The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-07

steering as unconcernedly as though we
were on a pleasure-trip "but | may
require you as II spokesman if we have
to undergo any scrutiny at the pass yon-
der. Now we have got our lives, or at
least, our liberties, in our hands in this
expedition; and you internal dog, if
you dare to hesitate or breathe one
word to betray us, will blow the top
of your head into thousand pieces ~
And / pressed my siX-shooter with con-
siderable force against his forehead, to
give emphasis to my peroration.
eff we pass out safely, / will land
you and your crew on the island here
tomorrow, safe and sound; so you can
take your choice !" n
The fellow quailcd before my argu-
ments, and promised to do as l wished.
BY this time we had rounded the
point of Padre Island, and were stand
ing down toward the pass with u free
wind. | looked at my watch it was
already slack-water; and in twenty
minutes the tide would be running ebb !;
we were just on time. AS we neared
the point, | saw group of men on the
beach Observing us, and near them the
two guns stood out very conspicuously
against the white sand. | sheered close
in to the beach, and hove her up in the
wind, while | said to the Texan:
"IIail the beach, and ask if there is a
chance to slip out; remember my warn
ingw
Halo, thar, Colonel Danby!"
"Hallo, Atwood, is that you?"
ayes, Colonel; / want to make the
run, if can; what's the chance of get
ting by the Yankee out thar"
every good, l think; we have a boat
of his inside here and l think his cap
tain is in it. l have sent up to Corpus
for the Lily to come down and pick him
up. Did you see anything of them up
the reach?"
"Say yes" said I.
"Yes, l did he"
"Is pulling up the bay-thought it
was your boat" prompted. He hesi-
tated. "Speak, d-n you, epeakW and
the. click of my pistol showed him was
in earnest, and he blurted out his speech
He then, at my suggestion, indulged in
Il few amiable wishes for our capture
and the Coloncl's success-begged the
Colonel to be ready to cover his retreat
if the Yankees should discover him ant
give chase, and with many compliments
on both sides, we filed away and stood
out through the channel.
Old Knox piloted Us admirably. Once
only we grazcd shoal, and then sho
out into deep water, where we were
safe!
Safe, at least, from our enemies, but
not altogether so from our friends, fol
we were not fairly over the bar wher
the IHtona was seen to cast to the south
ward, and downSqs ne came toward us
full tilt.
"Thcy will save us from working III
to windward at any rate, DOCTOR" sale
l, when fash, and Il parrott-shcll came
.hricking over our heads like wilt
gull.
This was rather too much of Il Goot
thing, so | hove too, and was shortly
within hail of the -1HtOna. Just a
Lane was about to hail us, | anticipated
him with:
"AntoDo ahoy! Send the second cut
ter, si:', with an officer to relieve me il
the change of this vessel !"
"The Captain, by .Jovcw said Lane
dropping his trumpet in utter surprise
; GAY, ay, sir!' he replied, and hasten
ed to obey the order.
The next day, having selected priz
; crew, and landed the Texans accordin;
to promise, the important matter of an
: nouncing my capture to the Navy de
partmcnt came up. 1t would not an
swer to acknowledge that / was caugh
mapping on pleasure excursion plain
unvarnished terms; so, after due delib
; Grafton, | concoctCd the following
which, let me whisper in your ear, goo'
reader, is quite as near the facts, rs yol
r know them, as some other more impor
| tant dispatches sent to hCadQuartcr
during the late war:
> UNITED STATES STEAMER ANToNA,l
orr .ARANZAS PASS June -, l>Gl
IEnI. GitIcoR Hrilcy Strrct,vU NJ NurB:
SIR,-l have the honor to report the capture q
the schooner Rorcr, of Corpus Christi, with on
= hundred and lfty-tivc bales of cotton, ON In
evening of the nineteenth instant. Having rra
a SONS to suppose the Rebels were erecting n sand
battery at the entrance to this Pass, | determine
to discover its exact position by II careful recon
noissancc. Taking my zig, / entered the pas
, yesterday afternoon confirmed my suspicious
and drew their fire upon my boat. The Rorer wa
preparing to run ont that night. ! boarded hc
| and brought her out with me- having one ma
r slightly wounded in the affair. / send the ROrc
q to New Orleans for adjudication. Very respect
fully your obedirnt servant, q. STANTON,
Lieutenant Commanding L S.N.