The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-29
THE TACONY BURNED.
HER OFFICERS AND CREW TAKEN
PRISONERS. -.

HER OFFICERS AND CktW tAkEN
PRISONERS. <ss4
Since the fight between the Enterprise and
Boxer, in our waters during the last war with
Great Britain, there has not been so much ex-
element in this city as there was last Satur-
day.
Early in the morning it was reported that
the Revenue cutter Caleb Gushing had been
surrephtiously taken out of the harbor
Various rumors were afloat respecting it.
One was that Lieutenant Davenport, who is a
Georgian by birth, had run away with her.
The cutter had been seen between 5 and 6
O'Clock in the morning proceeding outward,
through Hussey's Sound, towed by boats, as
the wind was very light, and from the OBJ
servatory all her movements could distinctly
be seen.
Mr.. Jewett, Collector of the port, was in
formed of the circumstances a little AFTER s
o'clock, and before o O'Clock he had three
steamers employed in searching for the vessel
and discovering her position. Without any
delay he chartered the steamers Forest City,
Of the Portland & Boston line, the steamer Cas-
SEQ and the steamtug Tiger. Mayor Mcclellan
engaged the steamer Chesapeake, of the Port
land and New York line. Two rifed II
Founders were placed on board the Forest
City, obtained from Fort Preble, and two g.
Founders from the Arsenal on board the Ches-
apeake. A detachment of soldiers from the
It'll Maine, under command of Adjutant Nick
erson was placed on board the tug. A detach-
ment of the 18th United Stares regulars from
Fort Preble was placed on board the Forest
City, and detachment of the 7th Maine on
board the Chesapeake, the latter being accom-
panied by Col. Mason and Capt Henry War
rem. Hundreds of our citizens volunteered to
70 In the steamers, who were furnished with
arms by the Mayor, among them the Rev. Mr..
Lowering, of Park street Church.
The Forest City LEFT Fort Preble about
quarter before II o'clock. She was watched
from the Observatory, which was crowded with
citizens, by Mr.. Moodey, who watched all her
movements, as well as those of the cutter, the
latter being seen hauling off South by West.
At quarteribefore 2o'ciock the first fash was
seen to come from the 32-pounder Of the cut
ter, and In fifty seconds the report was dis
tinctly heard. The cutter and Forest City
were off Bangs Island, about ten miles dis
tant Several more guns were fired by the
cutter, but they seemed to have no effectupon
the steamer, as she kept steadily on approach
ing the cutter.
In the meantime the Chesapeake had got
under way, and was fast steaming down to
the scene of the conflict. As she approached
1t, the Forest City let off steam and waited for
her to come up, when arrangements were
made between the steamers to board the cut
ter. The cutter kept up her firing for short
time, when, finding that she would be carried
by boarding, she was deserted after being set
ON fire. She burned some time before the
ter before o'clock blew up with loud ex-
plosion, which shook buildings in the city. The
Chesapeake, as she bore down upon the cutter,
fired her two guns at her, without effect.
Capt. Liscomb, Of the Forest City, reports
that his steamer came within gunshot of the
cutter about half an hour before the Chesa-
peake got along. The cutter fred at her six
times without showing any flag. The Forest
City then laid too, waiting for the Chesapeake
to come up. When the latter arrived, after
consultation, it was agreed to board the cut
ter, the Chesapeake being propeller, and be-
ing protected by cotton bales on deck, TO lead
the way. On proceeding to carry this plan
into execution, the rebels discovered the pur-
poses of the steamers, became frightened and
abandoned the cutter after setting fire to her.
They went in two boats, sending the cutters
:, crew, who were in irons, off in separate
boat The two boat loads Of rebels steered
for Harpswell, but were pursued and picked
up by the Forest City. There we're twenty
three persons in the two boats. The Forest
City also picked up small boat containing
Mr.. Bibber, who had been set adrift from the
cutter-he having been captured with his part
ner from small fishing boat Friday off Dam
ascove Island Mr.. Bibber informed Capt.
Liscomb that he was captured by the schoon-
er Archer, of Southport, which vessel was in
possession of rebel crew from the pirate Ia
cony. That the schooner came in Friday and
anchored below Munoy, intending TO burn
the two new gunboats and to cut out the Rev
enue cutter and the steamer Forest City. This
they found themselves unable to do; but at 2
o'clock Saturday morning they boarded the
cutter quietly, seized the small portion Of her
crew aboard, put them in irons, and made their
way out Of the harbor through Hussey's Sound,
thus avoiding the fire Of the forts.
Learning this, Capt. Liscomb Immediately
pursued the Archer, which was making her
way to the eastward as rapidly as the light
breeze would permit, and captured her, find
ing three rebels and Mr.. Bibber's partner on
board. She was towed up to the city by the
Forest City.
Capt. Bibber reports that in his opinion
there are three or more schooners npon the
coast with rebel crews, destroying our fisher
men. The Archer had only howitzer on
board, and the schooners are probably lightly
armed. He also reports a rebel steamer on