The National tribune., 1893-04-27
THE u. S. S. NEW LONDON.
A Brief Sketch OF the Career of One of Our
Warships.

capture of Vicksburg. we carried dispatches
from Baton Rouge TO Port Hudson and Vicks-
burg, but were disabled by Simms's Flying
Artillery near College Point aud had to
abandon the ship until we got assistance from
the lower feet-of which the Essex wss Que. The
writer was one of i've who volunteered to take
an Abide Camp to the fleet with dispatches
which we safely delivered at great risk. "a the
rebels followed us along the banks OF the Mis-
sissippi firing at us continuously. The writer
is also one of seven who went ashore sometime
in May, 1s6i. to deliver dispatches in pass on
the Louisiana coast where we were captured,
and our Lieutenant, Jackson, killed. the officer
dying in my arms, while we were endeavoring
to pull the boat around so as to get away. Five
of us were confined at Camp Gross Texas, seven
months and 10 days, while one was kept at
Houston. If possible, give the name of the
pass where we were captured.-JOHN HURLEY,
Coxwsain u. s. S. Now London, 30 Bromley
street, Stepney East London, England.
| can give Coxwain Hurley q good account
of the work performed by the New London
and her gallant crew. OF all the vessels pur-
chased by the Navy Department and converted
into gunboats from 1561-65, there were few
which rendered more constant, active, and
efficient service than the New London. She
was bought in New York Aug 26, 1861, from
the Now London Propeller Company Tor
1000 She was a screw propeller of POI tons;
length, 125 feet; beam. 25 feet; draft, nine feet
six inches, and speed about eight knots. She
was sold at public auction at the Boston Navy
yard, Sept. g. 1865. for $4,000.
The New London's complement Of men was
about 70. She commenced her service Oct. %.
1861, when put into commission at New York
Nov. 5-Left New York for the Gulf of
Mexico, where she served during the entire
war without ever returning North.
Nov. 22-Captured the Confederate schooner
Olive and steamer Anna in Mississippi Sound.
fahe
Henry Lewis and schooner A. J. View in Mis-
sissippi Sound.
Dec. 1.-Captursd the Confederate sloop Ad-
vocate in Mississippi Sound.
Dec. 7.-Exchanged shots with two Confed-
crate gunboats in Mississippi Sound. Hoisted
Confederate flag union down, and fred lee
gun as a challenge, but could not induce the
Confederates TO give battle
Dec 9.-Captured schooner Delight and
sloops Express and Osceola in Mississippi
Sound.
Dec lin company with q. s. 8. Massa-
chusetts had skirmish with four Confederate
gunboats in Mississippi Sound.
Dec. 13.-Chased and sheled the Confederate
gunboat Grey Cloud, near Deer Island, Miss.
Dec. 26.-Captured the smacks Emily and
Slide Along in Mississippi Sound.
Dec. 25.-Captured schooner Gipsey near
Pascagoula, Miss.
Dec. 31.-In company with the u. s. S. Water
Witch and Henry Lewis, received the surrender
of the town of Biloxi Miss; destroyed a small
sand battery and captured three guns and a
schooner.
Feb. 10, 1662.-Sent boat expedition, under
Lieut.. Thomas Mexican Buchanan, into Mssis-
sippi Sound, which captured three schooners
and nine soops. In bringing them out one of
the schooners was rocaptured by her crew and
made her escape, carrying tho prize crew as
prisoners.
March 25-Had an engagement of one hour
and so minutes with Confederate gunboats
Oregon and Pamlico near Pass Christian Miss,
causing the enemy to retreat into Lake Pont-
chartrain, La.
April AIN company with U. s. gunbosts j.
p. Jackson and Henry Lewis, was attacked at
Pass Christian, Miss, by the c. s. gunLoats
Oregon. Pamlico and Carondelet. After en-
gagement of one hour aud As minutes the
enemy Withdrew. The same day captured the
| steamer p. C. Wallis.
May, 1882, to January, 15G3.-Engsged in
numerous expeditions aud reconnaissance with
the army and destroying the enerny's fortified.
lions around Lake Ponchartrain, La. During
| this time captured the yachts Comet, Algerine,
aud Spy, end Schooners Black Squall and Union
intake Pontchartrain.
JAN 10. 1863.-Arrved at and attacked Gal
weston, Tex. in company with the other yes-
sells under Commodore ii. II. Bell.
Jan. 23.-Arrived off Sabine Pass, Tex, and
caused the enemy 10 DUrn tne u. -. ..
Light, (Which they had captured on the 21st,)
they not being able to get her over the bar aud
into the Pass.
April 10.-Sent a accommodating party to
Sabine City, Tex, which captured the sloop
Don Juan and four prisoners, among them
Capt. Fowler, of the Confederate gunboat
Joshua II. Bell, which in January had captured
the U. s. s. Morning Light and Velocity.
April 1S.-lu a boat expedition from the
New London into Sabine Pass, Tex. Lieut.
Commander Read and FIVE of his boats crew
were wounded in skirmish with the enemy.
In this same expedition Lieut. Commander
McDermot, of the Cayuga, was killed and his
boat and crew captured.
July 3-1l.-On patrol duty between New
Orleans and Baton Rouge. La On the 4th
fred into by Confederate artillery at Whitehall
Point, La: after fight of one hour completely
slenced and drove Oft the enemy. On the 10th,
ut Ills a. M. proceeding down the river to New
Orleans bearing dispatches from Gen. Banks.
in company with the U. s. s. Winons, was
attacked by in antry and artillery at Whitehall
Point, La. The third shot struck the New
London's boiler. exploding it, the steam scald-
ing six men severely. Being disabled, she ran
on TO the east bank of the river and opened on
the enemy with her port battery. The enemy's
fire being very severe she was got afioat again,
and drifted down the river out of range of the
upper battery. The principal battery being
still below him, Lieut. Com. Perkins, then in
command, got out his boats and towed his
vessel to the east bank of the river, made her
fast, sent the crew ashore, under cover, las the
enemy kept up a constant fire from the opposite
shore and he was not able to train his guns on
them,) and determined to await assistance.
Messengers were sent to Donaldsonvile, few
miles above, and down the river to notify the
u. s. s. Monongahela and Essex, but all re-
turned without any assistance. Lieut. Com.
Perkins, feeling the necessity for troops to
assist him. went to Donadsonvile himself to
see Gen. Weitzel, who gave him the necessary
troops. But while he was absent the Mononga-
hela and Essex, hearing of the affair through
the Winona, came up and carried the disabled
vessel down the river under heavy fire from
the Confederate batteries.
During the rest of her career she was on
blockading duty on the coast of Texas and
Louisiana. and was active in Reconnaissance
and expeditions into the enemy's country.
May TO- 1664-Sent boat, in command of
Acting Ensign Henry Jackson, with Coast Pilot
A. T. VanZill, Coxswain John Hurley, and four
men, into Calcasien Bayou, La TO communi-
cate with the Granite City and Wave (lately
captured by the enemy. They, not knowing
that these vessels had been captured, were fired
upon by the enemy. Acting Ensign Jackson
was killed. and the boat and crew captured.
July "a. 1865.-Arrived at Boston, Mass,
after nearly four years of active service-ED-
IToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE