Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-31
A STORY OF THE WAR,
RECALLED d THE DESTRUCTION
OF THE COLORADO.
Lying or Fort Picksns In 1891 Fittial
Out . Night Ezpsditiea IA Psrii-
o.s .Asrtahisg-ssttisg shs
Judah o. Fire.
(Philadslphia Times.

Philadelphia Times
The Colorado was u ing of Fort Pick
ems in the fall of 1851 Col HarveJ
Brown, of the regular army. was In c0m
mand Of the fort, having relieved Stem
mer with . detachment Of troops frou
Texas that had been in Bragg's command
there. felow the fort, On Q long, low.
sandy stretch Of land. known ss Sanu
ROsa island. was the camp Of Billy vii
sons zouaves Diagonally opposite For,
Pickens was the Pensacola or Warning
ton navy yard. Lying in one Of the slip
and awaiting an opportunity 70 escap
was the Judah, one Of the pretties
schooners ever seen. fully manned ant
equipped with . Dattery Of six twelve
pound howitzers Below the navy yard
opposite the entrance TO the bAy ant
directly facing fickens. was Fort Barran
cas- and Mcnae. . dangerous looking
water battery. and Gen. Braxton Bragg.
camp Of 800 onfederate soldierA
The city Of Pensacola was seven mile
above. at the head Of the bay.
Capt Bailey was determined that thu
Judah should be destroyed. and an expe
dition 70 accomplish it was fitted out
Just after dark on the night Of Sept ID
1851. four crews In launch. whale bos
and two cutters. comprising ninty -eigh
sailors. marines and officers. pushed OF
from the colorado The two first nameS
boats had twelve pound howit,er In th,
bow Of each. Tae oars were mutf,ed
livery man 10 the four boats had whit
cap cover ON. to distinguish him from hia
foe IN the dark. while each marine and
sailor clutched . short carbine, with u
ugly looking sword.bayonet attached
Lieut. Iohu II. Russell. now c0mmOdor
at the Mare island navy yard in California
Was In command
After an hours pull at the oars the,
reached the gulf beach. fronting For
Pickens. and remained there until th,
moon went down. In consultation viii
the officers Of the fort When sbou
starting to enter the mouth Of the bay .
l clock next morning the boats crew
were told . sctly what wss expected
them and 10 sell their lives - dearly q
possible Slowly and silently We slippet
from the beach into the smooth waters
the gulf and were soon inside Pensacol,
bay, hugging the santa kosa shor
as closely - possible. To lh'
right the massive walls Of Pickem
loomed up. while to the left
through an almost impenetrsble darkness
the faint shadows Of the Confederst
fortificat.ons revealed themselves by din
outline
Not the slightest whisper was heard
among the men The steady. quiet dir
of the mu ed oars the almost impercep
tible forward movements Of the boats anl
the beating Of expectant hearts were sI
that could be seen or heard - the expedi
ton made its way IN Indian Ale towart
the city of ensacola We were to droI
down with the tide from that direction
and surprise the sleeping enemy. 1t wa
nearly s o'clock In the morning when v,
had reached point several miles abou
the navy yart. mile abreast Of the Con
federate shUre. Tuning the boats aruund
We headed for the Judah
All navy yards are equipped with ~
immense pair Of shearA which stand q
the end Of . pier overhanging tho water.
about on an inclination Of tho Leaning
Tower of PisA They arc used to -step
masts into vessels Perched In the top
Of the shears at the Pensacola navy
yard. sixty feet above Us, - No wer
nearing the wharf. was vigilant Con
federste sentry, but not native Of ths
south, - his dialect revealed He VA
the first to discover US and yelled Justify
who goes therer Be jesus. tell me o.
Ill shoot -tull long and steady fol
your lives. said Russell. calmly. Agar
the sentry cried and receiving no reply
fired his musket
nh moment all was confusion slone
The shore. The long roll began 70 beat
the cry Of To srms' ITO srmsl" rans
out on the early morning air; rockets vers
exploded and the hurried tread Of march
ing feet could be heard The launch anc
whale boat were quickly alongside Tn
Judah at the dock. IlAmbering up hsi
bow chains. we began pouring on bei
deck and after . desperate hand. hand
struggle. under . heavy fre Of nusketry
fDom the I'd dining wharves. ths crew
wss driven ashore or overheard into the
water; bags Of shavings and cans Of tur
Pensine were quickly passed up from thu
boats. thrown into the hold and set or
ira The first volley from tn
ships crew was shovsrsd upox
us - We were boarding The YES
rel Two young boatswains mate.
fell back dead into one Of the boats and
number were wounded The fire,
though Calling one. did not stagger us
IL hu0 OCSCI uIuA4tO0 W BUCCpcu
Tho flames were now under hoadwsy
from the hold Of the schooner and the |
clack Of musketry going on al around US |
To the boAts. was shrilly called The |
marines insnimste body was lifted up |
and dropped into the launch and we were |
soon out OF range o. the enemy's fire |
While battling on the Judah's decks the |
crew Of one of the cutters had boarded Q |
wharf near hy and eIectually spiked Q
fifteen inch / Lahlgren pivot gun, which |
had menaced ort Pickens and Bully Will
'on's camp for many months on the ep
posite side
The ames were soon In the rigRinR Of
he doomed vessel and BY the fiickerina
light We were enabled 70 &c the move
nents Of the Confederxtes on shore. Two
ounds Of grape and canister were fired
nto them from our boat howitzen - We
moved toward toe Ssnta Rosa beach.
With three killed and fiftesn wounded.
many Of them severely, We pulled stead.
y for the Colorado. passing the enemys
ortihcations unobserved out into the
ulf and arriving at the frigate at sunrise.
Charlotte Cuahuaa's Lovon
New York Home JournalI
Charlotte Cushman was the obioct Of
ne unconfessed and unspokeu love II