, 1864-04-05
blockade Runners Captured.

blockade Runners Captured.
4 correspondent Of the New Bedford SAND
erf, t"H. D. E.") gives the following spirit
ed account Of the capture of blockade run
ncrs in Brnzos river by the United States
steamer Penobscot:
The Brazos river, about forty miles from
Galveston, is fine river when once inside,
hut with shoal bar. We have lately made
II the scene OF one of the most successful ex-
ploits In destroying. end capturing blockade
runperB. =.
The Penobscot, relieved from the Calves
ion station IN the latter part Of last month,
was ordered to watch the entrance to this
river. On our arrival there We saw several
. schooners inside, protected BY. q strong bat
tcry, but though we kept vigilant watch day
and night We could discover nothing run
ming.
But at last our patience was rewarded. On
the 2Stl OF February, in the early gray Of the
morning, two vessels were discovered en-
chase. The first one We drove on shore and
she soon became hopeless wreck. The
other one was further off md became our
prize. She was fine schooner, loaded with
powder, arms, medicine, DC. think her
course ciaiming W to be be-: aBritish % 'e snb}set" "
8 more miserable, dirty-lookiug set than her
crew think neyer saw. 1t wouldn't be
worth tie sacrifice ofa good rope to hang
them.
Well. we put a prize crew on board and
took possession. That night came on
The next day the storm still continued, aud
We lay hid in dense fog. At noon it sud-
denly cleared, when to our surprise We dis
covered fleet Of eight vessels under way and
coming over the Brazos bar. At the same
time they discovered us But four Of them
Ind come too far to turn back
The men had just gone to dinner, but they
stan ran around as.it never went before. We
were quickly under way, and the chase began.
We steered right for the rebel batteries.
Treat clouds Of black smoke rolled from the
smoke stack. The hungry mouths Of the fur :
naccs were fed with slnsh and pitch, coal and
wood. The monsters beneath our decks
shook their arms Of steel, and bent with un-
cd lie leaf as they urged her on. Tho white
sails dropped from their tlpering spars, and
were Spread by the strong arms Of hundred
men. The ship fairly flew. In less time than
l can wTite.lt, We were at the river bar, nnd
two fchoouers with full loads Of cotton.
driven on the sands md dashed by the break
crs. became shattered wrecks. The long guns
ofthe rebel batteries poured forth storm of
1re- Rifle shells whistled above the gale aud
ronnd shot came plungtng from wave to
wave But the PenObsc0t has charm that
never deserts her. Hnrling defiance, our
e1cven.inch thundcrs back. We watch the
huge shell us 1t flies through the air, and
almost feel like kissing the old gun IS We sec
its missile burst in the fort The Parrott
sends its compliments. too. But We cannot
stop to fight, and SO Wills the rebels chafe
With impotent rngr, We speed on for the
doomed vessel.
4 shell brings the nearest one to, and
while u prize crew takes Charge Of her We
steer for the other, the only remaining one
that got outside The tenth shell stops her,
and We soon hare her in tow. We let them1ie
off the river With us that night for the rebs
to look at, aud the next day all three prizes
started for New Orleans. They are ali tied
up here now. Ensign Miller "a New Bedford
boy) and your correspondent had the pleas.
uTe Of bringing them down. They are all
fine vessels. One had cargo Of powder,
arms, &C., and another had 100 bales of cot.
. ton, worth abont ~, 900, and $13, coo In Con.
federate notes, and the other md cArgo of
10 bales Of cotton, worth about $50, 900,
5000 in gold coin, and about SO. 900 in gold
watches, diamonds, &c. On the whole,
quite good days work for one gunboat
The rebel Captains have already condemned
their vessels by written depositions, and
they don't steal half here as they do in New