Daily national Republican., 1863-04-28
Edition
FOUR O'CLOCK. p. N.
A SUCCESSFUL NAVAL RECONNOIS,
SANCE BY ACTING MASTER R. ].
HOFFNER, IN ST, GEORGES
SOUND, FLORIDA.
Capture of Rebels in
Female Disguise.
MORE BLOCKADE RUNNERS
CAPTURED.

Inc navy department TINS morning received
official dispatches from Acting Rear Admiral
Theodoras Bally, dated Key West, April 81,
1858, enclosing a report from Lieutenant Com
manding @. R. wclch, U. 8. Bark "Amandn,"
st. Georges Sound, Fla, March %, 1868, in
which he mentions the gallant cutting out Of
the schooner "Onward," in the Oclockney
river, by the boats of the amanda" From
the report of Acting Master Richard J. Hoflner,
in charge of the expedition to cut out the
schooner " Onward" VIC extract the following;
Friday, March 20, 1863, left the ship in charge
Of two boats manned by " men, 2 officers and
pilot, to proceed to the Oclockncy river for
the purpose of cutting out and capturing a
schooner supposed to he loaded with cotton.
At 10 a. M, fairly under way; at 19, thick fog,
lost sight of launch; at . p. m, clearing of,
made the launch to windward, and found our
selves about half way along Dog Island; wind
east; heat up to east end of the island and
found the wind and tide ahead and too strong
to make way against. At 8 p. M, made har-
/
der way; stormy, breeze eastward, sea heavy
for boats, causing me to work up inside shOal
At Turkey Point, when close In shore, had three
shots fired at us from salt works, said to be
worked by a man named jackson. After clear
| ing shoals worked up to South Point, aud still
ahead and too much distance to finish my work
anchored for the night. March 20, at daylight
| BOD ~, to 10 D.i a., 81
night tide started again at and got foul of a
| quantity Of oyster banksi al II worked clear,
took launch In tow and with a fair wind sailed
| for the mouth of the OcOckney river.
! About 2 a. IN. March 90, arrived at the head
of the bay, and could not find the entrance;
heating about till daylight, boat grounded some
dozen of times. | became fearful Of discovery,
and instructed the pilot to find his way out of
a complete trap, aud, If possible, get deep water
and run back. Just then the mouth of the river
! appeared open, and all hands wishing and
| agreeing, concluded to steer for and proceed In
search of the schooner. Wind fair; about s a.
IN. came in sight Of dlsmantled vessel lying
close to sLarboard bank; at same time found we
were discovered by the people on board, who
manned their boats and made for the shore.
! dispatched the launch to cut the boat OFF, but
| found her little too late. The launch, with
SChutfer, boarded the schooner few minutes
after o. M, and |, with the sloOp, abont two
minutes after, and took charge under the dag
Of the Uulted States of America. Captured at
the same time al old man aud a boy, but could
gather ltuC information from them. Hove up
anchor AID put launch ahead; having about
two hours tide, towCd down the river. About
! IL a. M, tide done, anchored about two miles
below the ferry. At underwegh, launch
ahead, relieving the Oarsmen every two hours
. ] Y rat Tlaar Of hn In af.
steering for the bay channel About 0 unfor-
tunately grounded (havng run one half the
distance iOSea)i made every effort to get of,
and after losing an anchor had TO let the vessel
lay until return tide. Set the watches, and al
lowed the men to take the first good sleep since
leaving the ship.
At daylight, March "a, tide setting carly
vessel all uRoat, started again, with about two
hours work, TO clear all danger, when, after
moyiug atout half mile and sounding in the
boat, fodnl we had taken the wrong channel,
and grounded again got out the anchor and
lines to Dr. shore, and worked hard to get her
oil, but Il no avail. Made ready to fire the
vessel, ami cleared up, reCapped and prlmed
afresh all small arms. ITOwitzcr loaded
with caniiter, and all fully prepared for de-
fence, the ground before us being a pine
forest, and with some knowledge (from the old
man taker) of the troops being some distance,
concluded to wait the next tide.
ABOUT ll'OO u III, WlsGONtTCu nOTHGInen hp-
preaching at some distance, they wheeled of
and appeared to be going away; all hands to
quarter the tide going down so low as to ground
the boats; about twelve found the horsemen
about forty and various squads of foot, Gin all
about 2OO) coming quite near, running from
tree to tree, and taking position to attack. At
this time one gun fired from the shore, was
answered with ten muskets from the vessel at
the enearcstpersOns The battle had begun; sharp
fire from the shore, with MIME rifles, every shot
striking on board the vessel. The howitZcr
with canister was then fired, but with what
effect was not known-thG shore party being
concealed behind trees our firing was kept up
brisk, when any thing appeared to be shot at ;
one man was shot by our muskets, when q
squad appeared Of some twenty; we dropped n
shrApncl among thCm--the effect must have
been severe as all that could get away left.
Some OF them remained, and have every rca-
son to believe number were wounded.
The hOwitZer not having a good chance to
work, | fired but few shots with it, but depended
more on muskctry--the little brcastwark that
We were enabled to get up keeping our men
safe up to this time. The tide flowing fast, and
the boats floating, concluded to fire the vessel
{ embark the hOwitzCr, and retreat In boats.
: Having tlr anchor out a,tCrn, and the vessel
> drawing lat 81 feet Of water, was fearful of
her swinging close In shore, as We were not
more than $50 yards from the shore then. After
holding on about one hour and a half, | uuim-
heTcd and embarked the hOwitZer, under cover
Of muskCtry, embarked luunCh's crew, applied
the match nj four different fires Jumped into
the slOOp, and attempted to leave. ON swing
ing FRONT MyussCl, found that the boats touched.
. All hands Jumped out aud dragged them about
half "A mile over mud Hats, during this time the
-, whole of tie enemy playing upon us in good
I style. james Mooney at this time was Killed
iustdntIy-thll through the head, the ball pas
= Ing through 5 body. AT tho same time, re,
= "riyrd rid" bail IN the right side Of the neck
Il passing around the body and lodging in the left
side, d"epi, tnlrdlGd in the muscles. Other
c men were Ir q, about the same time; hut nc
= man, uNrcpt one, ililed-rycry one doing his
c best, under all c.r umstanCcs, working or tight
ing, and being ably assisted by Mr.. Shailrr
After hard Dragging, and perfectly exhausted
i We succeeded IN getting in deep water aud out
t Of danger.
4 would Call your attention to Henry lCary
= who, after a severe wound In the chest and
d losing his own boat, caught mine and remuincC
e on board some five minutes before giving up.
After getting in the channel, concluded Il
n make for tlG 81. Marks blockade for assist
!, anCe, and arrived on board the United States
F steamer IeDdrick Hudson.
C CABuALTIEs.
d James Mooney, seaman, killed. K. j. Hon
b. ner, acting master, wounded in the ncci Hen
n ry Lcary, hndsman, wounded in the chest
= Owen McManus, wounded In the armj W. Wal
t lace, wounded in the head; Jas. Olser, wound
7 cd in the head James Reynolds, wounded il