Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1864-11-24


day above mentioned, Thursday. October
9th, he called a council of his officers &c
debate the subject An important ele-
ment in the consideration was the facl
that the convenient harbor of Bahia has
three openings into the Atlantic. by any
one of which the Florida could make her
escape whenever the darkness fa-
vored her purpose, without the possibility
of one Union vessel preventing it, it Is
stated that the council of officers were
also possessed of information that the
Florida had repeatedly seized and burn
ed American ships within three miles Of
the cost of Brazil, in defiance of every
law of neutrality, without the slightest
objection of any sort being made by the
Brazilian authorities. Taking into con-
slderation all the facts in The case, the
council advised with but one dissenting
vote among all the officers of the Wachu-
se4t, that the scheme proposed of seizing
the rebel cruiser at her anchorage should
be carried out Captain Collins imme-
dia,ely gave the orders for accomplish
ing the design agreed upon, saying that
with the very deepest regret De fell that
the conduct of the Brazilian Government
in permitting piracies within the shadow
of its shores had made the step an i'm.
psratively necessary one. 1t may be re-
marked here that it was found, after the
SEIZURE of the Florida, that arrange
ments had been made for her escape
from the harbor on the very next night,
for new career of depreciation upon our
shipping,
The preparations for the encounter
were made with great Oelerity and com
plete secresy, aud at about three O'Clock
n the morning of Friday, October z, The
cables were slipped, and the WachuseIt
bore down upon the rebel vessel under
full head of steam. So little eKpecta-
ZION was there of such proceeding, tha,
one-half of The officers and crew Of the
Florida, seventy in number, and includ-
lny Captain Morris, were carOusing on
shore, and the remainder, having just re-
turned from similar absente. were in
no condition to repel an assault The
FIorida's officer of the deck, supposed
the collision which he saw 10 be iminent
10 be merely accidental, and cried out
You VIII run into US if YOU don't look
o6t." The design of Captain Collins
was simply to. strike the Florida amid
ships with full steam on, crush in her
side, and send her al once to the bottom
beyond the possibility of causing further
trouble to any one. The Wachusett,
however, did not strike her adversary
fairly. but hit her in the stern, carrying
away the mizzin mast and main yard
The Florida was not seriously injured by
the collision, but the broken spar fell a
cross the awning over her hatchway in
such a manner as to prevent her crew
from getting on deck from below. The
recoil which followed the shock carried
The Wachusett back several yards. 10
he confusion which ensued several pis.
tol shots were fired from both vessels,
chiefly at random. and entirely without
effect, Two of the guns of the Wachu-
sett we're also discharged by accident.
according to one report, and as another
version has it, Iy order Of one of the
Union Lieutenants. The shots did not
strike the Florida.
Captain Collins, of the Wachqsett, i'm
mediately thondered out demand to the
rebel craft, Surrender or will blow
you out of the water" The Lieutenant
in charge of the Florida may be excused
for considerable amazement, but his sllll
presence of mind 10 reply. Under the
circumstances, ! surrender" Without
the delay of an instant, dozens of gallant
tars boarded the prize and made fast a
hawser, connecting her with their own
vessel, and the Wachusett turned her
course seaward, moving at The top of her
speed and towing the Florida in her
wake.
The feet of Brazilian vessels, which
entirely surrounded The little space of
water on which the brief battle had been
fought, was so situated that the TWO
American steamers were obliged to pass
under the stern of one of the largest, in
order to penetrate their line. The Wa
chusett was challenged, but did not design
a word of reply, and he Florida, when
hailed and cum manded TO halt moment
after, replied that pause was impossl.
BILE, as she was towed by>the vessel in
front. The Brazilians soon guessed the
state of affairs. and in another moment
or two the heavy guns of the fort; under
the very uruzzles of which the capture
had been made. opened fire on the Wa
cbusett. as she disappeared in the NOR