Beaumont, Tex., September 26, 1862.Sir: On the 23d inst. (Maj. J. S. Irvine commanding at Sabine Pass during my absence under orders at Houston) two armed sail vessels and one steam propeller came to anchor just outside the bar. Early the next morning, the two sail vessels, having crossed the bar, took position and opened fire on our works, to which we promptly replied; but the shots from both sides fell far short. They then approached nearer, when a brisk fire from both sides was resumed and continued until dark. To the chagrin of officers and men our shot still fell short, while the enemy was enabled with his longer range guns to throw shot and shell around and into our works. I take pleasure in stating that our men fighting at this immense odds, and seeing that they could inflict no injury on the enemy, and while his shell were bursting over their heads and within the works, stood to their guns and served them with great coolness. They could not be restrained from mounting the works and shouting and waving their hats in defiance. In pursuance to orders, Capt. G. W. O Bryan, of Company E, with Lieut. W. A. Junker and twenty-six of his company, arrived at the fort at nightfall. When night came on, Major Irvine determined that it would be a fruitless exposure of the men and public property to attempt to hold the works another day, and commenced at once to remove the ordnance stores and other property, and spiked the guns, consisting of two 32-pounders and two 18-pounders. The evacuation was completed by daylight the next morning and all the government property saved. I regret, however, to state that two of the men recently attacked by yellow fever were not in a condition to be moved, and were left in the hospital in the care of competent nurses. It should be mentioned here that on the breaking out of yellow fever among the troops at Sabine City, they were withdrawn, with the exception of a detachment of artillery (Company B) to garrison the works. It is now manifest
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On September 23, 1862, the Federal vessels entered the port of Sabine Pass, and Lieut.-Col. A. W. Spaight, in command there, retired with his forces to Beaumont, not having a sufficient force to resist the Federals.
Lieutenant-Colonel Spaight made the following report of that engagement:
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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