The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-01-29
ODDS G, uN - -.
The 0syasce asa 81 s.e ES:sSstg as Gsss I
ol Galveston.

The gunboet Owasco, under command
of Capt Wilson, was lying Oh the wharf
on wlli:h the Cnlon truops were stationed
when the attack was made on the iiarfet
Lane. She Immediately steamed up 10
take part in the fight, and rot within 300
wards OF the scene of action, whom she
could not approach nearer. She was with
in easy range OF the rebel Iifemen, as the
bullet marks through her buiwarks plain
ly show. Her shrouds were shot away,
and most of the injuries received by her
men were the result Of musket"y, Us will
be seen by the above list.
Just at daybreak the enemy got pos
session oi' the Harriet Lane, tore down the
United States flag, and raised small!
Confederate flag an a flag o! truce The
Owasco. finding the Harriet Lane was in
the hands Of the rebels, sent shot clean
through her machinery, just above the
water line, having first steamed down ont
of musket range. The shot probably
disabled her, as the rebel vessels subsequent
" towed her off to the wharf The rebels
replied 10 the Owasco with the guns OF the
Harriet Lane.
ABOUT dn ilOuf d!JGI DtCsiA' CfiS al
Magruder sent flag Of truce, in charge
of two rebel officers, on board the Owasco-
He demanded the surrender OF all the
vessels III the harbor, and gave three hours
for deliberation The captain Of the
Owasco sent the flag of truce to Commodore
Renshaw, saying he had no power IN The
matter.
The rebel Governor of Texas 0Iu5buck)
accompanied the flag Of truce, and became
so much interested in the Owasco, and 50
much amused by his own conversation,
that he remained on the Owasco while the
officers went to the WestGeld with the flag
of truce.
"She is fine vessel said the Governor,
looking about admiringly. "She will be
fine addition to the Confederate navy
The captain of the Owasco, not seeing
the subject exactly in that light, put on
steam, and started toward the bar, passing
the rebel batteries with the Governor on
deck, earnestly cOnversing on the prowess
OF the Confederate soldiers, and the advan-
tages of capturing the vessels then i'll the
harbor, bestowing especial praise upon The
Owasco. He wanted to know how much
the vessel cost. He walked from gun to
gun, asked the calibrc, and MANY other
questions, until he suddenly awoko to the
fact that the ship was gradually slipping
out of the rebel power.
sI wish to go.ashore now, captain, ,T you
please" saiG the Governor
The weather." replied the captain,
"is exceedingly fine to day. Governor, do
you always get SO pleasant a New Years |
day as this in Galveston? ? 1t is really !
"This is not right" said the Governor
81 wish now to so ashore"
"By the way, Governor" replied the
captain, the Owasco meantime pushing on |
with good speed "by the way, Governor, |
YOU are the successor Of old Sam Houston |
in the gubernatorial chair. Houston was
quite popular North at one time but he |
seems to have gone over to the rebels
Do you know where he is now -
"Hir," said the Governor, "this is all
wrong | came here under fac Of truce
and | now demand that you stop this YES
sci and put me ashore.
"Houston was singular man, replied
the captain, "a very singular maa indeed,
speaking in apparent Inconsistencies Of
the Governors dearest thoughts. ale
won a great reputation rs the champion Of
Texan independence, aud was regarded as
one cf the Grmcst Union men III the whole
South.
The Governor discovered, when too
late, that, having allowed the haS Of truce
to depart without accompanying it, he
could no longer claim its protection, and
ne now began to fear not only that the
Owasco would slip of, which she was all
the time doing, hat that he would be
carried off as a prisoner. However. the
captain kept him on Board only until he
had passed all the rebel batteries in safe
ty when he obligingly set him ashore
There is little doubt that the shot fred
through the Harriet Lane saved her from
getting out to sea, and that, if not retakcn
by US, she will at least be destroy ed.
Geg- \ "Down Easter, " it is said, re
Gently told citizen of the ''Lone Star