The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-21
COMMUNICATIONS.
Correspondents of the Press.l
Capture of the Water Witch-GaIlant Con-
duct of "Contrabandn
U. s. BARK FERyASD1NA.

uuOt VI o OVutEduduus
U. s. BARK FERNANDINA,
on ST. Catharines, Ga, June 7th, 1854.
To the Editor Of the Press:
l presume before you receive this you viii
have heard of the capture ofthe U. S. steamer
Water Witch at Ossabow Sound. She was
captured about 2 o'clock on the morning the
Sd inst. by armed barges from "Fort McAlis-
ter"
The Fernandina lay in st. Catharines Sound,
the next station below, distant across the ISL
and, about ten miles. On the forenoon of the
Sd, we discovered negro on the beach of Os-
sabow island and sent boat for him suppos-
ing him to be refugee from the main land,
but imagine our surprise to find refugee
from the Water Witch, the only man who es-
capped to tell the tale. He tcds "aa intelligent
contraband," who ran away from Savannah
last August and shipped in our navy, having
served in the Water Witch with late of lands
man ever since. He gave his name Peter Nc
Intosh-probably the name of his master, who
viii no doubt be much pleased to learn that
his serUdnt saved his own life and ours, by Civ
captors, who might have come along side Of
us in the Water Witch without suspicion, rem
dering our capture certain and their victory
easy. All we know OF the capture and the
fight we obtain from him, as it is now certain
he is the only man who escaped. His story is
substantially this: The morning was very
dark and at about four bells the officer of the
deck discovered boat about fifty yards astern
Of the ship and hailed, "What boat is that ?n
The reply was go to hell with your hailing,"
and a volley ofmusketry. They were too near
for the large guns to reach, and before all hands
could be got to quarters they were pouring in
over her deck on all sides, when hand to
hand fight occurred, which he thinks lasted
half an hour, ia which the cutlass and pistol
alone were used He heard men singing out
all over the deck, 81 am shot, am killed. &C.
He saw Capt. Pendergrast on deck and heard
him say something like this to the rebel off,
cars, 81 am overpowered, l have no men--I
surrender"
rebel officer pointed a pistol at him lthe
boy). and said, ''give up, you black cuss," aud
then he ran into the water closet and crawled
out the little window, falling into the water,
and allowing himself to drift with the tide
away from the ship, swan to the shore. He
waited on the island until daylight, hoping
that they would take the steamer up the riy-
er, but when he left several hours afterwards,
they were hooting and howling like so many
demons.
He saw four barges on one side of her;
could not see on the other. He then walked
across the island TO tell us, reaching the beach
about o 80 A. NJ, almost dead with fright
and exhaustion. His escape ani timely warn
Ing saved us from capture, as, not suspecting
anything wrong, the Water Witch could have
boarded us in daylight and filed our decks
with men.
Several bodies of eur sailors have been
pickep up, floating in the water where they
were either thrown over by the rebels, or
were drowned in attempting TO escape after
being wounded.
The blockade is as effective as ever, anoth-
er vessel filling the gap in few hours. /
hope the same mail that carries this will caI-
ry North The news of her recapture.
Respectfully, PORTLAND.
p. S. We have learned since, from rebel pa
pers, that the rebels, commanded by Captain
Belot, G. S. A, formerly Lieut.. U. S. n, in
tended to run alongside US after daylight,
with private signals set, captured from the
Water Witch, and of course capture US, but
the rebel captain was shot dead by Capt Pen
dergast, OF the Water Witch. The pilot OF
the w. w. shut himself In tie pilot-house
with two revolyers, refusing to surrender, aud
was actually cut to pieces after killing i've
rebels and wounding several more.
Yours Of the Sd. inst. received. Please
continue the Press. l had forgotten there
was anything due you. win remit a years
subscription by next mail Enclosed send
an act OF the captain Of the U. S. schooner
Water Witch. shall not be disappointed if
you do not find it worthy to be published,
but perhaps you may get some facts OF inter-
est from it.
The Huron has gone home. Direct the
Press to U. S. S. Fernandna, 5. A. b. Squad
ron, DIR. S. b. Kenny. Pilot Muryhy, who SO
brayely died ON her, was a Southern pilot be-
fore the war-escaped from Darien about
year ago where he left wife and child. He
was then appointed pilot in the navy, and was
Stationed on the Huron. Last winter he
went up to Darien in an armed boat with six
men, and brought away his wife and child,
who now live at Beaufort, S. G. The rebels
vowed they would kill him ii he was ever
captured, and knowing this, he resolved to
die, rather than fall again into their hands.
The repel papers say that he refused to SUI
render, but with revolver in each hand.
shut himself in the pilot house; and that he
actually killed five men, and wounded several
before he fell covered with wounds of every
description. Mr.. Murphy was very useful
man to the squadron and was much respected
where he was known. p