The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1882-04-22
FORTY-Tw0 lRISHMEN
Their Wonderful E,piolt at Sahiae Pas. IN tho
Days Of Jrn Davis.

in looking from the site ot tins town
toward the Gulf, the most conspicuous
object, next to the light house ON the
Louisiana shore, is the wreck Of the
steamship Clifton. She was burned
while running the blockade IN 1865
loaded with 600 bales Of Confederate
cotton. Her tilted smuke-stacks and
upper works are q guide to pilots seek
ing the dredge channel through the
soft blue mud of the outer bar. the
Clifton formerly belonged to the United
States Government, aud formed part
Of the Franklin expedition which was
dispers, d in September, 1861, 10y forty
two lrishmen, fighting under the Con
I feleruto flag. II was one Of the most
memorable incidents not only in the
!. histl.sy--sf -aUr l'io war, but IN the
/ record of all wars. AT the North this
achievement is scarcely known or re-.
membered, while here it is dwelt upon
and retold az though it were feat sur
passing that of Leonidas and his 800
Spartans. Capt. Stuart, venerable
coast pilot, while accompanying your
correspondent on tour OF inspection
down the bay in the little tugboat Fan.
/ ME circumstantially related, as an eye
witness, his recollections of the affair
The Pass is eight miles long and from
I three-quarters Of mile to mile in
width, with depth of water varying
| from twelve TO inrty-tive feet. Its en-
pncity rs a harbor has recently been
| brought into prominence by the num-
Der OF railroads projected here. On
the Louisiana side the shore is low and
reedy, while on the Texas side there
are several shell ridges and an elevated
plateau, upon which are the remains OF
what WAS once Sabine City. About
[ two miles below this ARE the grass
grown parapets of rude fort known
III Fort Griffith. II was in this earth
work that Lieut.. Dick Bowling, an
I Irishman, with two II Founders and Il
command OF forty-two men, all natives
/ OF Ireland, lay concealed on the 9th
| lay Of September, 1868, when the
/ Federal fleet, composed OF large mum
/ her OF gunboats and transports, APP
peared off the mouth of the Pass.
1t is sad that there were $4,000 men
in the expedition, while Dowlings was
the only rebel force in the neighbor-
hood nearer than Beaumont, ON tile
\ Noches river, thirty two mi es above.
J The objects OF the expedition were to
cooperate with the movements OF Gen
Banks up the r d river, aud to secure
the vast stores OF cotton collected IN
the vicinity Of the Pass. During the
afternoon number of gnnboats ef-
fected passage over the bar, and
ascending the bay, vigorously sheiled
the shores in all directions, at the same
time making soundiugs, aud marking
III, r,,,ii, channel with lapR polesdriysa
d WIN into the mud. During this rs
connoissance Bowling guns were with
drawn from sight Secure in the shell
ter of bombproofs, his men whiled
away the time chatting and playing
cards. After The retirement of the
gunboats, aud nnder cover Of darkness
Dowling's men explored the harbor in
small boats, removing the poles and
planting them in positions calculated
to mislead
On the following day the feet APP
preached in grand array, preceded by
the gunboat Sachem on the Louisiana
side aud the transport Clifton, with
over 800 men on board, moving aloni
the Texas shore, The formidable mp
pearanoe Of the expedition and its de
struchve equipments produced nj
panic among the handful Of GrishmeI
in Fort Griffith. When the Clifton ar
rived at point-blank range the IL
Founders we're instantly brought forth
manned and fired, A shot struck the
vessel amidships in the furry Gre
ated by the sudden attack she wen
, aground. A second shot penetrate,
/. aud disabled tho machinery OF the 81
, chem, and she .drifted helplessl,
ashore, using her guns without elect
=, The engagement lasted but few min
ntes. The commanders of the Clifton
j and Sachem struck their colors and tn
! remainder OF the fleet retired down tn
bay aud beyond the bar.
Dowliug's uninlured command wa
= still kept partly ont Of sight to conceu
i tho smallnoss of its numbers Tn
, Lieutenant himself went aboard tn
a Clifton to receive the formal surror
/. der. Its comm inder, who was after
ward dismissed the service, appeare
on the deck sword in hand. He r,
q auested to I've informed OF bowling
s rank. Learning that he was only
ID lieutenant, he said that lie could M
, hand him his word. He threw il &
= ward him on the deck. The lieutenm
"a refused to pick II up, and was about
4 90 ashore, declaring that he would bio
A. m all on board III less than five mil
I, ntes. when the sword was picked up Az
, formally presented 10 him. He tn,
a retired to the fort, keeping his gul
n trained on the vessel all day viii
n waiting the arrival OF reinforcement
y. 10 take charge Of the prisoners. Abo
n uightfall these arrived. 10 was not n
"A III the prisoners wtro safely land,
:. that they wero made aware OF ,,
small force Il was TO whom they III
surrendered
The Federal fleet did not reappel
OF course the report of this reiaarh
q bio exploit created great reioioD
81 throughout the Conlrderacy, and po
eg lmg'a company, known as the Dr
Guards. we've esnoolally houorei b,
= resolution Of thanks passed by I
u Confederate Cougrpsa. Au appgop
es ATE bronze medal was struck and q
,et inbuiod 20 eaah momher ui tle ga
N. maud, Jeii DAVIS was ma,le ana hl
W mary meniber OF tia ourps aud y
ilo likewise decorated With 6Nmmpmo
40 nVo medal. poWllngs oueeg after
Ne, tar was that oi pupn'l Saloon kcl
lu lrr Ia iho city ul Houston, where
tr, plion Was thc gummuu respft oi
No Onnfoduates aud nnNs in blue ml
AN ia uhom acor ditOl his grCat ic,t
- IA 81. I.... ~ all Iu.i.t.I .I.aL.4 l..4