The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-25


WASHINGTON. Sept. "a
The following was received at the Navy De-
partment to-day:
az. S. Steam Stoop Pensacola, New Or
leans, Sept 4th.-Sir: L have the honor to in
form the department that Mai. Gen. Banks,
having organized force of 1000 men under
Mai. Gen. Franklin to effect a landing at Sa-
bine Pass for military occupation, request
ed the cooperation of the navy, which most
gladly acceded to. | assigned the navy force
TO Acting Volunteer Lieut.. Frederick Crock
er, commanding u. 5. steamer Clifton, accom-
panied by steamer Sachem, Acting Voun-
teer Lieut. Amos Johnson; u. s. steamer
Arizona, Acting Master Howard Tibbetts.
and IT, s. steamer Granite City, Acting Mas
ter G. w. Sampson, these being the only avail
able vessels of sufficiently light draught for
that service, and as they have good pilots. l
have no doubt the force is sufficient for that
object The defences ashore and aloat are
believed to consist of two 32-pounders en-
barbette, a battery of field pieces, and two
bay boats converted into rams. 1t was con-
certed with Gen. Franklin that the squadron
of four gunboats under Acting Vol Lieut..
Croker should make the attack, assisted by
$50 sharpshooters from the army, divided
among his vessels. i regret exceedingly that
the officers and crews who have been on block
ade there cannot participate in the attack in
consequence of the excessive draught of their
vessels. The New London, drawing 0 l-2
feet is the lightest draught of all of the block
aders, and has made repeated attempts to 20
in alone, but failed.
have the honor to be, your ob't serv't,
III. III. BELL,
Com'dg w. l.. b. Squadron pro TEN.
Hon. Gideon Welles, Sec'y of the Navy"
U. S. Steamship Pensacola, New Orleans,
Sept. l4.-Sir:-My dispatch No. Al, informed
you of the repulse of the expedition to Sabine
Pass and the capture of the Clifton and the
Sachem by the rebels, and the safe return of
the troops and transports to the river, without
loss. Lieutenants Croker and jackson are
reported to have fought their vessels CALAMITY
and are unhurt. The rebel steamers took the
Clifton aud Sachem in tow within twenty
minutes after their surrender. The extent of
their injury is not known. The arrival of the
Owasco this morning has given mo the only
reports of the naval officers concerned that |
have yet received. The attack, which was to
have been a surprise, and made at early dawn
on the It'll, was not made until 3 o'clock Z. NJ.
of the Sth, after the entire expedition had ap-
peared off the Sabine for 20 hours, and re-
connoisance had been made on the morning
of the Sth by Gems. Franklin and Weitzel, and
Lieut.. Comd'g Croker, when they decided
on form of attack different from that recon-
mended by myself.
have the honor to be your obt serv't,
III. Ii. BELL,
Com-ug w. L. b. Squadron, pro TEN.
To. Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Sec. Navy.
u. S. Steamer Arizond, Sabine Bay, Sept.
10.-Sir:-At 9 o'clock A. NJ, on the Sth inst.
the Clifton stood into the bay and opened fire
on the fort, 10 which no reply was made. At 8
O'Clock A. nj. the Sachem, Arizona and Gran
lite City, followed by the transports, stood over
the bar and with much difficulty, owing TO the
shallowness OF the water, reached the anchor
age two miles from the tort at IL o'clock A.
NJ. the gunboats covering the transports. At
80 L. NJ, the Sachem, followed by the Ar-
zona, advanced nF the eastern channel to
draw the fire of the forts, while the Clifton
advanced up the western channel, followed by
the Granite City to cover the landing OF a d-
vision of troops under Gen. Weitzel. No re-
ply to the fire of the gunboats was made I'M
til we were abreast of the forts, when they
opened with eight guns, three of which were
rifed. Almost at the same moment the Cliff
ton and Sachem were struck in their boilers,
envelopng the vessels in steam. There not
being room to pass the Sachem, this vessel
was backed down the channel and a boat was
sent to the Sachem, which returned with en-
gineer Munroe and fireman Linn badly scald-
ed, since dead. The Arizona had now ground
ed by the stern. The ebb-tide caught her
bows and swung her across the channel and
she was with much difficulty extricated from
this positson, owing to the engine becoming
heated by the collection of mud on the boilers.
The flags of the Clifton and Sachem were run
down and white flags were flying at the fore.
As all the transports were now moving out of
the bay, this vessel remained, covering their
movements, until she grounded. remaining I'M
til midnight, when she was kedged OIL.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
III. TIBBETTs,
Acting Master commanding U. S. Steamer
Arizona
To III. H. BELL, Com'dg &C., New Orleans