| From the Memphis Appeal |
| |
| January 24, 1863 |
| |
| From Galveston |
| We have received from the
Galveston Union office a bulletin giving an account of the
capture of Galveston from the enemy, our losses, etc., from which we
extract the following: |
| ***** |
| Report by a Gentleman who Accompanied the
Ordnance |
| The last train {Galveston,
Houston & Henderson RR}, with the two large guns and
ammunition, started from Virginia Point at about 2 o'clock on the
morning of the 1st inst. The Harriet Lane was standing off the Point,
distance about five miles. When the locomotive entered the bridge, one
of the railroad men, not being advised of the order to "keep
dark," was on top of the box car with his lantern, but so soon as
it was detected by the officer of the post, the order was given --
"Put out that light." Immediately on its being extinguished,
the Harriet Lane threw up signal lights -- blue and red. |
| When the train arrived within
three or four hundred yards of the Galveston depot, she again threw up
signals, which were so near that we could see the men on her deck. The
conductor left the cars to seek the men who were detailed to take
charge of the cannon, but they could not be found. |
| Before he returned the
cannonading commenced from Wilson's battery, and as the shot and shell
fell heavily in all directions, he detached the car with the large
mounted gun, and ran the cars about two miles up the road to save the
ammunition, and put off the other large cannon, which was intended for
Fort Point, and mules were attached to take it round. |
| The cars then ran back to the
depot, and all hands went to work and threw the cotton off the trains
to build the breast works for the large mounted cannon. The first gun
was fired by Gen. Magruder 1/2 hours before day, and a continual and
terrific bombardment was kept up until after day light, when our
batteries could see their fire, but at this moment, the Harriet Lane was
boarded by Col. Green's command, from the steamer Bayou City. |
|