Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-30
BLOoDY INCIDENT OF TIE WAR.
Account of the Attempt TO Capture the United
statss Steamer Underwater I'm 1861


Mr.. J. L. Schari, OF Baltimore, who is
now in New York writing a history OF
Westchester county. New York, recently
gave the Broadway lounger OF the Tribune
The particulars OF an incident OF the war
dat has never before been in print. Mr..
Scbarf was one OF the party detailed TO
board and capture the United States steamer
Underwater at the wharf in Sewbcrn, Y.
c., in February, 1864. She lay MT more
than 100 yards from three shore batteries,
and the Confederatcs designed 20 capture
and use Ter in running down all the
NATIONAL vessels around Newbern, and
thus opeh the blockade. Scharf says
tLGt this expedition was command-
ed by relative 9i General Tag
Tor. n Ken,uckian. named Joan Taylor
Wood, the same who aiterward commanded
the Tallahassee, which threatened New
York, ran down our fishing i!eets, ana was
intended to capture some Of our 9ceaa
steamers. Wool picked about 12) liei
and put them in boats, and tley went down
the Neuse river in the night. terrtDie
rain came up aud Grenched everybody to
the skin. When they came in sight OF tbs
lights Of the steamer, and could hear hef
bell strike, the watches OF the boats were
drawn Ut together, and Wood made
prayers. II was In the neighborho0d Of
o'clock in the morning when they APP
uroached this vessel. a lookout hailed
twice, "BOat ahoy !" and then sprang
rattle, and the ConiederGtes in their nImsr-
Gus heats pulled with all their might 10 keep
from beng blown out Of the water before
hey should board. There were boarding
nctlings ont which had 10 be gotten over.
The HcIculean men picked for the service
observed as they came near one reckless
Federal officer standing on the wheel
house and deliberately emptYIng his re-
yolver into the boats. lie was shot, and
seemed to turn sonlersault in the air as
he fell into the water dead. The oliacrs
and crew OK the Underwater, Mr. Schari
says, fought like devils. When the hjsto-
rian got on board be saw men running
each other up and down the decks with
cutla.ses crossed like butcher.knIyes. One
man was literally cut to pieces before he
would yield, bis fingers CIT of. and he
had nine balls In him. Several negroes
were found concealed after the capture,
aL6 were Immediately murdered. Tine
vessel was carried. End & mere handful
Of her crew spared. The boarding party
lnss thirty-siX men, or about t..,i,rd OF
their number. In the dark r..gnt Colonel
seharf felt his way cong the decks slip
pery with LOU, and could hear the dying
all r,und breathing hard in tue agonies OF
I death. The officer In charge had locked
up his signals and thrown the key into the
sea. The vessel was scarcely taken when
one Of the neighboring forts opened with q
! O0-pound shot, which carried away the
walking-besm, and consequently the vessel
could rot be moved. The assailants had
raised the rebel yell when they took the
vessel, and so the shore batteries were ad-
vised that they must ia7e the steamer by
disabling her. Consequently, with the ex-
ception CT few prisoners, the long nad
| laborioIis voyage accomplished nothing.