Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-19
Destruction of Blockade Runners.

6ANHAANNN~S
The Navy Department has received despatch
from Admiral Lee, dated on the flagship Mime
sota of Newport News, Va Feb. 10, 1864, in
which he reports the circumstances attending
tue capture and destruction by the blockadng
force oil Wilmington Of the following blockade
runners.
The Wild Dayfell, Nulfeld, Dee, Emily, and
the Fanny and Jenny. Tic Admiral snys upon
the reporting Of the Sassacus, Lieutenant Com
mander Rove, she WAS ordered by me to duty
as an outside cruiser, to cruise upon the line OF
bearing bCtween New Inlet and Bermuda, and
not farther eastward than the meridian Of 10
degrees west loDgiiude-a station where her
reputation for speed would be severely tested
and one in which very fast cruiser would prove
II great stumbling block to blockade runuers.-
The result has fully tqualed my expectation,
aud the destruction Of tAe steamers Wili Day
Tell aud Nutield by the SIssacus, both new and
fast steamers, the latter on her first voyage, nre
added to the long list Of disasters to the blockade
runners. Upon the morning Of the lst instant,
Lieut.. COmmnn Ter Rowe discovered black smoke
iu shore of him. nnd, pursuing II, discovered the
Wild Dayrell ON shore near Stump lnlet lie
boarded her, and found her to be partially filled
with an assorted cargo. Her crew had Hban-
doned her, aud fled to thl shore After great
exeftons to get her ni,at, in which he was as-
sisled By tho Florida, it WAS found impractcnhle,
and she was completely destroyed
Lieut. Commander Rove estimates hrr value,
with her cnrgo, at about 500 900. After COM
pleuDg the destruction 1t the Wild DayTsil, the
Sassicus proceeded ia tnke up her designated
station, and ut seven o'clock on the morning Of
the dth IL blockade runner was discovered 10 the
north and west Of him, distant twelve miles, -
Chase was ut once given, and after run Of five
miles tho steamer WAS brought to under fire, and
| finding escape impossible, she was run On shore
at 7. NJ near New River Inlet. Her 0flicert
and crew escaped to the shore in their boats, one
boat, however, being capszed aud the crew
drowned, with the exception Of Mr. Nell, the
purser OF the steamer, who was rescued frotn
drowning by tho bonts of the Sassacus, which
were immediately sent to take possession Of tht
prize. She proved to be the Nutfeld from Ber
inuda, bound to Wilmington In consular de-
spatches from Mr.. Nell, | learn that her cargo
was munitions of war, arms, battery Of eight
Whitworih guns, and pig lead The guns am
lead were thrown overheard during the chase
Finding it impossible to get the Nutfeld afoat
after great pxGrtion to that end, she was fired
and destroyed. Some seven hundred rifles aud
II number Of cavalry sabrcs, together with otheI
articles, were rescued FROM her, and will be sem
in for adjudication at nn early date.
Lieut. Commander Rowe reports that the Sas.
sacus attained n speed of thirteen and hall
knots, and gained rapidly upon one of the fastest
steamers yet sent out to run the blockade.
On the 9TH instant the Cambridge discovered
a steamer ashore and on fire about one mile
north Of MasouhorO Inlet, which proved to b,
the blucknde-ruuning steamer Dee, from Ber.
muda, bound to Wilmington. 1t was impossible
to exlinguish the flames, or to get her off, aud
Commander Spicer, of the Cambridge, abandoned
the attempt, and still further disabled her by
firing into her. Seven of her crew were cap
tured, and are now held Us prisoners on the
Cambridge From them learn that the Dee
was commanded by g. II. Bier, formerly lieu
tenant in the U. S. naval service. She was load
ed with lend, coffee, nnl bacon, all of which,
with the vessel, were completely destroyed
AT b so A. NJ. on the 18th lust, a steamer was
discovered from the Florida standing along the
shore toward New Inlet, After pursuing aud
firing at her she ran ashore near n MaslnborO
Inlet. Commander Crosbie seat his boats and
took possession Of her She proved to ba the
side wheel steamer Fanny aud Jenny, command
ed by the notorious Capt. Coxetter, who, with
the purser, was drowned iu eudeavOrnE TO reach
tue shore. The remainder of her crew, 25 IN
number, were captured and are now prisoners
on board the Florida. The steamer was loaded
with merchandise and coal, The enemy opened
lire upon the wreck and upon the Florida with
musketry, by which Paymasler J. j. Keller re-
ceiycd n severe but not dangerous wound.
Finding i: impossible 10 get the steamer afloat,
after much exerton, Commander CrOsbe ordered
her TO be fired, which was done under u severe
fire Of the enemy. The Florida received some
damage from the enemys fire, but it can readily
be repaired
At The same time that the Fanny and Jerry
ran on shore another steamer was seen from the
Florida ashore about one-half mile to the north
ward, which was also boarded by the Florida's
boats and proved to be the Bmily, from Nassau,
with cargo of mercandise and salt She was
also fired and destroyed, as it was impossible to
get her float The Fanny, and Jenny, Emily,
and Nuiheld were new vessels and this is sun
posed to be their first attempt to run the blockade
The Wild Dayrell has made one successful
voyage, and the Dee is an old offender.