New-York tribune., 1902-10-05
ADMIRAL JOUETTS VERY.
HOW HE CAPTURED A CONFEDERATE
SCHOONER ALMOST SINGLE
HANDED

HANDED.
THE Navy Register has never had on fra roIIs
the name of a man. said naval officer,
than Fighting Jim JOuett. Rear ADMIRAL
James T. Jouett was Familiarity known in the West
GuT squadron in the Civil War True Admiral
Worten. who commanded the Monitor in her hght
with the Confederate ram Merrirnac on March O.
ls62 and Admiral George Dewey the man who led
tne Heet into The harbor ~ Manila Bay on May L
lSe, ard captured that stronghold and the naval
fleet Of Spain. viii ever remain as notable among
the naval heroes Of the United states but the
career OF Fighting Jim does not encroach upon
their laureIs"
Admiral Jouett sprang from a race OF fighting
seaTnen He entered the navy when ne was only
fourteen years old, and with the battalion OF
sailors who captured and held Point Isabel in the
war with Mexico. At the outbreak OF the Civil
war Ae held the rank OF lieutenant and although
native Of the South, promptly made known To-
the Navy Department. that he would stand bv
Oid glory He was almost once ordered To
le o'd sailing frgate Santee. detailed for block
adlng duty on the haTbOr OF Galveston and IL WAS
then that he earned the sobriquet Fighting linn
Whlcn hung TO him ever after II was in No.
VernDer ls6L The SaHtee. which for several
years aIter the Civil Wa, used a training
snip for the Naval Academy cadets had lain in
enforced ldleness OF Galveston for several months
and al on board ready for anv task thar
A44sAt come TO hand 10 reported that the
OohIeueTates az Galveston were fitting out the
schooner Royal Yacht and the steamer General
ouered to lead expedition into the harbor and
attempt the destruction OF the two vessels. which
were wing IN the harbor. about miles from
the Santee Captain Henry Eagle. commanding
the Santee, after listening JOUett's plan con-
seEted, and the night OF November the frig-
ates two launches. with about forty sailor volun-
teers anu three junior officers. started under
mand Of JOuett TO attack the Confederate vessels.
which were nearly ready TO be let loose TO prey
upon American commerce, after destroying the
Santee. Admiral Jouett said afterward
the General Rusk. which the larger craft and
a steam vessel, anu lhen 70 capture the Royal
hard hghting and a BIT Of bad luck made it hotter
ease We're discovered not t. attack the steamer
unless We could surprise her our TWO boats entered
The harbor unperceived about 40 p, intending.
n We could pass the armed schooner guard
which was Ivtng unfer PeiaaT Point We sl5S
ceeded n pa5sin7, the srbo0nsr ana tbs nv, e6rss
but in attempting 10 avoid the sentines Pelican
Fort my boat grounded on Pelican Spit and the
second launch ran into US breaking ny oars and
making much noise. which disclosed our presence
vessel We had started. Her guns opened are upon
anything with her and I gave orders 20 bout ship
and and 80 FOR the schooner I ordered Leutenans
the schooner on the starboard bow. and determined
noise was suodued much possible and when
Withln WlH % about Two hundred Yards OF the Royal
but called to my men: Give way strong. Ooysi
hailed ana ordered e-e ~ the au1 To bs IrsS rbs
primer being damp. the gun failed to hrs. but
had as associate was as quick as he was brave.
and ne reprimed and fred the gun. the shot piercing
the gun sent our boat sternward and the atIempr
As % 1fq % & S p4 ss 70 @
t, hsr SIDE and with revolver - hand cropped be-
crew. AT the same time I ordered my men 10
keeping up murderous volley OF ball cartridges
and buckshOt at close range.
on 5a oS qhef 1e 9as struck gp apS "a s az as s
threw th up his han hands and fell into my arms dead.
other boat In a few moments my boat reached
our boat in my hand sprang on board the schooner.
hauled my boat up and shouted to my crew. Now
and rushed forward F To maze MAKE an attack When ons
OF She ohIederatgs ran MS plhs INTO NY rlsnt arm
the pike which bad been broken bv striking the
antagonist deadly blow over the head with il
ere SoSbf M vas e W sTd me G1nqn os+ & asr
opened IRE upon Us. ! was losing strength. too by
firing with our revolvers and as we seemed TO bs
getting The best of II the schooner.s crew had
deck they refused TO Go and then ordered my
seemed % Sod bac an fom fSr 0 led d the wa Vas 'sy
|7 yolyer In hand. and found about a dozen OF the
them ON deck and "a thew started up OF them
once and into their boat then rushed on deck Sl1 an
found on only carter there We drove the two fellows
and then told Carter 10 hold the hatch down and
return to the attack and as they did not RESPOND
Jumped over the ran into the boat and drove them
had gone aud left alone.
II returned to the schooner with my crew but
they became frightened again and retreated. BY
this time had become very weak from the loss OF
blood. and Carter brought my back. A few
moments later had succeeded In getting the off,
and men. all who living OF the schooner
on deck. and they became our prisoners. We got
them into boat and started Cor the santee With
the Confederate war steamers following US. but We
got back 20 the Santee with our prisoners about
O'Clock in the morning
Admiral Porter. writing OF this engagement said
II was a gallant and well executed affair, and that
a boarding party against enemy we'll armed and
prepared for such event Is always a dangerous
AFFAIR The odds always in favor OF those an
board OF the vessel. but in this the schooner
carried by one boat Only-In fact. almost bv
Jouett and Carter alone for the crew or JOuaff'z
boat proved 10 be towards by deserving their ofr-
and the other boat did get here it could
be OF any assistance OF the Santee's party, eight
had been wounded. two OF whom afterwa-i lied
and had been killed. JOuett had a large hois
made in his side from the pike AZ wAs uua BE To-
do duty for a long time