The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-11-17

causing further trouble to any one. The
Wachusett however did not strike her ad
versary fairly, but hit her in the stern,
carrying away the mizzen mast and main
yard. The Florida was not seriously in
jured 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. The
recoil which followed the shock carried
the Wachusett back several yards. In
the confusion which ensued several pistol
shots were fired from both vessels, chiefly
at random, and entirely without effect
Two of the guns Of the Wachusett were
also discharged by accident, according to
one report, and, as another version has it,
by order of one of the Union lieutenants
The shots did not strike the Florida.
/ Capt. Collins of the Wachusett, imme-
diately thundered out demand to the
Rebel craft: Surrender, or l will blow
you out of water" The lieutenant in
charge of the Florida may be excused for
considerable amazement, but had still
presence of mind to reply: "Under the
circumstances | surrender" Without
the delay of an instant, dozens of gallant
tars boarded the prize and made fast a
haser conn Getting her with their own YES
sell 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 A
merican steamers were obliged to pass un-
der the stern Of the largest in order to
penetrate their line. The Wachusett was
challenged, but did not deign word of
reply, and the Florida, when hailed and
commanded to halt moment after, re-
piled that pause was impossible, as she
was towed by the vessel in front The
Brazillian's soon guessed the state of af-
fairs, and in another moment or two the
heavy guns of the fort, under the very
muzzles of which the capture had been
made, opened fire on the Wachusett, as
she disappeared in the morning darkness.
Three shots were fired after her, all pass
ing harmlessly far above her pennant, and
striking the water beyond
TO the reader it seems that all this must
have taken a considerable time, but the
testimony of careful officer on the Wa.
chusett, corroborated by the surgeon of
the Florida, assures us that from the time
the Wachusett first slipped her cable and
steamed upon the Rebel cruiser to the
IL Of ha Ioc
from the Brazilian fortress had died a.
way, was only twenty minutes by the
watch. Certainly no page of history can
show more daring achievement, or one
executed with more brilliant rapidity or
more complete success.
The Brazilian commander in Bahia
harbor acted with all the promptness
which could have been expected, and in
few moments the dawn of day disclosed
two vessels of the Brazilian feet doing
their utmost to pursue and overhaul the
Wachusett and her prize. They were
heavy sloop of war and small armed
steamer, neither of them any match in
point of speed for the handiwork of New
England mechanics, and soon gave up the
chase as the Union and Rebel steamers
disappeared below the horizon.
Capt Collins soon ordered the ships to
heave to and examined his prize. He
found that neither vessel was materially
damaged by the collision, and that there
had been no injury to life or limb from
the confused firing which followed it
Twelve officers and fifty eight men of the
Florida's crew were captured, and all her
stores, papers, records, etc., were found
undisturbed in the cabin. The two ves-
sells soon steamed for St. Thomas, arri-
wing there on the 29th ult., and finding
the Kearsage already in port. 1t was in
tended to keep the matter at Bahia Sc
cret at St. Thomos, but it was accident
ally revealed by seaman of the Wachus-
ett to one of the crew of the Kearsage,
and some hints of it got wind in the town
causing great excitement there. The
Florida remained outside the bay, while
the Wachusett entered to obtain coal.
j. Actiug-Assistant Paymaster w. w.
Williams of the Wachusett, Surgeon
Charlton of the Florida, and six of the
crew of the privateer, were transferred to
the Kearsage, which sailed Oct. 81, and
arrived here at midnight on Monday, as
previously reported. Paymaster Will
iiams being charged with dispatches for
the Government, left by the earliest train
Yesterday morning for Washington. The
Wachusett and Florida were to sail from
St. Thomas on the I'd inst for New York
where they may now be daily expected.
The crew of the Florida is composed
of Englishmen, Irishmen, Germans, etc.,
and contains no citizens of the Rebel
States. Among her officers, however,
there are several Southerns' Surgeon
Charlton, who is now on board the Kear.
sage. is a native of Georgia. He was be,
fore the war an officer in the UnitedStates
Navy, aud was stationed for several years
. in Chelsea He has many acquaintance
in Bostos. He was here on the day OF
President Lincoln's first election, and left
shortly after tn tender his services to the