Year: 1863




Our Naval COrrespo mdenee.
| UsrrsD srAns GcNBoAt cAvvoA.l
Esw osIsAss, Apri %. 1888. !
he Deah o. Cup,as McDermot-Fastscuiars of HIS Los
by an Eyewiwess. DO.
You see we are back to New Orleans, but II Is mean
choiy errand that has brought Us here have sent


newspaper, which very correct but the
truth Is this


On the morning Of the 18th Captain Read, OF the New
London wishing to make observation Of the enemy in
the neighborhood OF Sabine Pass, requested Captan
hcDermott to accompany him Each went In his own
boat, accompanied by boats crew Of Eve men, They
landed the lighthouse at the entrance to the pass
Captain hcDermot being somewhat In the advance, he
and three OF his went towards the lighthouse,
and when within Q short distance the enemy,
numbering nearly hundred suddenly made their ap-
pearance from behind tho keepers house and took the
three men prisoners. The Captain returned TO his
boat, but 1t was aground Captain Read with his
ren were fastening towards him, the rebels in the
meantime commencing murderous Ore. Captain Read
saw our captain stand In the and wave whito
handkerchief in surrender escape under the circum
stances being hopeless The enemy then directed their
fire upon the New Londons boat but by almost super
human efforts they succeeded In getting of under terri
BILE ire, but not until the boat was made q COM
pete sieve She wasxcompIetey riddied, and all were
wounded but one. Captain Read was wounded severely
IN tho head, and may lose an eye


About four O'Clock In the afternoon ag OF truce came
on, and Captain Read sent flag to meet it BY IL
received the melancholy intelligence OF the death Of Capt.
McDermot At the time he was captured he did not
think himself seriously injured, but he died after
arriving at SABINE city The officers, to man, loved
and respected him, and the crew almost without
oeption, feel that they have met with great loss Il
downright murder be having shot after he had
will yet have to suffer for their cowardice When we saw
Captain Reads signal OF distress both vessels immedi
the unable approach enough to render
any assistance We however, sent chief engineer in
who were doing their utmost TO keep the boat
from sinking The captain himself pulled and
times used bis hat as bailer He is noble and bravo
man. and when called to surrender nctwithstand
ing the increasing storm Of bullets which whsed around
him, his reply was, "No, damn YOU"


Now that tire mischief has been done
may say little more Judgment and discretion
might have been used but they never thought
Of seeing any the Shore the boats
ashore almost daily, and with exception when
we captured rebel commodore and two others only
few days previous to this sad occurrence soul
to be seen within six miles Of the lighthouse. They
were watching the boats they said, when they showed
into the trap they had set Taxing both boats crews
prisoners would have been an honorable thing for
10 but hy Sooes to ov o v.nns
southern chvay with odds OF ten to in their favor
When the New London sgnaled for us to accompany her
boat Capt Mod not feeling very WELL sont MIR. Young;
but Captain Read wished the captain himself 10
company him, and camo alongside Of car ship in his





sented. The pilot (who formerly kept the light!
house) accompanied them, and was badly wounded
by mimic ball in the back Capt. McD shot under
the right in the right leg above the knee and ball
also grazed his right ear and temple. few days pre-
vious boat had been ashore, and the had killed
head Of cattle and this tOgcther with capturing
their commodore as they called him. who was the ring
leader In the Morning Light affair, D. sAboat aud also
run out. all doubt enraged them very much,
and is thus that they have revenged themselves.
Well II Ia OF those sad affairs Ct which have had
many since this cruel war commenced and which the
is to the country and Tag he loved so we'll adds
another to the long list Of brave who have fallen
nobly p sacrifice at their countrys altar.


Today have performed the last sad rites TO the
dead His body given up to US by the rebels, not
until, however, they had stripped II OF everything
week ago to day his body was brought of by flag
OF truce and after the process OF embalmng was gone
through with the remains placed upon the quarter
deck and the took farewell look at their late
mander The impressive brought tears 70 the
Of those who seldom weep and one by one they
slowly and soemnly walked away The funeral to day
under tho charge Of Commodore Morris Tho body
taken from the ship where le-foot OF Canal
streeto the pier the ships in the harber all lowering
their colors including the British sloopof Styx lying
alongside Of The band Of the Forty seventh Msssa
chusetts regiment headed the column then company Of
marines from the Pensacola, with reversed arms then
the hearse. with the American flag covering the
coffin; then eight Of tho crew, dressed In
white-splendd looking fellows; and then followed long


line Of carriages with naval officers closing with great
number OF army and navy officers On foot Arriving At
the church the marines presented the band played


solemn dirge, and boys carried the colin TO the
head Of the aisle. After tho service again resumed
march to the cemetery where we deposited the re-
mains after due ceremony. NY stay Ia his society was
| l. as well as all board win miss his kind words and
jovia unpretending The navy has lost OF
it's most efhcent officers and the country brave and
noble patriot