Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17
THE REBEL pRIvArEER FLORIDA.
Further Particulars of her Capture.

The Boston Daily Advertiser Of "Wednesday contains full
particulars Of the recent capture in Brazilian port Of the
rebel prvatee Florida by the United States gunboat Wa
chusett derived from Paymaser Smith, of the Wachu
set and the officers OF the Kearsarge. We copy the
following:
The Confederate steamer Florida arrived at Bahia
Bay of San Salvador, Brazil October 5th having captured
snd burned the barque Mondamon. from Rio, of Pernam
buco, on the 26th of September. The United States
steamer Wacbusett, Capt Napoleon Collins, had been
lying several days In the port of Bahia and the Florida at
first anchored in the oipg The Brazilian Admiral mme
datey sent her message requesting her to come inside
which she did, anchorng the midst of the Brizan feet
and close under the guns of the principal fort which is
located upon an island the middle of the harbor.
Certain parties 10 Bahia, which is commercial city Of
considerable importance with OF the best harbors 10
the world being interested in American affairs bestrred
themselves to bring about an engagement between the
Wechuett and the Florida firmly confident that the result
of such encounter would be- another Union victory
complete that last summer in the British Channel
On the morning of the 9th of October they carried cha
enge to Capt Morris Of the Florida to move outside the
limits Of Brazilian Jurisdiction aud fight the Wachuset
The rebel commander declined to receive the missve
which the Brazilian residents had prepared, account Of
inormaity in its address, During the afternoon of
the day Hungarian citizen living in Bahia, and sym
pathzing with Government in its struggle with rebel
on waited upon Capt Norris and endeavored to induce
him to action between his ship and the Union
gunboat, but without success: Capt Morris, however
stated that f he happened to fall in with the Wachusett
during cruise he should willingly engage in contest
With her. but that account would be consent to leave
safe harbor for the express purpose of having an en-
yagement.
all efforts on the part of outside parties to bring
naval battle in open between the two vessels
ing unayang Capt Collins promptly took into consdea
ton the other which suggested themselves for rid
ding the of the rost dangerous enemy OF our com
MERGE In the evening OF the same day above mentioned
Thursday October 6th he called council of his officers
to debate the subject An important element in the
sderalon was the fact the convenient harbor of Bahia
has three openings into the Atlantic by any of which
the Florida could make her escape whenever the darkness
Of the night favored her purpose, without the possibility
of one Union vessel preventing it. 1t ia stated that the
council of officers also possessed OF information that
the Florida had repeatedly seized and burned American
ships within three miles OF the coast Of Brazil in defiance
of every law Of neutrality without tho slightest objection
of any sort being made by the Brazilian authorities TAX
ing into consideration all the facts in the case the council
with but dissenting vote among all the officers
of the Wachuset that the scheme proposed of sezng the
rebel cruiser at her anchorage should be carried out
Capt Collins Immediately gave the orders for accomplish
ing The design agreed upon, saying that with the very
regret he felt that the conduct of the Brazilian
Government in permitting praces within the shadow of
its shores had made the tep an imperavey necessary
one 1t may be remarked here that it was found after
the seizure of the Florida that arrangements had been
made for her escape from the harbor the very next
night for new of depreciation upon shipping.
TIE preparations for the encounter made with
great celebrity and complete secrecy and about three
O'clock the morning of Friday October z, the cables
were slipped and the Wachuset bore down upon the
rebel vessel under fall head Of steam So little expecta-
ton was there of such proceeding that half of
the officers and of the Florida seventy in number
and including Captain Morris, carousng shore,
and The remainder, having just returned from similar
absence, were in condition to repel an assault The
Forda officer of the deck supposed the collision, which
he saw to be imminent to be merely accidental and cried
out You will run into if you don't look out" The
design Of Captain Collins simply to strike the
Florida amidships with full steam crush in her side,
and send her to the bottom beyond the possibility
of causing further trouble to any one. The Wachusett,
howe ver did not strike her adversary fairly but hit her 10
the stern carrying away the mzzenma and main yard
The Florida not seriously injured by the collision but
the broken spar fell the awning her hatchWay
in such to prevent her crew from getting
deck from below. The recol which followed the shock
carried the Wschuset back several yards In the conu
zion which ensued several pistol shots were fired from both
vessels chiefly random, aud entirely without effect.
Two Of the guns Of the Wachuset asD discharged
by accident according TO enc report and another
sion has by order of one of the Union eutenants The
shots did not strike the Florida. Captain Collins, of the
wachusett Immediately, Numbered out demand to the
rebel craft Surrender, will blow you out Of the
water The lieutenant in charge Of the Florida may be
excused for considerable but still had presence
Of mind 70 reply, under the circumstances surrender"
Without the delay of instant dozens Of gallant tars
boarded the prize, and made fast hawser connecting
her with their vessel and the Wachusett turned her
saawar moving at the top OF her speed and tow
ing the Fiorids in her wake
Tue feet Of Brazilian vessels which entirely surrounded
the little space OF which the brief battle had been
fought situated that The two American steamers
obliged to pass under the stern OF one OF the largest
in order to penetrate their line. The Wschusett
challenged but did not delgn word of reply and the
Florida when hailed ard commanded to halt moment
after, replied that pause impossible as she
lowed by the vessel in front The Bragans guessed
the state Of affairs and in another moment two the heavy
guns Of the fort under the very muzzes of which the cap
ure had been made opened fire the Wachusett as she
disappeared in the morning darkness Three shots
after her, all passing harmessy far above her pennsnt
and striking the water beyond
To the reader that all this must have taken
considerable time, but the testimony OF careful officer
the Wachuse corroboraed by the surgeon Of the Florida
assures that from the time the Wachuset first slipped
her cable steamed upon the rebel cruiser TO the moment
when the echoes Of the last gun from the Brazilian fortress
had died away only twenty minutes by the watch.
Certainly page OF history can show more daring
achievement, executed with more brilliant rapidly
or more complete success.
The Brazilian naval commander IN Bahia harbor acted
with all the pTompness which could have been expected
and in few the dawn Of day disclosed two
sells Of the BRAZILIAN feet doing their utmost to pursue and
overhaul the Wacbuset and her prize They heavy
soop of aud small armed steamer neither Of them any
match in point speed for the handiwork Of New England
mechanics and gave up the chase the Union and
rebel steamers disappeared below the hor zon.
Captain Collins ordered the ships to hesve to and
materially damaged by the collision, and that there had
been no injury to life liub from the confused firing
which followed it, Twelve officers and 6ftyeght Of
The Flordas captured, aud all her stores, pa
pers records O. were found undsturbed 10 the cabin
The two yessrs soon steamed Tor st. Thomas arriving
thu on the Goth utmo and finding the Kesrarge already
in port Ii intended to keep the matter at Bahia
secret at st thomas but it accidentally revealed by
seaman Of the Wschusett to of the Of the Kea
sarge and hius Of it got wind in the town, causing
great excitement there i he Florida remained outside
the bay while the Wachusett entered to obtain coal
The crew OF the Florida is composed of Englishmen
Irshmep Germans, DC and contains citizens OF the