The New York herald., 1864-11-10
The Capture Of the Florida.

were formerly officers in tho United States Navy.
Tho Capture Of the Florida.
From the Boston Advertiser, Nov. o.
The news which announced yesterday morning. that
had brought the intelligence OF tho capture In Brazilian
waters by the Union gunboat Wacnuset the notorious
robel cruiser Florda sent thrill OF surprise delight
Through the community the midst OF the excite.
ment and anxiety or Presidential election day joyful
versa subject Of discussion and mutual
until the interests OF the Congressional and national ee
lions seemed almost 70 be forgotten in comparison One
OF reporters paid visit 10 the Kearsargo during the
day and by the kind courtesy Of hor ocers Paymaster
Smith being specially obligng. VI. enabled to OBJ
tam dstaled account OF the singular affair the bay
Bahia comprising all thelpartousrs which accessible
The Confederate steamer Florida arrived at Bahia
and burned, the bark Moodamon. from Rio, or Pernam
steamer wachusst. Captain Napoleon Collins, bad been
lying several days In the port Of Bahia and the For-
Gn ss ssDs 10 the ons The ssz.n Adma
inside which she did, aDehoring in the midst the Bra
stiAn fleet and close under the Of the principal for
which b located upon an island In the middle OF the
harbor.
Certain parties In Bahia. which commercial city Of
considerable importance, with OF the harbors
bes.lrrea themselves 70 bring about an snssse.
firmly confident that the result Of such encounter
would be another Union vctery complete that won
Ast summer In the British Channel. On the morning Of
Che 9th OF October they challenge 70 Captain
Morris, Of the Florida 70 move outside the limits OF Bra
commander declined to receive tho mssive which the
Brazilian residents had prepared account some in
so,may ~ l,s .Sd1ss. During sns ssrnooo q the
pshizng with our government In its struggle with
bson. waited upon Captain Morris and endeavored 70
induce him 10 eopsent TO action between ship and
ths Union guhboat but without Captain Morris
however, stated that he happened TO fall In with the
Wachusett during cruise he should willingly engage In
0 contest her, but that account would be con.
sent safe harbor for the express purpose Of
having 40 engagement.
All efforts on the part Of outside parties 10 bring on
naval battle in open water between the two vessels
proving unavaing, Captain Collins promptly took into
consideration the other which suggested them.
solves for rddng the OF the most dangerous enemy
of commerce. In the evening OF the day above
his officers debate the subject pcrtant element
IN the consideration the that the convenient
any OF which the Florida could make escape
the darkuees OF the night favored her purpose with
= .sased asSt he council Of oeers wers aIso pos
ssssed OF Information that the Florida had re.
gs,sSs6 seized .. 81 ana burned n sas
every law Of neutrality without the slightest objection
q any sort being made BY the Brazilian authorities.
council advised with dissenting among all
the officers Of the wachuse that the scheme proposed
Of sezng the rebel cruiser a her anchorage should be
carried out. Captain Collins immediately gave the
for accomplishing the design agreed upon saying
due. Of The Brazilian government 10 permitting prsces
within the shadow OF Its shores had made the step an
: one may Ss % esrs
arrangements had been made FOR her ESCAPE from the
harbor on the very next night for deEre
me preparations for the encounter were made with
great oeerity and complete secresy and at about three
were slipped and the wacnuseti bore down upon the
rebel under full head OF SO little expecta
ofcers and crew Of the Flords seventy in number and
including Captain Norris carouspg shore, and
Is no couSon 70 pspe an sn
Foridas officer OF the deck supposed the collision which
he saw 20 be imminent to os merely accidental and cried
out, ssYou win into ue you don't look out" The
design Of Captain Collins was simply TO strike tho Flo
rida amidsnps with full steam on, crush In her sfc,
and send her at TO tho bottom beyond the poesi
biity OF causing further trouble to any Tho
wachuset however, did not strike her adversary fairly,
and main yard The Florida was mot seriously injured
By the collision, but the broken spar fell across the
vent ncr rom seSs on deck om s.or
reco which, followed the shock carried the wachusett
U were rss Ss So
~ random, and entirely without effect Two Of the guns
Of the wacnuset were also dischsreed BY accident ac-
eording 20 report and another version has It, by
order q one Of the Union eutenants The shots did
Captain Collins, OF the wachuset, Immediately ,hun
dered out demand TO the rebel craft "Surrender,
will blow you out OF the water" The lieutenant Ia
amazement, but had stii presence OF mind 70 reply,
.Upder the circumstances, surrender" Without the
delay Of an instant dozens Of gallant tars boarded the
prize and made fast hawser connecting her with their
own vessel and the wachusctt turned her
Florida IN her wake.
he feet o Brazilian vcssols VII ch entirely surrounded
ens little space oE water which the brief battle rad
been fought, was go situated that the two American
steamers were obliged TO pass under the storm Of
one OF the largest In order to penetrate ther
line. The wachusctt was challenged. but did not
dcgn . word OF reply. and ths Florida, when hailed
aud commanded to halt moment after replied thai a
pause was impossible she was towed Ly the vessel
In 'front.' The prazisns guesscdhe state OF afaire
and In anotner moment two the heavy gums OF tho
fort, under the very OF which the capture had
been made, opened FIRE the wachusctt she dIsap
pcared In the morning darkness Three shots fred
ter her, , passing harmlessly far above her pennan
and striking the water beyond.
To the render seems that all this must have taken
considerable tme, but the testimony OF careful ofcer
The Wachusett, corroborated by the surgeon OF tho
Florida assures US that from the tme tho Wachuset
nrst slipped her cable and steamed upon tho rebel
cruiser 10 the moment when the echoes OF the gun
from the Brazilian fortress had died away, only
twenty minutes by the watch Certainly no page OF
history show more daring achievement or one
suited with more brilliant rapidty or more complete
success.
Tbe Brazilian naval commander In Bahia harbor acted
with all promptness which could have been expected
and 10 few moments the dawn OF day disclosed two
vessels Of Brazilian feet doing their utmost TO pursue
and overhaul the wachusett aud her prize They were
heavy sioop.of war aud small armed steamer neither
q them any match point OF speed for tho hanAiwork
cf New England mechanics, and gave up tho chase
% the Union and rebel steamers disappeared below the