, 1864-06-17
Narrative Of nm Attempt by the Rebels
TO Capture the EaBHern Gulf Bio ck-
aiding squadron.

their horses In the streets and sent to camp.
Narrative Of I'M Attempt by tho Rebels
70 Capture the Eastern Gulf Block
9. s. 8. HENDR1cK HupsoS,)
E. G. o. SQUADRON,
KET WEST, FLORIDA, June s, 1E6a.}
Editors Chicago Tribune:
The following contains O brief de1ineati0u
Of the unsuccessful attempt by the rebels to
capture number OF our blockading vessels
on the Gulf Coast
The plan was bold and audacious one
deserving, perhaps, some little attention BY
our loyal people. It Was after 3 fruit1ess
cruise Of thirty-two days that We again re-
turned to Key West, "the most delightful ol
places," where the residents charge one dol
lar to be looked at, and where malndy ol
the most fearful nature Inns been discovered
namely: Pecuniary Fever, which Is both
alarmingly. contagious and infectious, and
has thus far bafI1ed the skill Of the u. DIS.
The supposltion was We should be delayed
in port for at least three weeks. It was the
old story" machfaery out of order, boilers
in want Of repair, needing what is technically
called *cfE patches.'' FL havesasked the
question would not hard ones suit the
csse better. hut received In reply for
such Presumption, polite Invitation to re-
noranee and curiosity. Bit now to busl.
neEs; wt. had made our mfnds up for q
resting spell, from that eternal rolling and
pitching, which the waters of the gulf are
SO celebrated for; when in the midst Of con-
gratulations, an order WAS issued from head
quarters to the effect that the Hudson should
re$o }1r,n fhAl l-rr Ia
dubIous-what could it mcan-only Just en-
tering port and ordered to- coal. up was a
problem even more than the wisest could
solve. Yet It was plainly evident that some
thing was about to be done, "something
was IN the wird." What could It bes The
question was repeatedly asked hut received
no q. finite answer. Anything to relieve sus-
mor,'' would have been eagerly seized and
te foured for truth. But Id the meantime
we have hauled up to the wharf and that
dreadful operation commenced, " coaling;"
under the heat OF the sun and the
weight Of .coal, Jack considers the job IN
unthankfal operation; presently messen-
ger makes his appearance, what news, Ia the
Somerset and Chambers are both taken!"
Taken! where? ie the question, tor such IN
idea was extremely preposterous. ttThey
a1e taken by the rebels, J" was the response.
"a report was In circulation that the cap-
ture lns been made. and your vessel ia
scene Of the DISASTER" Such was the mes.
sage received, The blocknding vessels Som
erset and Chambers were stationed in the
ha1bor OF Apelachecola, within eight miles
Of the town, which was once so thriving
aud prosperous, but made gloomy enough
by the fortunes Of war. The first vessel
mentioned Is steamer, and formerly New
nv IL foN1- han ffA LAT AuI
schooner, which, before the war, was en-
gagged In the coasting trade.
Afler taking in . sufficient quantity OF
coal, and receiving the necessary Or
cers, We once more started up the
coast; as a matter Of course under the
circumstances, all, sorts Of rumors were
afloat, sPeculations were on the gui vire
The cruise up the coast was pleasant one
In regard to weather, but devoid of an; thing
of adventure save the usual monotoaous
routine Of chip duties; fonrty hours, Of
hopes and expectations, served to convince
rs Of the untruthfu lness Of the t'Key West
Report" yet it Was not without straw Of
foundation. On nearing the harbor OF Ap-
e3ach, the U. s. S. Taluma was described,
as the only vessel apparently visible to the
naked eye; but by the aid Of the glass the
Somt rset WAS 'tnade out'' further up to-
wards the river; anL now came proof posi-
HTe Of the safety Of those feared to be lost.
The schooner Chambers had previously re-
leycd the .. s. 8. Stars and Stripes, and
counted for her non appearance.
The foundation Of the report originated
from m atIair which transpifed In the vicln-
ity Of Ape1acl; and but for the time
Iy interference Of him who rules su-
preme 1t wonld have proved Sc
verely disastrous to the feet. On the 10Th
OF May, > force Of 400 rebels, consisting In
raj nj tHt4T Ce F1f o ha1 Nnrtf
TINT was, and Lad By Catsby Jones, who
Was formerly an ofbcer in the United States
Army, but now enc OF the rankest Of .seccs-
sionists, landed upon the extremity Of Dog
Island, within three miles OF the q. 8. s.
Adele: So expertly a9d silently was the
the above mentioned yessll had even sus-
pectipg thought o. so near IN approach of
The entDy. Thus far, the maeaudefs worked
successfully, making no demonstrations
whatever, nntl II o'clock at night; then
embarking in bcats, they pushed with full
confidence OF making q sure capture of the
Adele. Bent on nothing less than murder,
OF the night, were vending their way to-
wards their intended victims. The night
was favorable fer the conEummation OF
the design, but 80 confident Of the result ,was
the leader. that he paid no heed at the ti1neof
leaving slofe to the warnings which snr-
IuQHuEA Luclus 1AC luoon! eucQuauyy lib
bright luster, reflect upon the rutiled Wa
ters a brilliant and raGl attng phosphorus, By
which every tp1ash Of the oars could be
distinctly seen for some distance; observing
this and fearing p1 emature detection Of their
long contemplated plans, the leader ordered
return to the shore, which being executed,
they remained concealed for the whole Of
the following day.
The night Of the Goth was again the scene
Of d sitnilar undertaking. The aspects of
affairs we're of q different nature; black,
threatening clouds completely obscurcd the
moon, thereby causing objects to be iuyisi-
bic to the cas al glance Of q lookout. But
He who rules with divine power, who con-
trolls both winds and waves, and holds the
destiny Of nations in His hands, saw proper
to eauEc a storm to sweep destruction over
this yillainous proceeding. Ere the frail
boats had reached half the Distance to
be accomplished, the storm overlook them
and spent It's Jury around and about the
whole scene; tho impending danger, which
Was now fully percelT ed, forced the occu-
pants Of s,, ths bouts to app9y snee ~ means as
ward was nothing but pure.r. shuess, and the
only alternative was to endcaFoA to rcach
the shore. Three boats had already Gwamp-
cd, and the half drowning survivors were
c]ingiEg with the desperation Of fdespair to the
gnnwales of the more staurch and fortunate
DGhlbs al Luis AUH1cut tuItE u0at6 QetOng-
ing to the Somerset were just returning from
an expedition, and upon discovering the
boats Of tile rebels, they instantly gave
chase, but unfortunately succeeded In taking
but tell prisoners, the officers and the largest
part Of the men escaping. from the ac-
counts Of the prisoners, the officers consist
ed Of naval lieutenant, surgeon aud pass
ed assistant, o paJ m:ster, four engineers and
two midshlpmen; all the boats were cvcntu-
ally taken, numbering q; and in them were
found miscellaneous stock Of goods con-
sisting Of field telescopes, marine glasses,
compaeEes, Quadrants, sextants, arms, am
&c, scattered about in various
places there were also found letters Of
private nature, correspondence of the de-
to be punued, and also advice In regard to
tic transfer OF rebel soldiers from the army
of the Tennessee to "what they cali Navy"
The assaulting party were clad In the uni
form Of the United states troops. For the
better purpose Of dcceiying the enemy each
onet, the latter s1arpencd to the keenness Of
q razor, for the double purpose Of cutting
boardipg MEETINGS, should tIat obstacle pre-
sent itself. The scheme was we'll planned
and must hare succeeded had not the Inter
veptiou Of the obstacles mentioned taken
place; The Q s; S. Adele was tobe boarded
with the least noise possible aud when fair1y
on deck t. engage the men n,and quickly over
power all resistance; twenty men were de-
Jailed for the special purpose Of Immediate
II securing the Captain. Their next move
was to seize the code Of signals; with these,
their true character could be concealed from
our cruisers for q short time
Til. anchor was ther to be hove up, and
getting under weigh, they were to dclibcr
ately make for the Somerset, hoisting the
signals and Americans colora, thus deceiving
their enemy they were to attack. grapple,
and board, and take possession; the Chnm
bers to be served In the same manner; and
the Confederate flag run up to the peak, and