The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-11-10
The Capture Of the Florida.


Bahas Harbor the scene Of the ErpIoit
Tile Rebel Crew Completely Sur-
prised.-The Victo,y Btoodtess one.
The threatened raid on BellOacs Falls
The Citizens prepared for defense.
Boston, Nov. S.-The following is a
brief account of the circumstances of the
capture of the pirate Florida. She arrived
at Bahia Bay, off San Salvador, on the
night of the 7th ultimo.
Captain Collins having held consulta-
tion with his officers, determined to sink
the Florida in port Accordingly, about
8 o'clock the cables were slipped, and the
Wachusett steered for the Florida, hit
ting her on the quarter without doing
any great injury.
Captain Collins now called out to these
on board the pirate to surrender or he
would sink her. The demand was replied
to by the first lieutenant, "Under the
circumstances, l surrender p A hawser
was now made fast, the cable slipped, and
the Florida towed to sea. In the melee
several pistol shots were fired, aud ac-
cidentally two guns from the Wachusett.
Captain Morris and half the Florida's
crew were ashore on liberty. No lives
we're lost. The Florida was taken com
pletely, by surprise. seventy OF her men,
it was known being on shore. The 9th
crs, having just come aboard, were asleep
and intoxicated.
The blow given the Florida by the
Wachusett carried away the mizen mast
and man yard which fell on the awning
preventing any of the crew from getting
up from below.
so unconscious was the officers of the
deck of the intention of the Wachusett's
captain, that he sang out, "You will run
into US if you don't take care, at the
same time calling for light.
Twelve officers aud SO of the Florida's |
crew were captured The Wachusett
and Florida were to leave St. Thomas on
the I'd Instant, for New York.
The bark Mondamon, from Rio, was
captured by the Florida, off Pernambuco,
about September %, and was burned
This was the GA y American vessel cap
tured BY the Florida since her departure
from Tenerife.
0l6ictdi report q lie capfne-Dcspatch-
es from commanders Wmslotc, Of the
Kedrsagc, aad Collins, ofthe Florida
Washington, Nov. S-The following
dispatches were 10 day received by the
Navy Department, announcing the cap
ture of the Florida:
msPATCH ERoM COMMANDER wINsLow.
Boston, Nov :, 1864.
Hoa Gideon Hclics, Sec of the Nary
Sir: have the honor to report the
arrival of the T. 5. steamer kearsarge off
Scituate, from the Rocas We left the
Wschusctt aud Florida at ST. Thomas
The Florida was captured in the hsrbor
Of Bahia by the Wachusett on October
7th. We bring sixteen prisoners and one
officer from the Florida
JOHN A WINSLOW. Commander. ,
DESPATCH FROM COMMANDER COLLINS. G
St Thomas, W. L., Oct 81,
Via Boston, Nov. :.
Hos. GIDEON WrLLEs: !,
Sir: have the honor to report the e
arrival here of this ship, with the rebel
steamer Florida in company. The Flor,
ids, with fifty eight men and twelve off
GERS, was captured about three o'clock on
the morning of 0ctorber 7th, in the bay r
Of San Salvador, Brazil, by the officers
and crew of this vessel without loss Of
life Five Of the officers, including her s
commander, aul the remainder of ber Q
crew, were on shore The Florida had 2
her mizen mast aud mainyard carried a c
gay and her bulwarks cut down. This Z
vessel sustained no injury. 4 detailed {
report will be handed to you by Paymas
ter W. W. Williams. Very respectfully, /
your obedicnt servant. r
y. COLLINS,
IN ma ,lo. 4