Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-21

ResHrn sf ths EIpedItisa ts CaPsa

Acting AdjutAns.

Reeurn sf the Expedftion 70 Capture
BISckaders.
Mr.. Van Marcus, of the steamer Mariana, has
kindly furnished us with the particulars of the
expedition, lately sent to destroy the blocksding
vessels in Apalaehicols Bay. Under charge Of
Capt Gist of the navy, the party composed of
70 OF the crew of the gunboat Chat
tahoochee, with = company Of so soldiers com
manded by Capt. Blount, together with seven
citizens. left the obstructions on the 5sh, on two
launches, I've yHwi boats and two seows-in all
nine boats and over 100 men. The steamer
Swan fon0wed with provisions. Arriving At a
convenient point, accommodating parties were
sent out. They discovered a steamer - Eaat
Pass, and two stce1E1T1 and two scboonefs IN
West Pass Putting out on q clear night, it was
found that so much phosporsseent light wss
crested by The oars that it was impossible to Ap-
pTosch the bloeksding vessels without discovery.
A second attempt, when the bay WAS very rough
developed the fact that only two of the boats
were seaworthy, aud the order TO return was re-
luctanily given. In doing SO the scow on which
was Captain Biount and his company, wss
swAmped. Captain Gist took as many as pos
sible on board of his launch, and the remainder
elung to its sides, and thus they were drifted on
st. Georgtes Island, where they were compelled
TO remain, on account Of the violence of the
gale, tive days. The remainder Of the boats
reached Apalschicola in salty. There they found
Midshipmsn Blanc with q guard; bat as be was
not acquainted with The plans of his superior, be
could do nothing but resolved TO wait for Capt.
Gist
In the night some traitor in Apalschieola sig
nailed the feet, aad next morning our party
found themselves surprised by the Yankees,
who with two h0witzeFs had landed in the night
at Green Point. The Confederates footed it
away from. there, leaving their b0ats, and Can't.
Vsigaten, and Msssrs. Marcus, Brockaay and
Griffin, of the steamer Mariana, whD were sleep-
ing apart rem the others, behind. These four
we've awaited by the Yankees Smelling their re-
treating comrades, and on looking ont Eonnd
the Yankees sill around them. They Iemained
very closely within doors, and the neeroea Of
the house sWore to tho FedeTsls, that they had
left town he day before. Some of the houses
were searched, and, while doing so, two mes of
the expedition escaped capture by sliding from
a second story window down q cistarn pine. The
four Columbus gentlemen remained in the hid
ing place until the Yankees left, when thew
walked thirty miles before finding q boat. The
people of .ApalacbieolA, they represent, are true
70 the South, and the ladies eminenily so. The
expedition was 0 a sixteen days. They lost
all their h3eis. excepting the launch of Capt
Gist. This officer has since returned with his
whole party. Only one man il missing, and be
Is q degeTttF. Had it not been for the accident
70 Capt Gst's and Blount's boafa, the exDedi-
ton would have proved q perfect SUCCESSES.
"a guard was left with the swan and, unless
she was intercepted which IS scarcely probable,
she Is safe up the riyer-CsiHnSns Sna.