New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-17
FROn TYIE Red RIVER.
The Rebel Ram Webb-Mow she rsaa t:,e
Blockade.
From Our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent.
orr MOUTH OF Red RIVER May l. 1916
Knowing that all that has been known here
for several days concerning the escape of the Rebel
ram Webb-ber appearance, her fight down the river.
and her destruction below New Orlcans--wou,l zach
you by telegraph your correspondent has purposly
Trained from writing until trustworthy Information coai
be had to the motive Of her unexpected adycat suc
information now have. 1t is derived from statements
made by the captured crew. among whom is 4 ".
Reed, her commander. Reed vaS an olicesia the
United States Navy.
In attempting this daring feat hcr commander close
time when lie would not only have darkness 10 1d
him in passing the bockading feet at the mouth o. Red
River. but also to his coming until he could get
below Baton Rouge. The blockade 1t ibis po.a,
passed about 81 o'clock night. leaving him yes eight
hours of darkness with the advantage Of fail river.
in which to run below the batteries at The point
named
The Webb had been prepared for running ont early
in the Winter Her bulwarks were strengthened nth
cotton bales her machinery put in the be', pos'ib,
condition and picked crow placed on board OF her.
She was delayed however at Alexandra. by one cau.s
or another until the night Of tie I'D rather tbs
morning of the I'D asst after miJnigh. when sha
started. Five or six miles aloye the mouth shs
stopped, and a reconnaissance by land YVES made tn
discover the position Of vessels. At daik u veg
sci was again put in motion. and moved cautiously
down the river, until, coming nearly IN sigh. OF
gunboas her FIRE doors were closed as 20 en,fely
shut off the draft through the furnaces and prevent no
hyinso sparks out OF the smoke.staeks she taeh
creep elong with barely enough speed to make her
mind the helm. When within half mile OF tn, block
aiding boat Manhattan, shot fIon the latter 'eSsgt
told that her approach discovered. Instantly TIA,
draft was opened and her furnaces were ba;i w.'u
pine knots the smodering heat ifrom which stu sup
Piled full head Of seam. her tires burned Win imms-
date Intensity and she passed out Of the mouth OF
Red River and through the feet at the rate Of fully -
miles per hour. and was gone. She was fred at seq
era times bat was not struck The particulars 81 hsr
progress thence to NewOrleans have been publi'isi
already. The evaporation Of the gpnboatnen knew
no bounds when it was found that the Webb. the very
boat they hsd been watching for for month"; lad ran by
them with impuniiy. nrrr "lT.
From the mos, authentic information il appears That
the certainty the ultimate capture OF the "cbb ~
the Union forces suggested the project OF RAINING her
into the Gulf 1t is stated by prisoners that trcasurs
to very large amount shipped Oh her by iiereas
private parties in Texas and Louisiana and oonSgnei
70 persons at Havana. II IL evident from THIS that
great confidence was felt In her ability % escape
raid on our shipping was never contemplated. After
reaching Havana she was next to into Galveston.
and assist in the defense Of that port.
The Rebel flag was raised on her in froDt OF New
Orleans only because Reed thought he had passed our
last gunboat Coming unexpectedly upon the d,,t VI
miles below his ONLY chance to tue Webb
ashore burn her. and escape the swamps Tue result
Is well known.