was brought mp. The diff
cuiies o: the undertaking were canvassed
and The qnes ton came M whether the work
was feasible. Major Forshey observed 'sGen
eral. I think The best plan is tn resolve to re-
take Galveston any way, and then canvass the
difficulties The General replied that he
thought so too. and from that point began the
undertaking.
Arrived in Texas. the first thing the Gener-
al set ahnut thorough examination of
the ground aud full canvass Of such plans
as presented themselves for the work. He
also gathered all the forces from the various
parts Of the State that could he spared from
other lines ct defense He might have got
ready sooner but for the want OF field artil-
l.ry, which Major Bloomfield. chief quar-
termaster. was pushing forward from the
Mississippi as fast as he could. They reached
here only last week.
On Thursday, Drc. 25th. it was determined
to delay no longer. and orders We're at once
ISSUED 10 prepare for the attack. 1t was then
hoped that everything would tie in readiness
by Saturday night. which would have given
four hours of darkness for the attack. the moon
setting at about , AN But the gunboats
could not be fixed in time. The utmost en-
ergy was DISPLAYED. but the work of putting
up the bulwarks was not completed in time
1t was found that all things could not be
got in readiness before the 3 st Of December,
and the night os the 3:st was fixed for the
attack The Bayou City. Houston and Gal
weston packet. had been taken by the State
and fitted up as a gunboat. under charge of
Capt, Henry Lubbock She was armed with
a thrty-iwo FOUNDER rif1ed gun on her bow
deck Bulwarks Of cotton bales were built
upon her sides. and force of a hundred men
put on board of her. and on Tuesday she left
4 ho hoax ls.f ttn1 xf1.p
bay. Capt. Weir of company b. Cook regi-
ment commanded the gun. aud it was manned
by portion of his men, aud Captain Schnei
ders, Capt s. being second in command
Colonel Green commanded the sharpshooters.
who were detailed from his regiment.
The Neptune. another BAYOU packet. was
taken on the 26th. and. under direction of
Major Leon Smith fitted up gunboat as
well as it could be done in the brief time
Balwarks Of cotton bales were built up on her
guards also. and she had much the appear
ance when she left here of well loaded cot
ton boat. taking her cargo down TO Galveston
for shipment She armed with two how
itzsr guns and commanded by Capt w. II
Sangster Capt,in Hardy. of the @. 5. Navy,
commanded her guns. Lieut.. Harvey Clark
b. ing second in command, and Col, Bayoy,
Of III. 7th Cavalry. commanded the detail OF
his men who We're on board as sharpshooters
The men we're detailed from the Siblev Brig
ade; all the Brigade having stepped forward
call for volunteers, and being anxious to
take part in the affair. Besides these, there
were several volunteers from among our eitI-
xeas Tie full number of men vas about i3u
The Neptune left here the morning OF the
same day with the Bayou City
The Lucy Gwiun accompanied the expedi-
ton as tendsr. under command OF Mayor An
drew Mckee and the John Carr. also ten
der, "a, der comm md Of Capt John 7 Lawles.
On tie Carr there were n number OF troops
and volunteers, and the Gwinn quite
number of spectators. Who went prepared TO
take hand in the fshs if their services were
required.
In addition to these there were some other
vess.ls- the cutter Dodge the Royal Yacht,
etc that did not come islo the action.
The whole naval force was under the com
mand of Major Leon Smith, who was admiFa-
bly, fitted for the command of the expedition.
BY his experience as sailor. In tact, better
men for all the stations could not have been
picked from any where
1t was ordered that the boats should get IN
Position bv u o'clock aud await the signal
from the land forces fer the attack They
went down. and after midnight arrived close
by the feet They we're discovered. and sig
nal lights from the fleet at once showed that
the enemy we've awake and watching for
them They looked anxously for the signal
from shore
Meanwhile the land forces. consisting OF de-
tachmcnts from some four ave regiments
under command Of Brigadier General Scurry
aud Colonel Y B. Del3ray, were moved ~
about dark from Virginia Point. This - on
the mainland. and from It = bridge Two miles
IN length crosses Galveston hay to Galveston
island. being aL,aat Eve miles distant from
the city. The battle took place at the city,