Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-25
THE TEXAS EXPEDITION.


Official reports of the expedition to Texas ant
of the disaster at Sabine Pass, were received 4
the Navy Department yesterday.
In report dated Sept. lth, Commodore Bell
in temporary command OF the West Gull
Blockading Squadron, says that according t
the request OF General Banks who had organ.
lied land force under General Franklin tC
ehect landing at Sabine Pass in Texas, he or.
dered naval force 10 cooperate with General
franklin. The command of the Naval force
was assigned to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant
frederick Crocker, commanding the United
states steamer Clifton, accompanied by the
steamer Sachem, Acting Volunteer Lieutenan,
Amos Johnson; United States steamer Arizona
Acting Master Howard Tibbits; and United
States steamer Granite City, Acting Master @
w. Lawson.
1t was concerted with Gen. Franklin that the
squadron OF four gunboats, under the command
OF Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Croker. stall
make the attack alone, assisted by about ISG
sharpshooters from the army, divided among
his vessels, and, having driven the enemy from
his defenses and destroyed or driven off the
rams, the transports were then to advance and
land their troops.
Under date of Sept. 18th, Com. Bell notifies
the Department Of the repulse of the expedi-
ton; the particulars OF which are thus given
REPORT OF ACTING MASTER rIBBIrs.
UNITED STATES STEAMER ARIZONA, SA.
BINE BAR, Sept. 10.-Hon. Gideon WctIes. Sec
retdsy of the Nary-Sir: At 6 a. m on the sth
the Clifton stood in the bay and opened fire on
the forts, to which no reply was made. At 8
a. m. the Sachem. Arizona and Granite CITY,
followed by the transports, stood over the b. /
and with much difficulty, owing to the shall
loWness OF the water, reached an anchora ye
two miles from the fort at IL q. M, the gun.
boats covering the transports.
AT 81 +. NJ, the Sachem, followed by the
Arizona, advanced up the eastern channel to
draw the fire OF the forts, while the Clifton
advanced UP tho western channel The
Granite City was to cover the landing of a dI.
VISION OF troops under General Weitzel. No
reply to the fire of the gunboats was made nm.
TIL we Were abreast of the forts, when they
opened with eight guns, three OF which were
rlned. Almost at the same moment the Clifton
ana Sachem were struck in their boilers, en-.
veloping the vessels in steam. There not be.
ing room to pass the Sachem, this vessel was
backed down the channel and a boat was sent
10 the Sachem. which returned with Engineer
Munroe and fireman Linn badly scalded (since
deadly
The Arizona had now grounded by the stern
the ebb tide caught her bows and swung her
across the channel. She was with much diff.
Guilty extricated from this position, owing To
the enginebecoming heated by the collection OF
mud In the boilers.
run down and white flags were flying at the
Tore AS all the transports were now moving
out OF the bay, this vessel remained, covering
their movements until she grounded and re.
manned until midnight, when she was knedged
OF, as no assistance could be had from apy OF
the tugs of the expedition.
There are now on board this vessel VIM
Low, Peter Benson, George w. Maker, John
HoWels, Samuel Smith and George Hurton. OF
the crew Of the Sachem.
II. TIBBITs, Acting Master,
Commanding u 5. steamer Arizona
Commodore H. W. Bell, commanding w. G. B
Squadron, New Orleans.