The naval fight off Sabine - Special to the Houston Telegraph (Page 2 of 4). This 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 570) the entire engagement, but not a man flinched, and the enemy gave him credit for making the prettiest shots they ever say.
One shot took effect on the largest vessel's main yard, one struck her quarter boat on the port side, one took effect on her deck and exploded in the main rigging. One shot struck No. 2 gun on the port side, which glanced and exploded, killing 1 and wounding every man that was stationed at the gun, besides shattering the ship in a terrific manner. During the engagement the Uncle Ben was fired at by the sloop of war and the schooner. She replied with her 12-pounders, but, owing to the inferiority of the gun carriages, was unable to fire more than three shots. However, from the report of the ordnance officer (Captain Keith), who had command of the 12-pounders, some execution was done.
The enemy did some very responsible firing also, and we must certainly give them credit for making as good line shots as they possibly could have done without striking us. The fight lasted a little over two hours, when, at about 11 o'clock, we got near enough for our sharpshooters to open on the enemy's decks with their rifles. He could not stand it any longer, the stars and stripes were lowered in token of a surrender, and the firing immediately ceased. The large vessel was boarded, and she proved to be the United States sloop of war Morning Light, commanded by Captain John Dillingham. She is a full-rigged ship, mounting eight splendid, long 32-pounder guns, and to use Captain Dillingham's own words he would prefer them to any 68-pounders. I forgot to mention that she had on board a very pretty little breech-loading gun, presented by the Beast, who disgraces humanity, who has ruled and ruined the Queen City of the South, and who before long, I trust, a just God will punish. However, were the hyena in the same fix with his munificent present he would be in a very bad plight, for while in the act of firing it a shell from the Annie exploded, which resulted in the gunner losing part of his hand, carrying away a portion of the breech, and spoiling the gun considerably.
The sloop of war is a splendid prize and manned by about 100 men. About the time the Morning Light was boarded, the Uncle Ben ran down the smaller vessel and took her immediately. She proved to be the U. S. armored schooner Fairy, formerly the Velocity, and owned in Belize, Honduras, but captured while running the blockade. She has only about a dozen men on board, commanded by a volunteer lieutenant, who previously had been promoted by the U. S. Government for gallantry displayed in the late action at Sabine Pass. Our casualties were only one man slightly wounded, a private in Captain Aycock's company, Pyron's regiment. The enemy lost 1 killed and 9 wounded. The poor fellow that was killed was horribly cut up with shells and splinters.
Captain Charles Fowler was commander of our fleet, and most nobly did he do his duty. During the entire engagement he stood on the forward part of the boat Bell and never flinched. Great credit must be awarded him for his perseverance and energy. He has certainly the confidence of every man in the expedition, and to use the men's own words they would follow him to h--l.
Captain Nolan was in command of the various detachments from Pyron's regiment, and it would be useless for me to give him the praise he deserves. He has been the hero of too many fights for (This report is continued on page 572)
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