Daily national Republican., 1863-04-28

denis Point, In Tampa Bay, on blockade, a
smoke was discovered on the beach, and shortly
afterwards three persons made their appear
ance, waving a white flag. Lieut.. Randall, in
command, supposlng them to be escaped con-
trabands or others wishing to communicate
with the vessel, sent boat In charge Of II. X.
Lapham, with a nag Of truce flying In the boat.
Two Of the parties were seen to be clothed In
female apparel, with their hands and faces
blackened and one Of them appeared to be
overcome with joy, exclaiming, "Thank God !
Thank Godl am freel'
On the boats touching the beach the female
dresses were thrown OF and It then became ovi-
dent that they were white men disguised for
the purpose of decoying the boats in shore.
Immediately afterwards about one hundred arm
ed men from the bushes round about demanded
the surrender Of the boat, which being refused
they fred a volloy of musketry into her, wound
ing the officer in charge and three Of the crew.
The flre was returned by the boats crow, some
firing and the rest hauling the boat of, un I'll
they were out of range. As soon as tlfc firing
commenced The Pursuit was sprung, and her
battery brought TO bear, and four shells fired
amOngstthe rebels, but probably without effect.
The gunboat Tahoma arriving at Tampa Bay
the next day, her commander, being Informed
of treacherous conduct Of the rebels, ordered
the Pursuit down the bay and proceeded with
the U. 3. schooner Beauregard, up to lombard
was impossible to do anything more than to
try the range of the Beauregard's rife, which
was done with satisfactory results.
On the I'd inst, the commander of the Taho-
ma, while returning this vessel from q closer
inspection of the battery, had three shots fired
at him. The Beaurcgard was then sent as near
the battery as was possible, and both vessels
commenced firing on the town, hitting some of
the houses; but what other damage was done
could not be ascertained. The following are
the casualties from the engagement: Severely
wounded, two-Acting Master Lapham, gun
shot wound in the left arm, Edward X. Smith,
gunshOt wound. Slightly wounded, two-F.
A. Brayman, gunshOt wound in the back John
Peters, gunshOt wound In the scalp.
Also, a communication that on the Goth Of
March, Acting Master Flolger, with the launch
armed with an eleven inch gun, made a recon-
noissance up the st. Andrews bay. At 9 O'Clock
p. m. the boat returned, the crew having been
attacked by guerrilla party Of fifty men, and
met with the following loss:
Killed-T. King and r. B. Snow.
Misunderstanding Master James Folger; r.
Wilkes, mortally; A. X. Snyder, mortally; N.
O'Donnell, mortally; q. II. French, mortally.
Also, a communication from Admiral Baily,
enclosing a dispatch dated Cedar Keys, Fla,
April 9th, in which the following casualties
are reported, resulting from the engagement OF
the boats with the enemy at Bayport, Fla, on
the 4th of April' Slightly wOunded-John Bap'
tist.
CAPTURES
April n. The schooner Matte, captured by
| the U. s. schooner Annie, with an assorted
cargo, from Havana.
Also, the capture of the British schooner
| Gipsy, of Nassau, n. F., by the "Ethan Allen, -
on the 3Oth instant, with an assorted cargo.
Also, the seizure of the schooner "Annie b.
at sea, of EgmOnt Key, Fla, by the U. s.
schooner ITanderer.
Also, Of the capture of the schooner Theresa
sailing under British colors, GndcavOring to
run the blockade, by the U. s. steamer "IIend.
rick Hudson," April l6.
Also, of the capture of the British schooner
ASCENSION" (formerly Annie Clapp,) from
Havana, with an assorted cargo, April Il, by
the Flagship Huntsville.
Also, April 9, by the U. S. steamer Hunts
vile, Of the capture of the Confederate sloop
Minnie, loaded with cotton.
Also, April S, of the capture of the English
schooner Maggie Fulton, of Nassau, N. r., by
the U. s. bark Gem of the Sea, while attempt.
ing to run the blockade.