St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-22
A CONFEDERATE THERMOPYLE
Handful OF Men Defeated n Great
FEDERAL ArfnY at Sabine Pass.


Federal Army at Sabine Pass.
New Orleans Picayune.
Sabine Pass is invested with a historical
Importance of which even many Southern
ers are ignorant. EX-President Davis, in
the Rise and Fall of the Confederate
Government" says that the circumstances
are so remarkable as properly to be consid-
cred marvellous.
in September, 1868. the strategic i'm
portance to the Union forces of the pos
session of Sabine river caused the
organization of large eXpedi-
ton of land and naval forces
to enter and ascend the river. If success
full it gave them short lines for operation
against the interior of Texas, and relieved
them of Hthe discontinue resulting
from their expulsion from Calves
ton harbor. The fleet of the enemy
numbered twenty-three vessels. The
forces were estimated to be 10000 men,
under Maj Gen. William 3. Franklin and
Brigaders w. ii. Emory, Godfrey Weitzel
and Frank Nickerson. No adequate pro-
vision had been made to resist such force,
and under the circumstances none might
have been promptly made on which reliance
could have been reasonably placed. a few
river a small earthwork had been con-
structed. garrisoned at the time of the action
by forty-two men and two lieutenants, with
all armament of six guns. The officers and
men were all Irshmen, and the company
was called the Davis guards. The captain,
+. H. Odlum. was temporarily absent. so
that the command developed on Lieut.. r..
w. Bowling. Like Moultrc in the Revolt
tionary war, they were advised and re-
fused to leave the fort. Commodore Leon
Smith, commanding the marine department
of Texas, says in his official report of
Sept. 8, 1868: i arrived at the pass at
D. m. l found the enemy off and in
side the bar with nineteen gunbOats and
steamships and other ships of war; carry
ing, as well as could judge, 49, 900 men.
proceeded with Capt Odlum to the fort
and found Lieut.. n. II. Smith. of the en-
gineer corps, with forty-tWo men, defend
ing the fort. Until 3 p. N. our men did
not open fire on the enemy, as the range
was too distant. The officers of the fort
coollv held their fire until the enemy had
approached near enough to reach them.
But when the enemy arrived within good
range orr batteries were opened and gall
antly replied to CALLING and most terrific
fire from the enemy. AS / entered the fort
the gunboatS Clifton, Arizona, Sachem and
Granite State. with several others, came
boldly up to within 1000 yards and opened
their batteries, which were calamity and
effectively replied to by the Davis guards.
For one hour and thirty minutes most ter
rifle bombardment of grape, canister and
shell was directed against our heroic
and devoted little band within the
fort. The shot struck in every direc-
ton, but, thanks be to God, not one of the
noble Davis guards was hut. i =
Every man stood at his post, regardless of
the murderous fire that was poured upon
them from every direction. The result of
the battle, which lasted from $3.50 to p.
m, was the capturing of the Clifton and
Sachem, eighteen heavy guns, $50 prison.
ers, and the killing and wounding of fifty
men and driving outside the bar of twenty
three vessels in ALL The inquiry may
naturally arise how this small number of
men could take charge Of so large a body
of prisoners This required that to their
vaIor they should add stratagem. A few
men were placed on the parapetS as Sentl-
nels. tie rest were marched out as guard
to receive the prisoners and their arms.
Thus was concealed the fact that the fort
was empty. The report of the guns bonn
harding the fort had been heard. and soon
after the close of the battle REINFORCE
ments arrived, which relieved the little
garrison from it's embarrassment.
"a few days after the battle each man
that participated in the fight was presented
with silver medal, inscribed as follows:
On one side ID. g., for the Davis guards.
and on the reverse side Sabine Pass, Sept.
8, 1863"