The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-08
ESCAPE OF THE FLORIDA.
Omcial Report of Commander Preble

q.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The Navy
Department has received the following
from Commander Preble:
UNITED STATES SLoop-oE-WAR Sr. LOUSY
FuScHAL ROAns, MADEIRA,
March 1, ~ A. NJ, 1864. }
SrR-The Florida has succeeded in getting to
sea. l shall follow at once, though hopeless of
catching her out of port Nelson said the
want of frigates in his squadron would be
found impressed on his heart. am sure the
want of steam will be found engraven on mine
Had the st. Louis been a steamer, would
have anchored alongside of her and, unre-
stricted by the twenty flour hour rule, my old
foe could not have escaped me. The Governor,
tue to his declared intention, would only al
low her to take her to the nearest port. Her
commander plead for sixty tons, next forty
asserting that he needed that much to ballast
his vessel. The Governor told him, at the sug-
gestiOn of Mr.. Bayman, that he came in with
but if ballast was needed, there was plenty of
stone on the beach that he might take.
AS it was supposed that she would go to sea
during the night, and certainly in the morning,
and had an intimation that in passing US she
might pour in broadside, I shotted and cast
loose my guns, and had men to man them;
got slip-rope on the chain, and stationed men
.
the officers to extra vigilance, and was repeat
edly on deck myself to watch and see that my
orders were executed. The night was dark
and squally. The Florida lay close into the
beach, and under the highland, with all her
lights covered, and, Notwithstanding all this
vigilance, she crept out unseen, to the east
ward, and her departure was not discovered
until the mCrn rose, few minutes SINCE A
blockade runner. the Julia. which arrived in
the afternoon, reports the Kearsage as having
left Cadiz three days ago, destination unknown.
The Florida gave out that they were going to
Cadiz for Goals but think not, and shall go
direct to Tenerife, hoping. if l do not find her
there, to put the Sacramento on her track.
The prevailing winds would not permit me
to get to Cadiz from Madeira in season to do
her any injury, even if thought that port her
destination.
The authorities here have done all they could
to hasten her departure and prevent her full
supply, and do not imagine that the island
will be troubled by the presence Of the rebel
vessels-ofwar very soon again: waited on
the Governor, to inform him of her intention
to ship men to complete her crew. He assured
me that it should not be allowed, though it
might be done clandestinely, which he could
not help. / have reason to believe that she
made no addition to her crew, and know from
the statement of my gigs crew, that three of
the men she brought with her deserted. Her
iards, Frenchmen and Portuguese, with a few
Englishmen, and but one American. Her First
Lieutenant is Thomas A. Dernin, formerly
Midshipman in our service.
notice no change in the appear
ance of the Florida since l last saw her,
except that she has yards on her mainmast;
then she had none, and she has changed her
billet head for shield surrounded by SCROLL
work, in which is borne the arms of the rebel
States. My men have been wild to fight, and
l drew the shot from my guns the day she
came in tearing that in their excitement they
would fire into her without orders, and break
the neutrality of this port. One thing is Ger
tain, the Florida does not intend to fight un-
less the chances are largely in her favor, for she
skulked away from the old st. Louis.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servt.,
GEO. HENRY PREBLE.
Commander u s. N.
Hon. GIDEON WEIIEs. Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, ID c.