The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-08

pied by the Union forces. Shortl,
.afterward Gen. Magruder was assigned
TO command the Confederate forces il
Texas and in December, 1862, he made
preparations for the recapture Of Gal
weston, the garrison of which consisted
of about 500 men of the 42d Mass. un
der Col. Burrel, and the following
Union vessels: Harriet Lane, Clifton
Sachem, Owasco, Corypheus and West
Reld; Capt Renshaw, Of the latter YES
sel, being the senior officer, in command.
There were also two sailing vessels in
the harbor, one loaded with provisions,
the other with coal.
Mai. Leon Smith, who was entrusted
with the command of the Confederates
in the vicinity of Galveston, procured
some steamers on the Trinity River, on
which troops were embarked, with field
pieces protected by cotton-bales. When
ready for business Smiths fotilla con-
sisted of the following vessels, viz: Bayou
CITY, Neptune, Dodge, Lady Gwinn, j.
T. Carr and Royal Yacht. Tire troops
consisted of sharpshooters from the 9TH
Tex. Cav, commanded by Coils. Bailey,
lie Bray, Lubbock, Scurry, and Green.
Part of the troops were stationed about
five miles from the city, at Virginia
Point, which was connected with Calves
ton bv bridge across the bay.
On Dee 81 about midnight the COM
bined forces moved down toward Calves
ton, and by o'clock were in a position
to open fire. So quickly was this done
that the officer Of the night of the AID
Mass passed within a stones throw of
where the artillery was posted without
discovering anything wrong,
Itwas a beautiful night, the brilliancy
of the moon revealing the position Of our
gunboats, upon whose decks a terrible
drama was about TO be enacted, for they
were in absolute ignorance of what was
going on under Capt Smith and Gen
Magruder, so that when the engagement
opened they were totally unprepared for
what followed. About 4 a. m, Jan. /,
the battle opened by the batteries on
shore, bat a few well-directed broadsides
from the Lane and Owasco silenced them.
The repulse was only temporary.
Leon Smiths cottonclads put in an
appearance, when the prospects of the
Confederates frightened. The Neptune |
and Bayou City ran alongside Of the |
Harriet Lane and captured the vessel,
after killing the Captain, First Lieuten-
ant and several of the crew. The Nep-
tune was found to be in a sinking con-
dition, and went down in eight feet Of
water. During the action the Westfeld
got aground, and was blown up to
PREVENT HER CAPTURE.
The other vessels finding the odds were
against them, left the harbor, except the
coal and supply boats which were capt
ured, as were also the 42d Mass, and by
noon Of that day, Jan. l, the City of Gal
weston was once mora in possession Of the |
Confederates. Gen. Magruder received |
the congratulations of his superiors at
Richmond, Va.
In his Official report of the fight he
said:
"This morning, Jan. ], at o'clock, / |
attacked the enemy's feet and garrison /
at this place, and captured the latter
the steamer Harriet Lane, two barges,
and a schooner / have about 500 pris-
oners and large quantity of valuable
stores. The Harriet Lane is very little |
injured. She was carried by boarding
from two high-pressure cotton steamers,
manned by Texas cavalry and artillery.
The line troops were gallantly COM
manded bv Col. Green, of Sibley's Bri-
gade, and the ships and artillery by
Maj. Leon Smith, to whose indomitable
energy and heroic daring the country is
indebted for the successful execution Of |
plan which / had considered for the
destruction of the enemy's feet. Col.
Bogley, Of Sibley's Brigade, also COM
manded the volunteers from his regi
ment for the naval expedition, in which
every officer and man won for himself
imperishable renown."
Gen. Magruder also issued a procla-
nation, under date of Jan. 4, 1863, in
which he declared that the port Of Gal
weston was now open to the commerce of
all nations, and J. p Benjamin, Secre-
tary Of State, at Richmond, also issued
a similar declaration, under date Of Jan.
2S, 1862, in which be said This Gov
eminent is officially informed Of the total
dispersion Of the blockading squadron
recently stationed off Galveston Harbor.
The blockade of the port is therefore at
an end"
At the time this bombastic proclama-
fion was issued there were stationed off
Galveston to the certain knowledge of
the writer the Brooklyn, Capt Bell
Katahdin, Capt. johnson; Sciota, Capt
Lowry; Itasco, Capt. Lewis; New Lon
don, Capt Read and one or two others
whose names i cannot now recall.
on THE SUBJECT
of the blockade Capt. III. III. Bell, senior
officer in charge of the squadron, said:
Whereas proclamation, dated Gal
weston, Tex, Jan. a, 1863, and signed
II Do,l,L,.l Moo.,,lor 4 |