Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-04


vestigate the Galveston disaster, is interesting
as giving tho only authentic report OF that af-
fair:
L. s. STEAM SLooP Hartford.
At Anchor Of Nep Orleans,
January ~, 1858.
SIR In conformity with your Instructions,
We proceed TO state the facts In relation to
the capture Of Galveston, Texas, on the LIST of
January, 1868, as elected by the testimony be-
fore the Court of Inquiry
The naval force In possession consisted of
the Wostfeld, Clifton, Harriet bane, Owasco,
Sachem, and Corypheus. Tho two latter had
Joined only two days previous to the attack,
having come up from below, the Sachen
(steamer) In broken down condition, and the
Coryphcus as her escort. The positions OF the
vessels were as shown by the accompanying
chart. The United States troops on shore con
sisted of two hundred and sixty rank and file,
commanded by Colonel Burrcl, of the 42d Mas
sachusetts volunteers, occupying, by advice of
the commanding naval officer wharf in the
town.
II seems that the night previous to the attack,
Information had been received by the COM
handing officers of both land and naval forces
that such an attempt might be made.
Al l.5O a. NJ, on the LIST of January, IL being
bright moonlight, some two or three rebel
steamers were discovered In the bay above by
the Clifton. The Westfeld, from the other chan
mel, likewise made the same discovery. The
naval forces, therefore, were not taken by sur
prise.
Very soon after, our troops ON shore learned,
through their plckets, that the artillery of the
enemy was In possession of the market place,
about one quarter of a mile distant.
The attack commenced on shore about a.
M, by the enemy upon our troops, which were
defended by the Sachem and Corypheus with
nnI, rttl
musketry, having no artillery. About dawn
the Harriet Lane was attacked, or rather at
tackled two rebel steamers, one Of which, the
Bayou City, was armed with 6S-pouuder rife
gun, had 200 troops, and was baTrieaded with
cotton bales some 20 feet from the water line.
The other, the Neptune, was similarly barri-
caded, and was armed with two small brass
pieces and 100 men, (both were common river
eteamcrs.) The Harriet Lane was under way
In time, and went up to the attack firing her
bow gun, which was answered by the rebels
but their 6S.poundor bursted at the third fire.
The Harriet Lane ran into tho Bayou City,
carrying away her wheGl-guard, which did her
little OF no damage. The other rebel steamer
then ran into the Harriet Lane, but was so dis.
abod by the collision that she was soon after
wards obliged to back into the flats, where she
sank In about eight feet of water, near to the
scene of action. Tho Bayou City turned and
ran into the Harriet Lane, and she remained
secured to her by catching under her guard,
pouring In incessant yolleys of musketry, as
did also the other steamer, which was returned
by the Harriet Lane, with musketry. This
drove the Harriet Lanes men from her guns,
and probably wouD ded Commander Wainwright
and Lieutenant Commander Lee the latter NOR
tally. She was then carried by boarding, by the
Bayou City, her commander summoned TO sur
render, which he refused, calamity defending
himself with his revolver until killed.
But ave of the Harriet Lanes men were killed
and Ave wounded-one hundred and ten, ex.
| elusive OF officers and wounded, were landed
on shore, prisoners. Her commander and first
lieutenant were buried on the following day on
shore, In the cemetery, with the honors of war,
and her other officers paroled. The Owasco
which had been anchored below the town, coal.
| Ing, the night before, got under way, moved
up al the commencement of the attack, and
engaged the Gnemy's artillery on shore. When
1t was light enough for her to observe that there
were two rebel steamers alongside the Harriet
| Lane, she moved up TO her assistance, ground,
| Ing several times In 80 doing, owing to the
narrownoss of the channel. She could only
occasionally bring her ll-inch gun to bear
She was soon driven back by the incessant fire
Of the onemy's musketry, and when the howlt
Zers of the Harriet Lane opened on her she con
cluded she had been captured, and backed down
below the Sachom and Corypheus, continuing
/ her engagement with tho enemy on shore. ShC
had all her rife gun crew wounded when above
and lost, in all, one man killed and hfteer
! wounded.
The Clifton, before the action commenced
went around into Bolivar channel to render as
distance 10 the Westheld, which had got unde
way when the rebel steamers were first discov
Orod, soon aftorward got hard and fast ashore
at high water, and then made a signal for as
sistanco. While the Clifton was in the act o
rendering this assistance, the flashes Of the en-
smy's guns were first seen In the town. Com
mander Renshaw then directed Lieut., Com
handing Shaw to leave him and return TO tn
town.
The moon had now gone down, and II be
came quite dark, yet the Clifton, with som
difficulty, got around into the other channel
opening the batteries upon Fort Point, whcl
the rebels now had possession OF, sholling then
cut aud driving them up the beach as she near
oil the town. Here she anchored and contlnu
cd the engagement, but did not proceed up h
tho rescue Of the Harriet Lane, owing to tn
failure of the OwasCo, the intriCaCy of tn
channel, and the apprehension Of killing tn
crew Of the Harriet Lane, who were then eT
posed by tho rebels on her upper deck.
II was now about $50 n. IN. A white ia
was hOisted on the Harriet Lane. A boat beal
ing flag of truce, with rebel officer and a
acting master of the Harriet Lane, came dow
to the Clifton, informing her commander
the capture of the Harriet Lane, the death
her commander and first lieutenant, and IL
killing and wOundng of two-thlrds of hi
crew, all Of which was cOrrobOratod by Il
Acting Master.
Major Smith, the commander, now propose
that our vessels shOuld all surrender, and tia
Z one should be allowed, with the crows of al
! to leave the harborj otherwise they would pr,
i coed down with the Harriet Lane and all the
D steamers (three more Of which bad appearI
Il In sight after daylight, but wCro neither arme
' or barrcaded,) and proceed to capture Il
: gunbOats In line.
" Lieutenant Commander Law replied that
was not the commanding officer, and he cou