Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-25
The Affair at Sabine Pass.

u. >. STEAMER SLooP PENSACOLA, New
Orleans, Sept 4.-Sr: | have the honor to
inform the department that Mai. Gen. Banks,
having organized force of 1000 men under
Maj. Gen. Franklin, to effect landing at Sa-
bine Pass for military occupation, and re-
quested the operation of the navy, which |
most gladly acceded | assigned the command
of the navy force to acting volunteer Lieut..
Frank Croker, comm" ding the u. S. steam
er Clifton, accompanied by steamer Sachem,
acting volunteer Lieut.. Amos johnson, U. S.
steamer Arizona, acting master Howard lib
bits, and U. S. steamer Granite City, acting
master C. w. Sampson, these being the only
available vessels of sufficient light draught, at
my disposal for that service; and as they have
good pilots, | have no doubt the force is suf-
iicient for the object.
The defences ashore Gnd afloat are believed
to consist of two 32-pounders, en- barbette,
battery of field pieces, and 70 bay boats
converted into rams. 1t was concerted with
Gen. Franklin that the squadron of four gun
boats, under command Of acting volunteer
Lieut.. Croker, should make the attack, as
sisted b. $50 sharpshoOters from the army, di-
vided among his vessels. regret exceeding
ly that the officers and crews who have been
on blockade there can not participate in the
Jack, in consequence of the excessive
Uraught of their vessels. The New London,
drawing nine and half feet, is the lightest
draft Of all the blockaders, and has made re.
peated attempts to go in alone, but failed, 1
have the honor to be-
Your obedient servant, II. II. BELL,
Commanding W. G. B. Squadron.
U. S. STEAMER ARIZONA, SABINE BAR,
Sept. l0.-Sir-At A. NJ. on the Sth, the
Clifton stood into the bay, ard opened ire on
the fort, to which no reply was made. AT 9
A. NJ, the Sachem, Arizona, and Granite
City, followed by the transports, stood over
the bar, and with much difficulty, owing to
the shallowness of the water, reached anchor
t two miles from the fort at l. A. M, the
gunboatS covering the transports. AT 3 80 P.
NJ, the Sachem, followed by the Arizona, adj
vanced up the eastern channel to draw the
fire of the fort, while the Clifton advanced up
the western channel, followed by the Granite
City, tc cover the landing of division of
troops und9r Gen. Weitzel.
No reply to the fire Of the gunboats was
male, till we were abreast OF the fort, when
they opened with eight guns, three of which
were rlf1ed. Almost at the same moment the
Clifton and Sachem were struck in their boil
ers, enveloping the vessels in steam. There
not being room TO pass the Sachem, the Ar-
IONA was backed down the channel, and a
boat was sent to the Sachem, which returned
with engineer Munroe and fireman Linn, bad
ly scalded, and since dead. The Arizona
had now grounded by the stern. The ebb tide
caught her bows, and swung her across the
channel, and she was with much difficulty ex-
tricated from tins position, owing to the en-
CINE becoming heated by the collection of
mud in the boilers.
The flags OF the Clifton and Sachen were
run down, and white flags were flying at the
toremasts. As all the transports were now
moving out of the bay this vessel remained
covering their movements, until she ground
ed, remaining till midnight when she was
kedged off. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
II. TIBBETTs, Acting Master,
Commanding U. S. Stea ner Arz iona.
To Commodore II. II. Bell.