The New York herald., 1864-11-09

Florida with aftyeigbt men and twelve officers, was
captured about three O'Clock the morning OF the 'tn
October in the Bay OF San salvador Brazil by the oh
and crew of this vessel without loss Of ihe -
Five Of the officers, including her conmander were on
shore. The remainder Of her crew were on shore'
The Florida had her nizzenmas and manyard carried
away and buwarks cut down. This vessel sustained
no injury.
detailed report will be handed TO you by Paymaster
". W. wiiliama.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
n. COLLINS,
Commander United States steam sloop Wachusett.
sketch OF Captain Collins, or the Wa
ekusetf.
Commander Napoleon Collins was born in the state or
Pennsylvania, and was appointed to the navy mid
shpman January 3 1884, and made his first cruise in
the sloopowar Natchez uSder Commodore Mervine, in
the West India squadron, the following year. After
completing his cruise ln the West India squad
he entered tho Naval School at Philadelphia In
1889. He received his warrant passed mdshp-
man the 10th OF July, 1s40, and was attached to
the sloop of.war Boston. belonging to the East India
squadron In 1Si3 find him attached to the
frigate Constellation acting master, her return
home from the East India squadron. Arriving home
in 1874, no was waiting orders until 1Sls when he was
ordered to the sloopofwar Decatur, the coast or
Africa, in the meantime having received his promotion
Lieutenant, November @, 1896 He remained on that
station until 1s49, when he granted leave OF alb.
sence account OF Ill health. We again find him (165l)
in active service lieutenant on board the steamer
Michigan, Lake Erie, where he remained
until April 1S53 He placed command OF the store
ship Jonn P. Kennedy special service in 1854, and
sent to the East Indies when Lieutenant Gisson relieved
him. and he ordered to the steam rigate susquehan
ma and returned the United States in 1855, when he
granted furlough In 1867 he ordered as exc.
cutive officer TO tho navy vary at Mares Island Calor
mia, then commanded by the iusuious Farragut. In
1857 he tho executive officer OF the sloop war
John Adams in tho Pacific squadron and returned home
in her in December OF the following year.
In 1850 he again attached to the steamer Michigan
serving Lake Ere In October, 1859, he detached
and placed waiting orders and in the following year
he ordered the vandalia commanded
by the present Admiral s. p Lec in the East India squad
On the OF the vandala from the East In
dies, Commander Collins placed in CON-
mand Of the guuboat Unadlla ard ordered to
accompany Admiral Dupont in his Port Royal ex-
pedcn, participating in that brilliant fight and
handling his vessel with marked ability. During
tho winter OF 1861 and 1862 he very actively
gagged with the UDailla in company with the other gun
boats opening the ports and sounds thc coast
mand OF Admiral Dupont; On the 10th Of july 1862, he
promoted 10 his present rank full commander,
standing at present No. 10 the list IN September,
1862, he detached from the command OF the Una
diila aud placed in command of the Octorara
cruising in the West Indies in search OF block
ale runners. Here he was successful in TAX
ing some valuable prizes, and maintaining
as sharp blockade as the circumstances and the speed
OF his vessel would permit.
In August, 1863 he was detached from the Octorara
and subsequently ordered to the command OF the steam
sloop Wachusett. on special service, aud sent some
months since search of the prvatasr Florida He has
been pderatigabe in his exertions to overtake her.
and after pursuit OF months he inally found her
ia the port OF Bahia Brazil and effected her capture.
Whether his last act will meet the approval OF all
whose desire it is to observe the neutrality OF for
eign nations above all else, we cannot determine
but say has sent thrill of joy through the
breasts OF all loyal people, who will owe Comman
der Collins debt Of gratitude for Kidding the Of such
destructive corsair tho Florida has been to
commerce almost every sea-
Captain Collins is about nifty years Of ago, and has beer
about thirty years in the naval service, which ove
twenty one he has spent at He is OF medium
height and OF rather slender FORM His eyes and hail
are black his complexion dark and swarthy He il
COOL determined and courageous lion, and ready
at all times assume responsibility in any affair be
believes TO be right and necessary. He IA just what he
he has proved himself to bottle right in the right
place.
TIE sL0oP-oF-wAR wAcHUsETr.
The corvette wachusett built in the Charlestown
Navy Yard and launched in 1861. Her length between
perpendculars is 1913 feet breadth OF beam 80, and
Depth TO- She is bark rgged, with topmasts and top
gallant mssts in the spars aud when not under
steam makes good speed. She carries a heavy arma
ment consisting OF eleven inch Dahgren pivot guns,
two thirty FOUNDER rifles and eight broadsde guns She
has employed In the James river flagship in the
West indies and recently special service in search
or privateers She Is expected hsre daily with her prizs
The following is q list OF her oficers:-
Con,mander-Napoleon Collins.
Lieutenant Conmdnder-L. A. Beardsiea.
Surgeon-Wiliam NJ King.
AssisldM Paymdster-W. ". Williams.
Acting Bdaer--James H. Simpson.
Bnsgn-E. M. Sheppard; Acting Ensigns, Nicol Lud
Aciino Masters xates-chss R. hsskins, Reuben Rich
Eacineers-Chicf, William H. Rutherford: Second Az
sistants, George W. Melville M Knapp and samuel Lin
coin: Third Assistants, II. d. McEwen Robert s. Stedman
And J. A. Barton.
Po1tsua in--.John Burrows.
Acting Gunar-John Russell.
THE FLORIDA,
The Florida formerly called the Oreto was originally
built for the Italian government, alleged, was
purchased by the rebel agents in Liverpool, and sent 10
sea March, 1862, since which time she has had an
extraordinary career in depredating on our commerce.
all over the world and escaping all the cruisers have
sent pursuit OF her. She is about hundred and
fifty tons burthcu, she has three masls and
two smokestacks, and is, when In good
order, very fast. Her history Is familiar to
every Of our readers she has been the creates,
scourge the ocean, surprising tho Of the
ter Tallahassee any other of the rebel prvateers In
raids on and destruction Of She for
long time commanded By the notorious MaHt; but
recently she has been commanded by Captain c. Morrn.
gault Norris at time officer In the United States
Navy.
The Florida win doubtless be re6ttod, and sent In
search Of her consorts committing depredators
our coast.
DESCRIPTION OF BAHIA.