The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-11-18
TuE CALIFORNIAN
concluded from first page.

,,.os only twenty mnnteS ny Tie "''''h'
Cn-,oiniv no page of history can show
more daring achievement, or one eXecut-
ed with more brilliant rapidity Or more
complete success. ;,
The Brazilian naval commander III ba-
hia harbor acted with all the prompthts7
which could have been expected. ana Il,
few moments the dawn Of day dlscIo.e'
two vessels OF the Brazilian ilect "ol,'s
their utmost to pursue and overhaul INC
Wachrsett and her prize They were a
heavy ,loop-ot-war and a 'n''Ii .,h ~
steamer. neither OF them any "''.'" ~ ~
point OF speed for the handlw'rN Oh ->I"
England mechanics, and -o'il gave up ''e
chase =, the Mon and rebel steamer ap-
pearcd below the h"rI|"li'
Can't Collins soon ordered the ships to
Ie.,yr to and examined his prize. lie |
,ound that neither vessel was materially
danaecd by the collision, and that there
lad been no injury to limb from the con-
fused firing which followed ii. Twelve
officer, and torty-cight men of the Florl-
da', crew were captured. and all her store>s
papers. records, etc, were found uudls-
tlrbcd in the cabin The two vessels soon
steamed for ST. Thomas. arriving there on
the 10Th ult., and finding the kearsarge
already in port. 1t was intended to keep
the matter at Bahia a secret at st. Ihom-
a.. but it was accidentally revealed by a
seaman of the WachuSctt to one OF the
crew of the Kearsarge, and some hints Of
ii GOT wind in the town, causing great eX-
element there. The Florida remained
outside the bay. while the Wachusett en-
tered to obtain coal.
Acting Assistant Paymaster W. W.
Williams of the Wachusctt, Surgeon
Charlton of the Florida and sixteen of the
crew Of the privatecr We're transferred to
the Kearsargr, which sailed October ;lSt,
and arrived here at midnig on Monday,
a. previously reported PavmaSter Viii
Iiams being charged with dispatches for
the government, left bv the earliest tram
yesterday morning for Washington. The
Narhu~ctt and Florida Were to sail from
~. Thomas on the ID inst for New DIRK
where they may now be daily expected.
The crew of the Florida is composed of
Fn"'l~hmrn. lrlslmen, Germans, etc,
and confirms no citizens Of rebel States.-
Among her officers. however, there are
several sOuthcrnrr-. Surgeon Charlton,
who i now on boatd thr Knar-argc, Is a
native of GtorLia IL, was before the
war an officer in the intel States navy,
and was stationed ior several Years in
Chelsea. lie has many acquaintan>aS in
Boston. He was here on the dav of Pres
ldent lincolnS first election. and left short
ly after to tender his services to the south
ern conird'rary. H. Is II gentleman in
appearance and manner. and not reluctant
to ~pcnN OF the circumstances of his cap
ture and the condition of our national at
fans. lie wears the full uniform Of the
rehr! naval service, OF plain gray cloth.
with the rank indicated by shoulder straps
a, IN the mon custom.
SURGEON Charlton expresses full conf
denre that his captivity will last ion only
very limited period, believing that the
whole affair will terminates did tho 4a,..
urr OF Mason and oiilcl! three years ago.
If the demands which he thinks will be
made by the Brazilian government are
REGARDED by our authorities, he LOOKS for
an Endorsement OF tie claims by the GOV
crnmrntS Of Great Britain, France and
Spain. in such manner a. to compel
compliance. The seltl officers profess a
complete indifference as to the result OF
yesterdays elections They say that the
north entirely mistakes the universal SEN
timcnt Of the south, which they affirm
will never conScn; on any terms to a res
toration Of the Union. They declare an
unShahen confidence in the ultimate tri-
mnph OF their cause, placing their reliance
on the Intrinsic advantages in q military
point OF view, moving constantly on inte-
rior lines. They argue that volunteering
i entirely at an end in the north, and
That the CONSUMPTION cannot be enforced
here. while the rebel army Is kept up to a
fighting standard by steady recruiting,
and ha, a reserve always on hand Of three
hundred thousand negroes capable OF eff
clcnt military service.
Surgeon Charlton estimates that the
Florida has steamed over forty thousand
miles since she lett Brest, not having spent
ten days in port in nine months. During
her career she has captured about forty
American vessels.