Detailed report of Major Watkins, C. S. Army, commanding on the Sabine River to Captain E. P. Turner, Assistant Adjutant-General, of the capture of the Morning Light by forces under his command (Page 2 of 3). This report is in Volume 19 of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.
(This report is continued from page 564) On the 13th instant, however, we were favored by a strong southeasterly wind, which so swelled the tide that the [Uncle] Ben was passed over, under command of Captain Johnson, and the Bell followed afterwards. We were then in Sabine Lake, and on the 20th instant the expedition steamed to the Pass. In the meantime, an order was published assigning Captain Charles Fowler to the charge of completing the equipments of both boats and managing the same in battle, under the orders of the oficer maneuvering the epedition. Captain William Johnson, who had been highly commended to me for gallantry in the battle of Galveston, was assignged to the command of the Ben. Captain Matt. Nolan, Second Texas Mounted Rifles, was directed to assume command of the infantry on the Bell, which comprised detachments from all the companies of Pyron's regiment, together with 26 men from Company A, [Ashley W.] Spaight's battalion, under the immediate command of Captain O. M. Marsh. Captain O'Bryan, of Spraight's battalion, was ordered to take command of all the infantry on the boat Ben, composed of volunteers from all the companies of said battalion. Captain Odlum, First Texas Heavy Artillery, was announced as chief of ordnance and artillery, and had under his command on the Ben one 8-inch columaiad, bored as a 6-inch rifled gun, under the immediate command of Lieutenant Dowling, and two 12-pounder guns, imperfectly mounted and wihtout a single shell for their service on the Ben. The latter guns were deemed unservicable, and were only placed in position to inspire the men with confidence in their boat. They were in charge of Captain [K. D.] Keith, Spaight's battalion.
Early in the morning on the 21st our boats were cleared for action, and at daylight the enemy ws discovered lying offshore (a loop of war and a schooner); chase was made, and by 10 a. m. ourguns were in range, when Lieutenant Dowling, First Texas Heavy Artillery, was ordered to commence the action with his rifle gun, which was done at a distance of about 2 1/2 miles. The enemy replied with a broadside from their sloop of war, the schooner remaining silent.
Our third shell could not be rammed home, when Captain Fowler was ordered to stop his boat until the Ben could come alongside, in order that I might board from both boats simultaneously.
Captain Johnson was signaled to run down on our port. Through the exertions of Captain Odlum and Lieutenant Dowling the shell that had lodged in their rifle gun was forced to its place, and the gun was worked afterwrds with great effect, striking the sloop repeatedly, and exploding one shell on the enemy's deck. When within 1,000 years of the enemy Captain Nolan's sharpshooters opened a terrific fire, which swept their decks and soon caused their commanding officer to strke his flag, and the men to abandontheir guns and seek shelter in the ship's hold.
In the meantime the Ben bore down gallantly on the schooner, receiving her fire and the broadside of the sloop of war at short range, which, by great exertion, Captain Keith returned with three solid shot from his 12s. The schooner was surrendered unconditionally, and, putting Captain Fowler in charge of the sloop, we started for Sabine Pass.
The fight continued about one and one-half hours, and was concluded out of sight of land in the Gulf and about 28 miles southwest from Sabine Bar. (This report is continued on page 566)
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