Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-18
Destruction OF Hook ade Runners.

The Navy Department has received a dis
patch from Acting Rear Admiral Lee, dated
flagship Minnesota, of Newport News, Va.
February 10, in which he reports the circum-
stances attending the capture and destruction,
by the blockadlng forces of wilmington, 81
the following blockade runners namely'i The
wild Dayrell, Nutaeld, Dee, Emily, Md the
Fannie and Jennie. ......
The sassacus, Lieut.. Commanding Rowe,
which had been assigned to duty as an outside
cruiser, on the morning OF the LIST inst. dis
covering black smoke in shore, pursued and
discovered the Wild Dayrell on shore near
Stump Inlet. He went on board and found her
TO be partially filed with an assorted cargo.
Her crew had abandoned her and ned TO the
shore. After great eSertions 70 get her ahoat,
in which he was assisted by the Florida, II was
found impractcable, and she was completely
destroyed. Lieutenant Commander Rowe esti-
mates her value, with her cargo, at about $780,
900. Alter completing the destruction OF the
Wild Dayrell, the Sassacus proceeded to take
up her assigned station. At 2 O'Clock on the
morning Of the 4th, the blockader was dlscov-
cred TO the north and west OF him, distant
twelve miles.
Chase was Immediately given, and after a
hve-hours' chase the steamer was brought TO
under FIRE, and finding escape impossible, she
officers and crew escaped to the land in their
boats. One boat load, however, was capslzed,
and the crew drowned, with the exception Of
Mr.. Nell, the purser of the steamer, who was
rescued by the boats Of the Sassacus, which
were Immediately sent in to take possession of
the prize. She proved to be the English
steamer Nutheld, from Bermuda, bound TO
Wilmington. From MIR. Nell learned that
her cargo was munitions Of war, arms, and /
battery OF eight Whitworth guns, and pig lead
Lad hos
during the chase. Finding It impossible to &c
the Nutneld a1oat, after great exertinns to tina
end, she was fired and destroyed. Some Nv
hundred rifles and aquantity Of cavalry sabre
together with other articles, were rescued froI
her, and will be sent in for adjudication at o
early date.
Lieutenant Commanding Rowe reports tbs
the Sassacus attained speed OF thirteen and
half knots, and gained rapidly upon one OF th
fastest steamers yet sent TO run the blockade.
On the 9th instant the Cambridge discovere
a steamer ashore and on fire about one MI
south OF Washboro' Inlet, which proved TO
the blockade running steamer Dee, from BE
mudA to Wilmington.
Finding 1t impossible to eItinguish Il
flames or to get her of, Commander Spicer,
the Cambridge, abandoned the attempt, an
still further destroyed her by firing into he
Seven Of her crew were captured and are no
held as prisoners on the Cambridge. Frol
these prisoners learn that the Dee was con
handed by g. II. Bier, formerly lleutenar
in the United States naval service. She va
loaded with lead, coffee and bacon, all {
which, with the vessel, was completely d
stroyed.
Al $50 A. NJ. on the 10th instant, q steam
was discovered from the Florida standr
along the shore toward New Inlet. After pu
suing and firing at her, she ran ashore nci
Masonboro' Inlet Commander Crosblo sci
his boats and took possession Of her. 81
proved 10 DO the side.wheel steamer Fam
and Jennie, commanded by the notorious Cal
tain Coxeter whe with the Purser was browne
in endeayoring to reach the shore. The r
mainder Of the crew, TWENTY-FIVE In humble
were captured, and are now prisoners on boa
the Florida. The steamer was loaded wi
merchandise and coal. The enemy open
upon the wreck and upon the Florida wi
musketry and Whitworth guns, by which d
Paymaster J. F. Keeler received a severe b
not dangerous wound.
Finding II impossible 10 get the steam
ahoat, after great eEertions, Commander Gro
bic ordered the steamer 10 be fired, which WI
done under q severe Are Of the enemy.
The Florida received some damage from Il
FIRE Of the enemy, which can readily be 7
paired.
At the same time that the Fannie and Joun
ran on shore, another steamer was seen fro
the Florida ashore about ono-half mile TO t
northward Of the Fannie and Jennie, viii
was also boarded by the Florida's boats, Al
proved to be the Emily, from Nassau, with
cargo of merchandise and salt. She was al
fired aud destroyed, as 1t was impossible to
her anoat.
The Fannie and Jennie, Emily and Nutd
were new vessels, and this is supposed TO
their first attempt TO run the blockade. 7
wild Dayrell has made one successful yoya
and the Dee is an old offender