Starting in the middle of this page - the naval fight off Sabine - Special to the Houston Telegraph (Page 1 of 4). This is in Volume 19 of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.
On Board C. S. Gunboat Josiah A. Bell
Gulf of Mexico, off Sabine Pass, Tex., January 25 [21], 1863.
This morning about 4 o'clock preparations wer made on board this vessel for the purpose of attacking the enemy, who were distinctly seen as soon as daylight made its appearance, some 12 miles distant from Sabine Pass. The expedition consisted of the steamboats Josiah A. Bell and the Uncle Ben, with detachments of men on board from companies A, B, C, D, E, G and I of Pyron's regiment, company F, Cook's regiment of heavy artillery, and some men from the various companies composing Liken's battalion. The whole of our force may be put down as follows: One hundred men from Pyron's regiment, 48 from Cook's regiment, about 200 from Liken's (or as it is now called, Spaight's) battalion, and a few citizens from Orange. The whole expedition was commanded by Major Oscar M. Watkins, assistant adjutant-general on General Magruder's staff.
About half past 6 this morning we started for Sabine Pass, the Bell first and the Uncle Ben immediately in her wake. As soon as the enemy got sight of us they made all sail and tried to get away, but it was of no use. Heaven favored us and frowned upon them in the shape of a very light breeze. At about half past 8 a. m. we were distant from Sabine Pass about 20 miles and from the enemy we were distant about 2 miles, when the Annie (a name bestowed on our 64-pounder rifle gun in honor of the wife of Lieutenant Dowling) opened fire on the enemy, but our shot fell short. The breeze began to freshen up somewhat and great anxiety was felt on both our steamboats, for the probabilities were that the enemy would escape. We were going at a rate of 7 miles an hour and the enemy about 5, he keeping up a pretty lively fire from a battery of eight long 32-pounders, but the Annie was admirably and gallantly worked by company F, under command of Lieutenant R. W. Dowling, who, with his detachment, occupied the most dangerous postion during (This report is continued on page 571)
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Last updated November 10, 2008
