The New York herald., 1863-02-06
THE BATTLE OF GALVESTON.
Tne heoei Account or the Anair-Thc
reception Of the Union solaicrs tn
Houston, 80.

! IIomy.-.. Ne Union 5oAoAers AZ
rfrcm the Houston Telegraph. Jan. 81
AS General MaRruder his way 70 Texas, accom-
panied BY Judge Oldham, MAJOR Forshey and Others th,
su6ecs Of retakng Gaivest Island was brought up
dicu1es u the undertaking canvassed, AID the
questi Came up whether the work was feasible hajoi
forshey observed General think the best plan 70 re
solve 70 retake Galveston any way then ths
difficulties" The General replied thai he thought 90 TOO
and from that point began the undertaking
Arrived IN Texas. the nrst thing the set about
was aofOash examination Of tho ground and full can
ys OF such pans ~ presented themselves for the work
He also gathered ali the forces from the various parts
the State that could bs spared from other lines Of defence
artillery, which MAYOR BoomAeld Chief Quartermast
was pushing orwsrd from the Mississippi fst as he
| could Iney reached here only last week.
On Thursday december Is, was determined to delay
longer and orders al 0uoe issued TO prepare
the attack was then hoped that everything might be
got ready oy saturday night which would have given
four hours Of darkness for the ataok-,he setting
at about two nut the gunboass could not be fixed
Of putting up the bulwarks was not completed in tims
was ieund that all things could not be got Ia roadi
ness before the 3lst Of December and the night Of tho
3lst was fixed for the attack The Bayou Cty-a Hous-
ton and Galveston packehAd been taken by the STATE
and asssd up q gunboa under charge q Cap. Henry
riled gun on her bow deck. Buwarks Of ootoa bales
were built up on her sides, and force q hundred msn
orders q the head Of Galveston Bay Cap. wer Of Com
pany Cooks regiment. commanded the gun, sad was
Capt Schnisdes being ssooad IN Command Col 0rsea
oommande4 the shsrpsAoosess, who were detailed from
Tns Nepsuns another bsyoa packet was taken ON the
2oh, and under direction Oi MAJOR Leon smith, ned up
gunbest well a. It could 10 the brief time
guatds and she had much tho appearance whoa she le
here Of wolf loaded boat taking her cargo down
howt1er guns, and Commanded by Captain w. H sang
ster. Captain Harby Of the Confederate states Navy
commanded her guns. Liea.enan: Harvey Clark beng
second In command and Colonel Bagby, Of tbs seventh
cavalry, commanded the detAn of his who were on
board as sharpshootees. The detailed from the
cali for volunteers. and being anxious take part In
the affair Besides these there several volunteers
about l60 Tue Neptune left here tbs morning Of the
Same day with the Bayou City.
The Lucy Gwinn accompanied the expedition tender,
under command Of Major Andrew Mckee, and the John
r. Carr, also tender under command Of Captain John
wless On the Carr there were number Of troops and
volunteers and the Gwinn quite number of specta.
tors, who went prepared take hand in tho fight II
their services were required.
addition these there were some other yesselsthe
cutter lodge the Royal Yacht, 6c.that did not come
into the action.
The whole naval force was under the command Of Major
Leon smith who was admirably ntted Tor tho command
Of the expedition by his experience sailor In TACT
better for all the stations could NOT have been picked
It was ordered that the boats should get In position by
twelve O'Clock and await the signal from the land
for the attack lhsy went down and after midnight
rived close by the eet They discovered aud sig
lights from tbs feet at showed that the enoiny
awake and watching for them They looked
| ly for the signal trOm the shore
Meanwhile the land iorces consisting OF detachments
from some four or i've regiments, under command OF
Brigader General scurry and Colonel K b. DeBray we're
moved at about dark from Virginia Point. This the
mainland and from 1t bridge two miles in length
Galveston Bay to Galveston Island being about i've miles
distant from the city The battle took place at the city
tire gunboats along IN ont OF the in the bay
the andward side Of the island. Colonel leaTay
manded the attacking while General scurry
the command OF the reserves.
From the bridge they moved down 10 the CITY, but
Until after four o'clock In the mesnne the bol,s hNd
withdrawn 70 Half No shoals, twelve mics distant
awaited signal At about nve O'Clock (1en sia,rudcr
says three and spectator says four, but timed by
telegraph and exact II eight minutes before ve
Houston time all things on shore beng in readiness the
ball opened, General Mlgruder fing the first lhe
boats ut once put and hurried the scene.
They must have been hour or the way, daring
which the artillery duel between the ships and
batteries was one OF the most terrific record.
shut everything but the fash Of the guns The
scene was at once sublime and appalling Our men we,e
driven from their guns but rallied and fought nobly
As dawn approached the re OF the enemy appeared
10 n severity and fearing tnat our men would
be unable Withstand after daylight the eneny
better view Of position, orders were prepared
withdraw Just they about 70 be issued how
was made at headquarters that tho Bayou City Nep-
had arrived and opened on the Harriet Lane In.
stanty vigor was Infused in our mon; they plyed
their pieces with redoubed energy and seemed deter
mined that the victory should be ours.
The gunboats paid their frst attention 70 the Harriet
being much ihe weaEer soon such injuries 70
disable her The Bayou City, however. .gallantly oontinu
cd the night and running the Harriet Lane swept
her decks by boarding. took possession the ship.
Cdpoin Wasnrig and his esaesanss auing been Kill.
ed, the ship was surrendered BY ths ~dsters mae
Tho Westfeld started Of apparently disabled, and
made hsr way to Bolivar Channel between Pelican
Spit and Bolivar Point Here she subsequently dos
troyed by the enemy, during truce. The propeller Os
wego lay in the channel about thrceourths OF mile
from the Bayou City and Harriet Lane As the Lane
boarded the Owasco steamed up 70 within two three
hundred yards Of them, firing into both. The force OF
the collision drove the Bayou Cys stem 50 far into and
under the wheel and gunwae Of the Lane that she could
be got The Lane also careened that her
guns could not be worked, and consequently useless
They both lay therefore, at the mercy Of the Owasco
| Hcrcuiean efforts made TO extrcatc them. The
Owasco evidently fearing the Lane's guns, withdrew
/ position about mile distant. IL became plainly
! evident that unless the Bayou City and the har.
| rict Lane could be separated, the enemy could
| escape IL they wished. 10 gain time, there
| fore, flag OF truce was taken 70 the osasco aud
Clifton, lying close together and demand for a
render lime asked to communicate with Commo
| dore Renshaw, VINO was in the Westlcld truce Of
three hours agreed Previous TO this the Forty
second Massachusetts regiment, quartered on kuhn's
wharf, were charged. They we're protected by barn.
cadcs, and had taken up the panks from the wharf
rendering them impassabe, and Our forces Withdrew
During the truce with the vessels the unconditional
render OF these men was demanded ana complied WITH
Their colors consist United states flag oil SIX,
white nag having the coat Of OF Massachusetts
painted IT, with the motto, Ease ptu 1ldcidaa sub
L,sr1te O1 sefdp Under freedom the sword seeks
peaceful quet' The appearance VI the colt Of arms Is
rather singular. la the is Indian with his
bow the right corner OF the shield is single star
| which he ID giancing askance We might say the
savage coyetng the TeNns star. Unfortunately the
in the ascendant and the result proved the vanity
| OF his wishes Az any rate the sword Oh the forty
second has found peaceful quiet by the aid OF Texas
| fcemcn.
He ore the truce expired the federal gunboats drew OF
escaped out OF the harbor utterly routed and de-
eaed leaving in our hands the city, the harbor the ar
riet Lane the two barKs and schooner and vast sores
| valuable artillery, &c.
The affair surpasses in brlliancy anything have
ever read Of The exploits OF the Virginia and the Arkan
sas have been eclpsed, and Texas has proud pre-
emnence water, well land, and has even eceed
her soil the gories Of her achievements other
| fields
| ARRIVAL OF THE FEDERAL PRISONERS AT HOUSTON.
IL having been given that the federal prisoners cap
the recent battle at Galveston would be the
train this morning. large of citizens assem-.
bed at the depot burning with curiosity TO see tho men
who had come to desoate land but who had suddeay
been brought up with round turn by tie unpara lied
generasnp OF noble commander. After waiting
two hours IN tho rain the assembage gratled with
the sound OF the locomotive whstie and presently the
train came in view II stopped about half mile from
the depot, where the Yankees landed formed into
line AID under guard marched 20 the depot and thence
10 their quarters where they will remain Tor the present
The colonel OF the regiment, three captains, six lieu
tenants, and 800 ssoned officers, prvates and
sailors, all that could DO brought this train. The
balance some 276, will be sent up soon possible.
nalv stod hv tbQ nilr IN