The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-23
ReuOrt OF the Rehel Omcers.

u INC steAmsnlp hhguaIepA
Report or the Rebel Omcers.
Southampton NOV o. correspondence Of London Times
At keiway hotel ppsemened by information received
from Bahia enables me 20 furnish with the following
the federal steamer wachusets OF which tee.
graphic announcement has been received via Lisbon,
IN PORT AND BOARDED.
appears that'the Florida arrived at Bahia Al nine
7. NJ on the 4h OF October having put 10 al that port
for supply Of stores and GOALS and to effect slight
repairs 10 her machinery Soon after she had anchored
the outer harbor boat went alongside and demanded
the name OF the vessel The given, "The
Confederate States steamer Florida, person the
boat called out 'Ihs boat from Britannia ma
jesty's steamer Curiew,' The next morning IL WAS
found that mother the Curew nor any other British
steamer OF at the port the officers OF the
Florida to the opinion that must
sent from the federal steamer wachusett, which was
lying In the harbor.
ON the morning the 5th the Florida was visited by
Brazilian naval officer TO whom Captain Norris stated
his requirements md the officer told the Captain that he
would his 10 the Governor 81 the province
but until an answer was received from that official the
Florida must not communicate with the shore
At twelve O'Clock al noon letter from the Governor
received by Captain Norris informing him that he
was then ready 10 receive him. The Captain mmed.
Governor, who informed him that he would be allowed
forty eight hours get In stores and Goals, and nat
an extension Tor that purpose The Governor was very
urgent IN his request that Captain Morris would strictly
observe the laws Of neutrality during his stay, and
informed the Captain that the American Consul, Mr..
Wilson, had given him his word OF honor that the
Wachnseit would not violate the laws OF neutrality
within the Brazilian waters.
Captain Morris gave the Governor the same assurance
the part OF the Florida An admiral OF the Brazilian
navy was present during the interview and when Cap
Morris requested that no should be allowed To
the Florida from the outer TO the inner roads, be
out OF danger and 10 facilitate coang operations WE'LL
the admiral said, .'Oh yes. her In and inside
OF me, and you will be out OF all danger"
Immediately after the interview the Florida
moved to the berth designated her. having two
lillian vessels OF war between her and the Wachusett
and close under the guns OK a steamer. Of war and
Rrari -
ned the broken machinery OF the Florida reported
that it could mol be repaired Ia less than four
days and Captain Morris az came to the deer
sion to let part OF bis ashore for liberty for
twelve hours. number OF the men accordingly went
Just after dark about O'Clock, went along
side the Florida and on being hailed the reply that
Consul board, who had official communication
the OF that snip TO the captain OF the Florida
The Consul sent his card with the letter, which
addressed "Captain Norris soop Fiorida' The letter
back 10 the Consul who told that Il could
that any communication addressed TO Captain Norris Of
the Confederate States Navy, would DO received The
boat then left
A CHALLENGE yaoM TEE wAcHusBTr.
On the morning OF the 9th Mr. De vidiky went on
board the Florida, having received a loter from tho
m Ss Ssy .ss 10 s eap. one h. .s from M
Consul requesting him TO deliver the enclosed challenge
the brazilian government the Florida fitted
quickly be would accept the challenge 10 go out and
The letter TO Captain Morris was improperly directed
before and that gentleman declined TO receive It. hut
special - purpos which being he Should
leave again--tbat he should neither seek avoid
contest with the Wachuse, but should be meet her he
would try to destroy her.
Having resolved this answer Mr. De vidky ieft
CAPTAIN NORRIS ASHORE.
The same afternoon, tho FIRST batch OF liberty men
having returned TO the Florida the starboard watch
released. and Captain Morris, aud some Of the officers
also, went ashore al the same time
THE ATTACH By rHR wAcHUsYrr AND SURRENDER.
,hn 4tt.c fIpZ ehnra
stated that about quarterpast three O'Clock A. NJ
the 7th Acting Master r. I. Hunter Jr being In charge
Of the deck, the Wacbuset leit her anchorage, and
taking advantage the darkness seercd the Florida
from HON she could be uniil she close
her she was hailed by Acting Master Hunter, VINO re-
ceved no answer, and he consequently called ali hands
to quarters
Before the officers and crew coud all get on deck the
wscbuse struck the Florida the starbosrd quarter
cutting her rail down TO the decK aud carrying her
miz2enmast.
AT the same time the wachusett poured a volley OF
musketry aud charge OF canister from her orecaste
pivot gun upon the Florida's decks The Wachuset
then backed OF and demanded a surrender to whnh
Lieutenant Porter declined 20 accede.
The wachuseu fred again and again, which was
turned by the officers and OF The Florida. Another
demand was made surrender Lieutenant Porter an
swered 81 will surrender condtonally.n The Wachu-
set then ceased firing and the called out
for Captain Morris TO come on board her Lieutenant
Porter answered that be shore but that he, AZ
Commanding officer would come as soon as he could get
a boat ready. A number Of armed boats then
from the wachuse, TO take possession Of the Florida
A. as Lieutenant Porter was heard to that he
would surrender 0nesn OF The florida's umped
overheard to escape capture Of whom only six succeeded
in reaching The shore, the other nine alleged being
in the water by the forecastle and in the
boats Of the Wachusett Mr. Hunter was wounded, and
a number Of men killed.
The wachusett then made fast hswser TO the fsre.
mast Of the Florida, and after slipping her cable toved
her out TO sea.
ACTION OF THE BRAzTLrANs.
While this being done boat from the Brazilian
flagship vent alongside the wachuse and ordered her
return to her auchorng ground and reply given
telling the boat TO keep on as she was about to back
CAPTAIN MORRIS A LITTLE SURPRISED.
Captain Norris was sleeping ashore, at hotel over.
looking the water, and when called up by persons at tho
hotel who suspected tha, something wrong going
by hearing the report OF guns he got down IN time
70 make out what In the dsrkpess appeared TO be the
vessels sieamiug out Of the harbor.
ON the 18th ult the wachusett with The Florida To
tow passed within sight OF Psnambuco.
hr. DE vidky wrote letter to Captain Morris on the
h expressing his regret AZ having accepted the mission
from the American Consul whom he could Hnd his
return from the Florida TO hsnd him back tho letters
aud stating that after what had ranspied be believed
the challenge bad not boon made In good faith.
CONDITION OF THE PRrvATEER.
the Florida had only twenty-five tons Of coal dust
board al the time her capture The machinery to be
repairedviz the pipe OF her donkey engine and fresh
water s 90 shore At the Brazilian arsenal
at Bahia.
When the Florida arrived ~ Bahia she bad q compile.
ment OF seventeen officers and hundred and twenty
nine mcu Of whom i've officers and seventy.one
Including the six who ashore At the time Of her
capture we're on Shore and consequently their
liberty.
The other twelve officers and htty eight meu were
either captured killed wounded The OF twelve
officers are First Lieutenant Thomas X Porter second
Lieutenant s. g. Stone, Past Assistant Surgeon s. j.
Charlton Chief Engineer W Thompson, Acting Masters
H. FLOYD, q. Bryan and 7. r. Hunter, Jr, Assistant
Surgeon Thomas Emory, Midshpman q. Sinclair, Jr,
First Assistant Engineer W. bhcrn second Assistant En-.
gineer J. Brown and Captains Clerk w. ID Hough.
THE oFIIcsRs SAVED.
The I'VE officers who are free Captain O. Morris,
Paymastsr r. Taylor, Third Lieutenant s. Barron Jr,
Mdsh.pman j. II. Dyke and Masters Mate J. b. King.
OF these the FIRST two have arrived 10 the Nsgdaena
and the Others with the seventy OF tho
coming home passengers 10 sailing ebip to leave Bah
for London about the 18th OF october.
THE rEgLING IN BAHIA.
Tne American Consul, Mr. Wilson went away Ia the
wachusett leaving In charge Of his consulate NJ
Banis AN busness with the states was con scgueuty
int ali iudi NJ Hra, nj