Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-13
9NEDNEsDAY I. II 3 49, !!

slt, q 49,, s. 81 =. =
.I.,ersssiag Dsscrip Of she Loss ef tae Els
5 80. aud, Assie, Z bafIig blockade Ranher.f
The most daring coufsss 10 shown by 8 blocks.
ode runner was.sxhibited ~ Capt +. N. bonneaa
of the Ella and Annie, which Was captured an NO
ssmber blythe Nippon. The Ella and Annie LETT
Bermuda for Wilmington on the 9th Of: November
in company with tho R H. Lee, having ON 5board
the heaviest cargo, esef tried bv elockade run
ming ship--s94 tons Of dead weight 81 eu govern
ment account Capt Bonneau, who is 9 prisoner
on parole in Boston, publshes The following highly
interesting narrative Of the capture Of big vessel
At sunset We were eighty Ave miles from VIII
mington Bar. AT I o'clock the wind, which bad
been light from the north and wesk Suddenly sprang
up and in the course of one hour blew gale cads:
ing an ugly cross sea, and reducing the speed OF
our ship from eleven knots to Eve and half which
vas the utmost We could get out Of her with thirty
pounds of steam 3 rs-
Things began to look sqnally as to our being able.
to make the run in lime, but it was too late to
think of turning back. We were, too, at this time
passing two suspicious lights, which We took for
the outer vessels of the blockading squadron.' AT
II, hauled her into MasenSoro Inlet as found II
didnot get smooth water could not save my
time, and it was not until 70 o'clock that made
the land. About noon, while to the southward and
eastward Of the inlet a soon as got hiyly under
the beach and in eighteen feet Of water, sent word
toe Mr.. Gray and Mrs. Nicholson, my two passen-
gers, that it would be impossible for me to ssye
my dark to the fort and that ut daylight VIC would
be subjected to very heavy fret all probability
from the feet, Is was determined to try to run
along the Beach, Il had however, no other chaace,)
and that if they would get ready Iwonld lsnd them
in the little Gay of Masenboro' Inlet This they
bravey refused, saying it would take too much
time, and that if Icould stand the fire Of the feet
they could too Therefore prepared for the worst
and ordered the anchors taken in on deck, unst0ok
but the officer of the watch and the two men at
the wheel sent below, determining, if had to lose
| her, to make it cost the enemy dearly.
| Just as day was dawning We touched the beach
slightly, but did not STOP and while hauling away
from it saw gunboat standing directly across our
! bow, tshe must evidently have heard our Wheels
and was steering SO to cut Us off from the beach
We being in three @thoms Of water, was much
surprised to find boat running so boldly for US.
To pass outside of him would be to lose my ship,
for he would then cut off from the support ex-
pected from our own batteries in few miles more.
70 run my ship ashore at this point would have
been madness, for the beach here Is an outer one,
the side extending inside Of it for miles. and conse
quentljl could expect no protection, and my whole
ship company wound either be destroyed on this
bold beach or taken by the enemy prisoners. To
turn back and to was to give the ship to the
enemy without an effort to save her. therefore
determined to try and pass inshore Of the bend or
| over him, mot dreaming that he would dare run
into eighteen feet of water) This matter was soon
decAed as We approached each other rapidly, and
could hear the noise of his men preparing for &C
| ton, DC, and when about one hundred and fifty
yards from him hailed him, telling him he woule
be afonl Of me, hoping to induce the thought thai
"A was one Of their own ships, but was seen made
aware Of my mistaken opinion by broadside o
grape and canister, accompanied by voley of mus
kerry. l then ordered my ship pointed for her
and hoped TO strike her just forward Of her wais
boat. Unfortunately he perceived this move o.
mine, and shifted his helm, causing bis vessel t.
swing away from me, and making t impossible t
strike fair. ~.
Our ships came together the next moment " i'll
fearful crash, carrying away his starboad boat raj
and part Of his stem and c1twater. Ny engine wa
kept working to its full capacity, as had but on
chance of getting clear of him in failed to sinl
him, and that was to force my ship past him befor
be could board, D distinctly heard him call aws.
his boarders. "a this last attempt failed, as th
ships were both going ahead, and had now swun,
broadside on and he firing broadside after broadsid
into us while in this condition, and almost at tn
same time boarding us on the port quarter an,
l
none but an eyewitness would believe Officers an
men rushing along our deck, shooting and cutun
at everything that came to sight and even shooting
in their mad career, one of their own.men-and i
the case Of Iany, of my ship, shooting him as b
was coming up the hatchway to give himself up
Having satisfied themselves with this courageou
charge, they went below and broke open everythin
that came to sight, state rooms trunks, boxes, &c
officers and men quarrehng( Der trunks for the cor
/ and off hv- roh6
and csrouse was kept up until the arrival of Con-
modore Ridsely, in the flag ship Shenandoah, whe
it was quickly put stop to by the appearances
Lieut. Skerritt, to whom it was reported LieH
Skerritt is officer and gentleman Of the old navy
Not one of the officers of the capturing ship-th
Nippon belonged to this class Of officers
The ship was then plugged (having received fort
one shots in her hull shd sent to Beaufort, n @.
where we landed our passengers and wounded an
then proceeded North, destination Boston, havin
on boardt the two cooks, two stewards, and myself
The crew otherwise were sent North in the tram
port Newbern. -
Tins ended TIN fate Of the favorite ship Ella an
j Annie A more cowardly and murderous 1re> We
sci was never subjected to- and the conduct Of th
boarders the most unheard Of barbarty upon recor,
The officers Of my ship behaved-as we all had
their posts all Of them as they had often said if the
were killed their bodies would be found at the
stations in their engine.roen. Strange as it MA
appear, her engine was no. struck, although Il
balls to be seen sticking in the wood work of Il
: galley frame.
: Both ships are now in Boston. The Nippon
be repaired as well as her prize
| Had been successful in the destruction of Il
Nippon, presume would have been consider,
: deserving at least Of "well done ~ but the r
verse shows angry, false, and calumnious opinion
which are generally heaped upon the heads Of tho:
who "try" by those who stay at hons afraid to il