The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-04
interesting Description Of the Loss Of
the Ella and Annie, a Daring
BlOckade-Ru


BlOckade-Runner
The most daring courage jet shown by block
ade-runner was exhibited by Capt. r. N. Bonneau,
OF me Ella and Annie, which was captured in No
yemSer by the Niphon. The Ella and Annie efs
Bermuda for Wilmington on the ssh Of November
IN company with the r. E. Lee, having on board
the heaviest cargo ever tried BY blockade run.
ming ship-304 tons Of dead weight, all on Govern
meat accoan' Capt. Bonneau, who ia a prisoner
Oh parole tn Boston, publishes the following highly
interesting narrative Of the capture of h,e vessel
AT sunset we were eighty Eve miles from VIII
mlnaEnn bar. Att O'Clock the wind, which had
been light from the north and west. suddenly
spyang up, and In the course of one hour blew 4
gale, causing an ugly cross sea, and reducing the
speed OF our ship from eleven knots to i've and
half which was the utmost we could get out of her
with thirty pounds of steanJ
Things began 10 look sQually as TO our beic 2 able
: 70 make the ras In time, but It was too late to
think of turning hack. We wero, too, at this time
passing two suspicious lights, which we took ,t,r
the outer vessels Of the bloc kadins squadron. Al
IL hauled her int MasenbOr0' Inlet, as found if
did not get smooth water could not save nv
time, and II was not until ~ o'c eek that made
the land. About moon, while TO the southward and
eastward OF .he inlet as soon got fairly under
the beach and I'm eighteen feet OF water. sent
word to Mr. Cray and Mrs Nicholson. nv two
passengers, that II would be impossible for me TO
my dark to TO the fort and that at daylight we
would be subjected 10 very heavy fire lin all
probability from the feet, was determined 10
try TO run along the beach, q had, however, no
otber chance,l and thai If they would get ready
would land them In ahe little bay of Masenboro,
Inlet. This they hraveiy refused, saying ii would
take too much uL ,and tn If could stand the fire
Of the feet they could to). therefore prepared
for the worst, and ordered the anchors taken In on
deck, unstocked, and Iashed dawn, the eolOrs set,
and all hands eat the officer Of the watch and the
two men at the wheel sent below, determining, If
had to lose her, to make 1t cast the enemy deariy.
Just ds day was dawning we touched the beach
Slightly, but did nos stop, and while hauling away
from it, saw a gunboat standing directly across
our bow, (she must evidently have heard
wheels,) aud was steering so As to cut us off from
the beach. We being in three fathons of water, I
was much surprised TO find boat running
boldly for US To pass outside of him would be to
lose my ship, for ha.w0uid then cut of FROM
the SUPPORT expected from our own batteries in a
few mites more. 10 run my ship ashore at this
point would have been madness, for the beac!,
here is an o.ttsr one, the sound extending inside
Off for miles. aud consequently could expect no
projections, and MY whole ship COMPANY would
either be destroyed on this bold beach or taken by
the enemy prisoners. To turn back and run to
was 10 give the ship to the enemy without eff
fu-t to save her. therefore determined to try
and pass insilore of the bend or over him, (not
dreaming that he would dare into eighteen
feet of wateT.) This matter was soon decided,
we approached each other rapidly, and I could
hear the noise OF his men preparing for action.
Sc, and when about oae hundred and fifty yards
from him | hailed him, telling him he would be
afGu OF me, hoping 10 induce the thought tha: wa4
Of their own ships, but was soon made aware
OF nay mistaken option by a brOadside of grape
and canister, accompanied by voiley Of
kerry. then ordered my ship pointed for her, and
hoped TO strike her ist forward OF her waist boat.
Unfortunately he perceived this move OF mine,
and shifted his helm, causing his vessel 10 swing
away from me, and making 1t lmo possible to strike
fair.
Cur ships came together the next moment with
fearful crash, carrying away his starboard boat
rail and part of his stem and cutwater Ny engine
was kept working to its full capacity, as had but
one chance of getting clear OF him In case failed
to sink him, AMI that to force my ship past
him before he could board, as distinctly heard
him call away his boarders In this last attempt
failed, rs the ships were both going ahead, and had
now swung hroadside on and he firing broadsde
after broadsise into while in this condition, and
almost at the same time boarding the port
quarter and wheelhouse guard Then ensued u
scene which none but an eyewitness would be-
iieve. Officers and men rushing along our deck,
shooting and cuttin: at everything tha, came to
sight and even shootngr, in their mad career, one
Of their own men-and in The case of Jany, OF my
ship, shooting him as he was coming up the hatch
way 10 give himself up Having satisfied them
selves with this courageous ch 'rge) they be-
low aud broke oren everything that came to sight,
state-roons, trunks. boxes, &c, officers and men.
quasrciag eges Hnaks for she contents and the
owners standing by. This robbery and caYouse was
kept up until the arrival of Commodore Ridgely, in
the flag ship Shenandoah, when 1t was quickly put
stop to by the appearance OF Lieut.. Skerrtt, to
whom il reported, (Lieut. skerr:t is an officer
and gentleman of the Old navy.) Notoneof the
officers of the capturing ship NipEOn-be-
longing 10 this class of officers.
The ship then plugged (having received
forty one shots In her hull, and sent TO Beaufort,
N. c., where we landed our passengers and wound
ed and then proceeded North, destination Boston,
having on board the two cooks, two stewards, and
myself The crew otherwise were sent North In
the transport Newbem.
Thus ended the fate of the flvorite ship Ella
and Annie A more cowardly and murderous fire
vessel was never subjected to, and the conduct
Of the boarding the most unheard of barbarity
upon record. The officers of 10Y sh p behaved
as ali had a right TO expect of them-cool,
determined, and at their posts all of them, they
had often said If they were killed their bodies
would be found at their stations In their engine
room. Strange as it mag appear, her engine was
not struck, although the balls to be seen stick
ing In the wood work of the gallery frame.
Both ships now In BOstca The Niphou TO
be repaired, as we'll as her prize.
Had been successful in the destruction OF the
NiphOn, presume would have been considered
deserving at least of a ''wei dOne;o but the
verse shows angry, false, and calumnOus opinions,
which generally heaped upon the heads of
those who t.try" by those who stay at home afraid
10 try, having heard even in this lonely prison
that voice had gone forth in "Dixie !" condemn
ing All of tbs Captains of the vessels captured
the 9th and 9Th OF November.
thought it proper 10 say that for the discharge !
of my duty, and for the responsibility of all that I;
occurred on that day, am responsible, and to i
none but my country and my conscience. |
Riley, fireman, mOfially wounded by grape; jos. |
Jany, dangerously in groin; Barre, fireman, shot in
-, (name f0rgotseu,) fireman, shot
in neck two Of the cabin boys cut severely with !.
cutlasses. +. N. BoNNEAU. /