Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-11-17
CAPTURE or the Florlda-Ono OF
the Nj Ost Daring Naval Achieve
ments ON Record. Hut


The news which We announced yesterday !
morning. that the arrival OF the famous
ste amer Ksarsarge at this port had brought
the intelligence of the capture in Brazilian
waters by the Unien gunboat Wachusett OF
tho notorious Rebel cruiser Florida, sent .
thrill of surprise and delight through the
community even in the midst Of the excite
ment and anxiety of presidential election
day. Pie joyful news spread over the city
like wilff1re, and WAS the universal subject
of discussion and of mutual congratulation,
until the interests Of the congrsssio and
national elections seemed almost to be
forgotten in ON parison. One our Of repor-
ters paid visit to the Kersarge during the
day. and by the kind courtesy of her officers,
paymastsr J. A. Smith being especially
account of the angular affair in the bay of
Bahia, comprising all the particulars which
are accessible to tho public
The Confederate war-steamer Florida
arrived at Bahia. Bay Of San Salvador,
Brazil, October 5th, having captured and
burned the bark Monidamon, from Rio, of
Pernambaco. on the 2Sth Of September.
The United States steamer Wachusett,
Captain Napoleon Collins, had been lying
several davs in the port Of Bahia. and the
Florida at first anchored in the ofhng. The
Brazilian Admiral Immediately sent her q
message requesting her to come inside, which
abe did, anchoring in the midst efthe
Brazilian feet, and close under the guns OF
the principal fort. which is located upon an
island in the middle of the hsrbor.
Certain parties in Bahia, which is q
commercial city of considerable Importance,
with one of the best harbors in the world,
being interested in American affairs, be-
stirred themselves to bring about an engage
meLt between the Wachusett and the
Florida, firmly confident that the result Of
such an encounter would be another Union
victory AS complete as that won last Summer
in the British Channel. On the morning
of the 9th of October they carried cha allenge
to Capt. Morris Of the Florida, to move out
side the limits. of Brazilian jurisdiction and
fight the Wachusett. The Rebel comman
: der declined to receive the missive which
} the Brazilian residents had prepared, or
account Of some informality in it's address
During the afternoon Of the same day q
Hungarian citizen living in Bahia, and
, sympathiging with our Government in 1T
struggle with Rebellion, waited upon Capt
Morris, AMI en1eavored to induce him Il
consent to an action between his ship and thu
' Union gunboat, but without success, Gap
tain Morris. however, stated that it he hap
psned to fall in with the Wachusett during
0 q cruise, he should willingly engage in
contest with her, but that on no accoun
. would no consent to leave a safe harbor TO
the express purpose Of having an engage
ment,
All efforts on the part of outside partis
to bring on naval battle In open water be
tween the two vessels proving unavailing
8 Capt. Collins promptly took into considera
], ton the other means which suggested them
4 selves for Kidding the seas Of the most dan
4 gerous enemy -four commerce. In the ever
y Ing OF the same day sbove mentiened, Thur,
y day, Octeber 6, he called council OF his oi
u ticers to debate the subject An importsn
element in the consideration was the fac
: that the convenient harbor Of Bahia he
/. three openings into the Atlantic, by any on
!. Of which the Florida could make her escap
= whenever the darkness Of the night fayore
: her purpose, without the possibility ct on
Union vessel preventing il. 1t is state
/ thar the council Of ofiicers was also possesse
}. Of information that the Florida ha
l. repeatedly seized and burned America
4 ships within three miles Of the coast ,
" Brazil, indefiance Of every law ofnsutralit,
,f without the slightest objection OF any Sol
- being made by the Rrazilian authorities.
Taking into consideration oil the facts Il
the case the ceuncil advised, with bat on
dissenting vote among all the officers Of tb
Wachusstt that the scheme proposed I
~ seising the Rebel cruiser at her anchcrae
n should be carried out. Capt. Collins immed
a. atsly gave the orders for accomplishing q
. design agreed upon, saying. that with u
" very deepest regret he felt that the condu
8, Of the BfssiliAn government In psruittir
piracies within the shadow Of iss shores hs
- made the step an imperstively .necessal
Id one. II may be remarked here that 1t "
r. fsapd. after the seisurs Of the Florida, th'
arrangements had been made for her esca]
70 from the harbor on the very next night I
TO . new career Of depreciation apon our shi
mr. ping. F3oass '''..sA hotAM
~ b The pssparsAiens fsst sHso9atsr "