Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-01-23
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Tue CAF1UEE OF OR FLEEI At GALvEs-
1oN.-The arrival of the Illinois in New
York On Friday gives u more detailed &C
counts Of the capture of the Harriet Lana
and Wcs,feld at Galveston. We compile
the following from published letters;
Oar fleet at Galveston was as follows
Gunboat Westfeld, flagship, Commodore
W. b. Renshaw, with an armament Of eight
guns, Two Of which were 9-inch guns, four
6S-pounders, and two riied-guns.
Gunboat or revenue cutter Harriet Lane,
Captain wainwright, with three 9-inch guns,
a 3O-pound rife, and four howitzer-. each
throwing 20-pound ball
Gunb0aJ Owasco, Captain Wilson, mount
ing one ll-inch gun, a S0-pound ri6ed gun.
and four 2i-pound howitzcrs.
Gunboat Slchem. Captain Amos johnson,
with two 32-pourd guns, and 32-pound ii
fed gun.
GunbOat Clifton, Captain r. L. Law, lieu
tenant commander, with seven guns, Of
which two were 9-inch, four 81 FOUNDERS. and
one pivot rided gun.
Schooner Corypheus, prize captured in
Matagorda Bay, mounting one 32-pounder.
and one smaller gun.
Transport Mary Boardman, formerly built
for Chinese gunboat, and having every ap-
pearance Of being built for a Gunboat She
is small propeller.
Transport Saxon, not in the fight
Two or three small sailing vessels previ-
ously taken as prizes.
On the night of Wednesday, the 3lst of
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water below the town, of Pelican's Spit, and
the Mary E. Boardman alongside. The Sax
on lay farther down near the entrance of the
channel, and the Others We're
farther of, excepting the Harriet Lane.
which was still nearer the town, and. from
her position, controlled the railroad and all
passing from Eagle Grove to Galvcston,-a
distance of some four and a half miles
The town is situated on Galveston Island.
which communicated with the main land by
a magnificent bridge, over which the Calves
ton end Houston Railroad ran. The whole Sc
cret Of the rebels getting into Galveston lay
in the fact that they came, even with their
artillery. over this bridge from the main
land. Ii is stated that an agreement bad
been entered into with Magruder or some
other confederate commanding officer, by the
terms Of which the bridge was not to be dee-
troyed by either party Also. the Harriet
Lane was TO be allowed 10 remain undisturbcd
of the Galveston end Of the bridge; and the
rebels were allowed to station battery at
the Eagle Grove end. Ii was further under
stood that the confederates were not to usg
the bridge in any hostile manner such as for.
the transportation Of troops or artillery. The
bridge was very extensive, and the desire t.
save it is the only explanation.
The Federal force ON shor,, was 800 of the
42d Mass. under Col. BurrilL. stationed on a
wharf at the eastern end Of the town On the
night Of December-3la reconnaissance re
suited in the discovery of large rebel cayal-
~ force in the western part of the city soon
after signals from the feet announced the APP
preach of hostile force, and Col. Burrill,
harricading the entrance to the wharf awaited
the result.
The rebels opened FIRE with light artillery,
but did little damage. The enemy was fair
" repulscd twice. notwithstanding his artil-
lerv, while our troops had none, and not
withstanding he had ten mcu for every one
Of our. Daylight showed white signals on
the Harrie, Lane, and Col Burrill sent boat
to the Owasco, the nearest vessel. 10 ask the
me.fning. Before the boat could return.
however, the Union troops bad surrendered.
The rebels, in addition to their prisoner,
captured 100000 rife cartridge and 800
picks and 500 shovel-.
The loss of the Union laId forcc Wa, quite
small-prohably not more than / kiiie'ia and
~ wounded
The Harriet Lane, A. before mentioned,
sent up signals about half past , in the
morning, announcing the approach Of II rei,-
el force. Immediately the fleet was aroused.
The Westfeld hauled up anchor and ran
round near Pelican Spit. intending to take
up position abreast the town by the
whar,es By some characterization, however.
she was drawn by the current directly on
Pelican Spit, and struck, bows on, where the
water was only feet d@p, though at the