Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-22
Battle of Sabine Fass.

Battle of Sabine Fass.
From the following, which we find in the PhiIadel-
pha Inquirer it appears that the damage sustained By
the enemy at Sabine Pass was greater even than
claimed by our officers. The number Of guns horses,
mules, &C. thrown overheard by the enemy the re-
turn, will swell the trophies of the repulse The num-
Der of these, as appears by the following very
large.
The correspondent of the Chicago lines gives a
gloomy account of cur disaster at Sabine Pass After
describing the action, he GOES on to say:
1t will naturally be asked how it came that, after
fifteen minutes trial, while the gunboats Arizona and
Crescent City had not been in action and transports
with 5000 men On board were at band, of whom 500
were on board the General Banks, then in the Pass,
ready to be landed and led by the gallant Weitzal to
the assault of the edworks the expedition so has
ty, and, to all appearances so ignomncusiy abandon
ed Thereby hangs tale" The stories III clrcula:
ton in military circles, in regard to the planning and
fitting out of the expedition indicate that there has
been great blundering somewhere. Perhaps if the ia
nous Committee the Conduct of the War turn their
attention the subject, they may be able to discover
who is at fault. | do not presume to aver that any
is blamable but, " to man up tree it looks IS
if there had been bad management somewhere, and
pecally if the reports in circulation, as am inclined
to believe, have some foundation.
Again it is said reason tor the hasy return OF
the expedition, that in fitting out no provision OF fuel
FOR the steamers had been made beyond barely sufficient
to 90 and return that allowance had been made for
any delay and therefore, the return of the expedition
soon found the desired object could not be
obtained nstanter, was matter oil unavoidable and
pressing necessity If this be So it would seem to iD
dictate such an of the Of the exped
ton Immediately its appearance IN the Pass that IN
fitting OUT it deemed unnecessary to make any pro-
vision for contingencies.
1t appears that the expedition entered the Fass os
the tide was ebbng, and that Immediately afterward
the Clifton and the Sachem grounded. We are told
that the low stage of water in the Pass unlocked
for This is strange. Was there 10 one connected
with the expedition the chartering of vessels for it,
who knew the average depth Of water in the Pass, who
knew that it s only under the most favorable crcun-
stances that vessels drawing oyer six or sover feet VI
pa ter can enter? Did the Arizona and the Crescent
City and the transports, eny Of them, beside the
General Banks and the Laurel Hill, (which 1t. IS said,
threw overheard her deck load OF mules aud pieces
of artillery, to be able to get out agan0 did any CT
these vessels enter the Pass, and if not they pre-
vented by the UNLOCKED tor low stage OF water? Gan
it be that vessels employed in the expedition OF
such draft of Water that they were unable to enter the
Pass?
The cOrrespo ndent goes to state that the gunbOat
Clifton servceabe, when abandoned to the enc
N.Y. that the rebels in As hours could make her
thy. He also says:
am trustworthy informed that the number o. per-
sons lost there tat the pass from tie gunboats and
feet generally, will not fall short Of 300.
All the life boats which piled to and from the head
quarters of Major General Franklin, en- the Suffolk,
driven ashore in q sudden squall and the crews
and boats captured and taken up to the rebel tort.
During the engagement of the gunboats and rebei
batteries, several trains of crowded with troops
we're plainly seen coming into Sabine City. There
were as many as tive trans, supposed to have c3me
from Galveston.
And now l must d scribe the return home.
4 violent gale at distance out Of light Of
land off Southwest Pass 10 weather the storm great
loss Of valuable property-ammuntion, guns, stores,
mules, horses, etchad to be submitted to. Some OF
the boats, too were in very shaky condition, partcu
larry the Suffolk and Laurel Hill, and 1 may say the
Continental, On the former of which General
Franklin
From the Suffolk tLey thew overheard, among Cher
things, the horses of General franklins staff his
Included.
From the Laurel Hili they cast into the angry sea
three hundred head Of muEs, many army Wagons and
twothrds of the ammunition. Tits boat was crowded
with black troops.
The steamers CONTINENTAL Lands and others had to
dispense with ashare of their uabe freight to ride
the waves The Continental too had into the Sui
folk damaging herself and nearly sinking the other. In
fact, but tor the double hull double sdes-I do
know correctly whch-that tie S Gffok had, she would
have gone to the bottom.
The Indiana and New York ba tteres were thrown
overheard The Indiana battery ncuded four 80 poun
ders Perhaps sixteen 10 twenty sounded the depths of
the sea.
am informed, also, that the captain Of cith-r the
Clifton the Sachem shot the pilot dead who had as
serted tLat there Wonld be und ten feet Of water il
The Pass.
Among the captured on tae Clifton were four of.
Gen. Franklin's staff and either On the Sachem Or
think the latter--we>t. seven companies OF
ork sharpsbOoters captur ed of course.
My informant, himself ia the peditioD believes that
the rebels had permitted them all to land every enc
would have been captured. He thinks the rebels sup
osed that the United States forte fully OF
heir position guns, number, &c. and had in ad-
quate force to encounter thvnt hence their desire
revent the deharkation.