Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-10-04
a KoTED- NAVAL INCIDENT.
Stirring Adventure Of the Crew Of
the Colorado.
The Silent Expedition to Destroy the Judah
at Her DOck---Desperate Hand
to-Hand Struggle with the
Schooner's Crew.
cMR. IN Philrdelphia Nm...


The ignoble end of the United States
steam frigate Colorado, which was burnt up
at Plumb Beach, on Long Island Sound,
not longIago. along with the Minnesota, Sas-
quehsnna. Congress, South Carolina, and
Iowa reminds me Of daring enterprise Of
part af its crew in the Gulf of Mexico in
1861. l participated in the bloody event
along with q gallent young Philadelphia.
who was killed at the frat fire. and the
young con Of farmer from Bucks county.
who, nnder fictitious name, met with an
awful death. The Colorado was the sister
ship Of the Minnesota, and was built and
launched thirty years ago. She was the
flagship Of the gull squadron in 1861, and
abder the command of Captain Theodorus
Bailey, was in Farrsgut's feet when he bonn
oarded Forts Jackson and st Philip in 1862
and took the city of New Orleans.
The Colorado was lying off Fort Pickens
in the fall of 1861. Colonel Harvey Brown,
f the regular army, a grim and aged SOL
der, whose face recalled the pictures of
"Old Hickory" was in command of the fort,
having relieved Slemmer with detachment
Of troops from Texas that had been in
Bragg's command there. Before the fort,
on q long, low, sandy stretch of land, known
as Santa Rosa Island, was the camp of Billy
Wilson's zouaves. Diagonally opposite Fort
Pickeps was the Pensacola or Warrington
navy yard. Lying in one Of the slips and
awaiting an opportunity to escape was the
Judah, one Of the prettiest schooners ever
seen, fully manned and equipped with
battery of
Six Twelve-POnDd Howitzers,
Below the navy yard, opposite the entrance
10 the bay and directly facing Pickens, was
Fort Barrsnces and McRae, dangerous
looking water battery and General Brsxton
Brsggs camp of 5000 Confederate soldiers.
The first named fort was an old Spanish for
'i6caton The city of Pensacola was seven !
miles above, at the head of the bay. Cap |
tain Bailey was determined that the Judah
should be destroyed, and Just such an expe
dition to accomplish it was fitted out as went |
with the brave Decatur fifty years before in
The harbor of Tripoli to destroy the frgste
Philadelphia, then IN the hands OF the Al
gerines.
Just after dark on the night Of September
II, 1861, four crews in launch, whale
beat and two cutters, comprising ninety.
eIght sailors, marines, and officers, pushed
otf from the Colorado. The two first named
oos's had twelve-pound howitzer in the
DOW of each. The oars were mufed. Every
nan in in the four boats had white cap.
cover on, 10 distinguish him from his foe in
he dark, while each marine and sailor clutch
q short csrbine, with an ugly looking
word -bayonet attached Lieutenant John
q. Russell, now commodore at the Mare
Island navy yard in California, was in COM
nsnd. He is a brother to Purchasing Pay
master A. W. Russell, I. s. N, of this city,
nd as gallant little man as ever drew a
word in defense of his country. One ~ :,
he young midshpmen along g'S r' of '4 tSa H,
'no no rolorol VI /. ". Higginson, Of Mas:
bnsetts =, Of and who is now commander