Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-11-17

secrecy, aud at about three O'Clock in the
morning Of Friday, October 7, the cables
we're slipped, and the Wachusett bore down
upon tho Rebel vessel under full bead of
steam. So little expectation was there Of
such proceeding, that ene-half the efficers
and crew Of the Florida, seventy IN number,
and including Captain Morris, were carousing
on shore. and tho remainder, having just
returned from similar abseuco, were in no
condition to repel an assault. The Florida's
officer Of the deck supposed the collision
which he saw to be imminent to be merely
accidental, and cried out, "Yeu will run
into usif you don't look out. The design
of Capt. Collins was simply to strike the
Florida amidship. with full steam on, crush
in her side, and send her at once to the bot
tom beyond the possibility Of causing fur
ther trouble to any one. The Wechusett
however did not strike her adversary fairly,
but hit her in the stern, carrying away the
miszsn mast and main yard. The Florida
was not seriously injured by the collision,
but the broken spar fell across the awning
over her hatchway in such manner as to
prevent her crew from getting on deck from |
below. Therecoil which followed the shock |
carried the Wachusett back several yards. |
In the confusion which ensued several pistol
shots were fred from both vessels, chiefly
at random, and entirely without effect.
Two of the guns Of the Wachusett we're also
discharged by accident, according to one
report, and, as another version has il. By
order Of one OF the Union lieutenants. The
shots did not strike the Florida.
Capt. Collins Of the Wachusett, immed-
atley thundered out o 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
smazsment, but had still presence Of mind
, to reply, Under the circumstances i
! surrender" Without the delay of nm
instant dozens'of gallant tars boarded the
8 prize and made fast hawser connecting her
with their own vessel, and the Wschusett
turned her course seawar1, moving at the
top of her speed and towing the Florida in
8 her wake.
!. The feet Of Brazilian vessels, which
entirely surrounded the little space Of water
' on which the brief battle had been fought,
o was so situated that the two American
steamers were obliged to pass under the
stern of the largest in order to penetrate
their line The Wachusett was challenged,
|. but did not deign word Of reply, and the
b Florida, when hailed and commanded to
!, halt moment after, replied that a pause
Il was impossible, as she was towed by the yes
n sci in front. The Brazilians soon guessed
= the state Of affairs, and in another moment
or two the heavy guns Of the fort, under tn,
) very muzzles Of which the capture had beer
It made, opened fire on the Wachusett, as sht
" disappearedin in the morning darkness. Thre,
shots were fred after her, all rassing harm
q lessly far above her pennant, and striking
the water beyond. ei "''."
r. To the reader it seems that all this mus
have taken considerable time bat tn
testimony of careful officer on the Wa
chusett, corroborated by the surgeoH of tn
~ Florida, assures us that from the time tn
ns Wachusett FIRST slipped her cable and steam
ht ed upon the Rebel cruiser to the momen
N when the echoes of the last gun from tn
AZ Brazilian fortress had died away, was onl
a twenty minutes by the watch. Certainl
a. no page of history can show more DARN
a. achievement, or one executed with NOR
m brilliant rapidity or more complete success
~ The Brazilian naval commander in Bahi
:t harbor acted with all the promptness whic
m. could have been expected, and in few me
nd ments the dawn of day disclosed two vesse
he Of the Brazilian feet doing their utmost t
~ pursue and overhaul the Wachusett and he
he prize. They were heavy sloep-of. war an
70 sn,all armed steamer, neither of them an
n, match 10 point Of speed Tor the handiwor
ed of New England merchants, and soon ga
of up the chase as the Union and Rebel stear
oh ers disappeared below the horizon.
" Capt. Collins soon ordered the ships
ds heave to and examined his prize He foun
or that neither vessel was materially damage
nd by the collision, and that there had BET
off no injury to life or limb from the confus,
ar ar firing which followed it, Twelve Office
~ and fifty eight men Of the Fiorida's ore
ng w were captured, and all her stores, paper
he records, etc, were found undisturbed in Il
'hs cabin. The two vessels soon steamed
: a st. Thomas, arriving there on the Goth ul
;ch and finding the Kearsarge already in po
the 1t was intended to keep the matter at Bah
NJ a secret at St. Thomas, but was Academia
an revealed by seaman of the Wachusett
" one Of the crew of the Kearsarge, and sol
4 hints of it got wind in the town, causi
ce. great excitement there. The Florida
id. lnainsd outside the bay, while the Wact
he. sett entered to obtain coal.
,ge- Acting Assistant Paymaster w. w. W
the liams of the Wachusett, Surgeon Charlt
t If of the Florida, and six Of the crew Of I
lion privateer, were transferred to the kearsarl
mer which sailed Oct. 81, and arrived here
ing midnight on Monday, as previously repo
nge ed. Paymaster Williams being charl
mt with dispatches for the Government, left
And the earliest train yesterday morning
,an. Washington The Wachusett aud Flsr
,;ch were to sail from st. Thomas on the I'd in
on for New York, where they may now be ds