The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-25

More than one month ago the narrator
was In receipt OF the following communica.
ton.
| Dear Seen and Heard:
The accompanying extract is taken
from recently Issued history of the
United States. The statements contained
tneleln iii true) are of so remarkable a
character that l believe a recital by YOU
of the details of the engagement would
prove of general interest at the present
! time r,.
| Philadelphia, October Q. 1885,
The extract referred TO does not indicate
IRON what book 1t Us taken, other than
: suggested in the writer's missive but IL
/ reaos as follows.
! Sabine Pass. Texas.-September s 4
Federal tleet numbe.i Ing twenty three yes
sells and force Estimated at 10000 men
attempted to take possession of Sabine
/ RIVER, and attacked Fort Grigsby, looave1
at Sabine Pass. and defended by forty. two
men OF tie Davis Guards two lieuteu-
ants and six guns, all under command OF
Lieutenant Richard w. Bowling, Captain
f. II. Odlum being temporarily absent
The res.lt of the battle was that the he
roic defenders Of the fort not only held
their position, but captured two gunboats,
disabled q third took eighteen guns and
large quantities of ammunition and stores,
capurei $50 prisoners, killed 80. wounded
a large number and drove the fleet out OF
the river, without the loss OF single man
on thlEr part or serious damage to the fort.
History shows no more heroic fight or
mere glorious victory.
The above Is certainly remarkable mar
ration, and, IL must be confessed, is made
up OF statements thai we OF the North are
net accus omed to re7ding. The deciard-
tons contained in it are so Astounding
that the narrator has been at great pains
to ascertain the exact facts of the case.
Histories OF the LAKE civil war have been
searched in vain FOR corroboration of tho
tale. Moores Rebellion Records" in vol
unie 6, among "Di1ry of Events unler
date of Arli IS. 1863, dismisses the Incl
dent referred to with these lew lines:
IA reconnaissance of Sabine Pass of
Texas. was made by party from the Ma
tional gunbo0ts Cayuga and New Londcn.
On landing near the lighthouse they were
fired on by concealed rebels, Captain Me-
Dermott being killed and Is crew of five
men captured. Captain Reed OF The New
London was wounded, together with four
of his men,"
Only that and nothing more
Yet, a painstaking Investigation of the
matter, that has continued to this time,
warrants the statement that the words OF
the extract are unden!ably true--only not
strong enough-and the story should here
after figure In any fairly written history
OF The civil! conflict.
The student of the rebellion of 1S6l-D5,
who wishes to obtain absolutely accurate
data regarding that unfortunate inter
necne strife, must henceforth look to
that compilation Of tho Official records of
both the Union and Confederate armies
engaged in the civil war, and which is
now issued under the direction of the sec
rotary OF war In pursuance OF an act OF
congress approved Juno %. 1874. The I'm
dertaking has been huge one and already
over 100 volumes have been issued. and
the work Is still Incomplete. The recorfs
are published without comment. They
present cold facts as contained in the cor
rsspondeuce and official orders which make
I'D the records OF the opposing forces. The
Confederate documents when obtainab
are given with the same fullsess and fair
ness that, characterize the presentation
of the Union records. From these author
ICED papers the narrator has bsen enabled
10 Gull the story of the remarkable battle
Of Sabine Pass Vo.ume XXVT o., the rec
ords of the rebellion contains a letter ON
Major General j. Barkhead Magruder from
the headquarters OF tho District OF Texas
and adde's ,el to BrgadIer General w. X.
Rohbs. chef of STAFF, at Shreveport, La,
in the beginning of which he SAYS "A fleet
of twenty-five steam TRANSPORTS uirge
slze) attempted to pass into this river 1.-The
Sab mel on the Sth inst, as ! predicted IN
nv letter TO you from Piedmont The
number OF troops Is estlmated by the cool
est men and stated by pr!sonsrs TO ba 10,
COO picked men-lnostly OF Grants army.
The transports could rot pass unless the
war steamers reduced our fort o. tx
3o-pounder guns. Lieuten Mt r. w DIV
ling In immediate command OF the fo't,
directed his men not TO return the fire OF
The enemy. as our guns wera OF Snort
range The enemy al length appro chez
with its war steamers four IN nun Der.
hacked by a who'e fleet OF tran po T.,
a point we'll within our rarge. when Lieu
tenant Bowling OF the Davis Guards
opened upon the advance ships OF war,
ard In some thirty-five minutes Two suF-
rendered with over 800 prisoners. AMI ar
other left IN crippled corSition. The
fleet then backed out and sailed east
expect their return soon with iroaclad5,
ard hope to be- prepared % met fh7m
successfully Had they got in they wou,f
have proceeded at orce 10 Nlb'efs 'uh.
cut Us off from Major Gerersl Taylor AMI
probable adgareed on Horton Now "
viii be moro difficult. h prisonsrs al
stated thst they wete bollnd ~ Houston,
and would YET get there. TIE flag off,
Ger fcomrnanfirg officer OF the navy
squadron Of the gulf was captured. II !,
the most brilliant AFFAIR / have ever read
Of"
There are many other documents bearing
,pou the battle which created such enthu
s,ssp, among the Confederate forces mai