The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
IN THE DARK.
A Bold Night Expedition. In Which Rear
Admiral Jouett Was a Leader.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
month of June, 1861, / was sent with crew
from the Brooklyn IN. " Navy-yard to
the q. s. sailing frigate Santee, fitting out
at The Kittery (Me.) Navy-yard. The crew
consisted of about 400 men of different ma
tionahties, many of whom could not under
stand or speak our language. We sailed
from Portsmouth, N. H., for Hampton Roads,
where we received orders 10 go to Pensacola,
Fla; from there We were sent TO blockade
the harbor of Galveston, Tex.
Among our officers was one John Mitchell,
Second Lieutenant. who was as indiscreet
man as / ever saw. He could not modify
his temper nor control his disposition to
command the respect from the men.
In the harbor of Galveston there was Fort
Magruder VIII ch commanded the inlet TO he
bay. Near this fort was rebel gunboat,
Gen. Rash, which was kept there continu-
ually to guard the channel In addition
there was an armed schooner known as The
Roy al Yacht, with a crew Of 81 men. This
steamer and schooner we had for several
months been looking at from day to day,
until we became tired and determined to
make little change.
On the 7th day of November our Captain,
Henry Eagle, ordered an expedition to be
fitted out from cur ship, which consisted of
first and second lanch, first and second cut
ter, and the wbaleboat, manned by Al sea-
men. The expedition was placed in con-
mand of First Lieut.. James Il. Jouett (now
Rear-Admiral, reiired), and our Second
Lieutenant, John Mitchell. The latter com
m;.nded the second lanch and second cutter,
while Lieut.. Jouett commanded the first
lanch, first cutter, and the whaleboat.
At eight bells on the evening of Nov. Z,
1861, we lowered our boats and prepared
them with men, arms, and ammunition, and
pulled for the harbor OF Galveston, a dis
tance Of five miles, with view TO destroying
the rebel steamer General Rash and the
schooner Royal Yacht.
Ii was about II o'clock when we arrived
inside. We came in sight of the schooner
before we did the steamer. Lieut.. Jouett
ordered his boats TO attack the schooner
from the bow. the stern, and the side at the
same lime.
The first notice given to the Johnnies that
the Yanks were near WAS the firing of a
she'll through the bow of the vessel; next
we boarded her and took possession. Six of
the crew were wounded. We set fire to
her, and she burned until she went to the
bottom. During this operation a brisk fir
ing was kept up from the land Notifications,
but their shots went too high
Lieut.. John Mitchell became fright
ened at the early start, and thinking that
the shot we fred at the bow of the schooner
was fred by the rebels, he ordered his boats
TO pull away and return 10 ship.
1t was about 8 O'clock in the morning
when Jouett's division arrived at the ships
side.
Lieut.. Jouett WAS wounded in three
places. We had five wounded and two killed.
The writer WAS among the first wounded. We
took II prisoners. At about o'clock Lieut..
Mitchell arrived at the ships side, having
lost his course and pulled three miles be-
yond the ship.
Lieut.. Mitchell subsequently Com
nander( was shot and killed at the Cali
iornia Navy-yard IL years ago.-W. f.
DEEMURE, National Military Home, Day
tons O.