Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-18
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TO THE
DAILY COMMERCIAL.
CAPE HAYTIEN.
PARTICULARS OF BOMBARDMENT.
Capture of One of Jeffrard's Steamers.
SHE Is CLAIMED AS A BRITISH VESSEL
Conduct of British Steamer Bulldog.
PARTICULARS OF BOMBARDMENT.
Capture of One of Jeffrard's Steamers.
SHE Is CLAIMED AS BRITISH VESSEL
Conduct of British Steamer Bulldog.
TWO OF THE HAYTIEN FLEET SUNK.
Rebel Leader Sainare Reported Killed.

NEW YORK, Nov 17.-The Herald has an
| interesting account of the Bulldog affair at
Cape Haytien.
1t appears that the rebel Haytien fleet sue,
ceeded Ill capturing Jeffrard's steamer, on
board of which, it was believed, was President
Jefrard. When about to take possession of
the prize, the Bulldog hove in sight and claim
ed that the vessel was British mail packet
The right of search was denied the Haytien
commander, and he was compelled to aban-
don his prize and return, closely followed by
the Bulldog, to Cape Haytien. On reaching
the harbor, the Bulldog attempted to commu-
ncate with the town. but her boats were re-
fused permission to land by Salnare the COM
mander of the Haytien rebels.
The news of the Bulldogs conduct having spread
like wildfre among The inhabtant of the Cape, they
became greatly exasPerated at the conduct of the
English commander. The people We're all out and
under arms. Horsemen dashed through the streets
carrying the news. The women came out of their
vengeance upon the English crew if they attempted
to land; They, broke open the English Consulate
and took tberetrom some eight refugees be-
longing to Gefirard, who were concealed there for
"r0tection, and held them as hostages.
Friday and Saturday passed without anything oc-
curing worthy of note until Sunday morning 22d
instant. when the Bulldog got under weigh 10 pro-
eeed to sea, to avoid conflict with the authorities
on shore. She carried with her the British and
American Consuls, the latter having throughout the
whole affair behaved most outrageOusly, and dis
graced the American flag which he represented
The Bulldog returned from sea on the following
morning, CMOnday,) accompanied by three of Gef-
frard's steamers, which remained in the oing out
side the harbor but were to have entered the same
Immediately upon getting abreast of Fort Picolet,
at the entrance of the harbOr, at half past eight
o'clock in the morning. she opened fire upon the fort,
and poured in two heavy broadSides without any
notice The men in the fort were scattered out upon
the rampartS, and little dreamed of what coming;
but they soon manned their pieces and responded
with three or four guns. The Bulldog, however, did
not stop, but steamed boldly into the harbor and
commenced firing upon the town with shell and grape
and. with aful head of steam on started to run down
the Haytien war steamer Noldroaue and the rest Of
the fleet. But upongetting about one hundred yards
from the Noldroque she ashore and with such
terrible force that all attempts to back her off by
not idle but poured broadside after broadSde into
the open town-upon defenceless women and chill
dren, foreigners aliens and all alike.
Lieutenant Commander Howell. Executive officer
Of the United States ship De Soto, and some other
upon duty. and mraculousy escaped with their lives
to their boat the shells from the Bulldog falling
thick and fast;
Captain Walker commanding the United States
steamer De Soto. astonished at the barbarty of the
act sent boat on board the Bulldog to know why
her commander, Capt. Wake, was acting in the man
he without first notifying him of his intention
to bombard the town, as he had promised to do and
Meanwhile, and at great risk to life, that Christian
gentleman and brave and good man, Capt Walker
despatched his boats, under the command of Lieu
tenant Commander Howell and other officers of the
Dc Soto, through the midst of heavy fire from the
English steamer and the aytien batteries on shore
for the purpose of bringing the foreigners and ali
who wished for protection. under the American flag
Five foreign c0Gsuls, representing respectively the
countries of Prussia, Belgium, France, Hamburg
and Odenburg, and fifty other persons, male and fe
male, of all nationaities, placed themselves under
the protection of the American flag, and were con-
veyed to the United States ship De Soto which yes
a., meantime. oil
out OF danger from the contending parties. Much
RTae IS Sc is due to to- Captain Walker and the officers Of
rescued and brought off the people from shore and
placed them out of danger.
failed in her attempt to run down the Haytien feet
poured heavy fire into them. and succeeded in sink
whose crews were mostly all on shore, and were un-
able to offer resistance until too late
Commander Wake, of the Bulldog, in reply to Cap
tain Walkers message as to why he fired into the
town without previous notice. said that he appealed
position, as he was then in tight place:
The Il Bulldog kept up an an ineessant fire upon the
Walker and begged that he would take hawser
from him and tow him, promising to cease firing and
leave the harbor if be did so; if not he stated he
would he unable to get off, and would be compelled
to blow his ship up
Captain Walker declined doing so or offering him
wounded on board which Captain Wake gladly
availed himself of, and sent his wounded board
Surgeon Kidder provided everything in his power for
the comfort of the men in question The Bulldog con
tinued the bombardment until sundown, when both
parties ceased firing During the engagement she had
one officer and two men killed and fifteen men
wounded.
off that evening" and could not hope to be reinforced
by the De Soto, and fearing that the enemy, under
cover of the night would take advantage of it and
abandon her. and without further consultation with
the Dc Soto took to his boats and pulled quietly out
the At exaey hap e
clock P. NJ a most terrible explosion took place,
which shook the De Soto from stem n to to stern Her
Britannia Majestys war steamer Bulldog was no
more High in the heavens were seen fallen tmbcrs.
The De Soto at the time of the explosion was
aae
pened. Immediately all the boats of the De Soto
were manned and oficered and despatched to the
t that might be Seen But upon up arriving there they
found that she had evidently been deserted previous
the rest Of the night caused BY the bursting of the
few remaining shells and other combusbe materials
Nothing remains at present OF the naughty Bulldog
but her smoke and portion of her machinery,
The Bulldog was a bark-rigged paddle-wheel
steamer of LIP tons burthen and five horse power
She carried battery of six guns, viz: four heavy
thirty two Founders on broadside, one ten-inch
smooth bore pivot and one rihed Armstrong, throw
ing solid shot Of one hundred and ten pounds Her
complement, inclusive Of officers, seamen and ma
rines. was one hundred and seventy five, all told
BARBARoUs CONDUCT OF CAPTAIN WAKE.
Inc aeuoh OF Ihe ,Buleog was one Oh the most par
tested against the action; and had not been for the
protection offered under the American flag and the
United States ship De Soto it is not known how
much more terrible the result would have been.--
Much praise is due to that noble officer and Christian
gentleman, Captain W. NJ. Walker, United States
Navy, commanding United States steamer De Soto,
for his gallant conduct upon the occasion. America
may well be proud of such officers Gait. Walker.
mostly French and Spanish-received on board; and
his officers one and ali, gave up their slater ooms
berths table, &C.. and every comfort that American