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wood on a camp-stool for a stern gun, but this device of the enemy failed in its object; and Acting Ensign Marcellus Jackson boarded the steamer, from which every body had made their escape to the shore.
She proved to be a side-wheel steamer, painted lead-color, with black smoke-stack, two masts, and a walking-beam engine.
Neither cargo, personal effects, papers, nor any thing to indicate her name was found on board, but from the description, she is supposed to have been the Little Lila, formerly the Nau Nau, and before that the Flushing.
The water was found running rapidly into the engine-room.
None of our people were competent to stop the leak or work the engine.
The channel was exceedingly intricate and narrow, and night was rapidly coming on. Under these circumstances, Acting Ensign Jackson set fire to the vessel, agreeably to orders from Acting Master Ashbury, and in returning to the Fox, pulled up all the stakes by which the channel was marked out, for about a mile and a half.
Again, on December twenty-fourth, a vessel was discovered by the Fox standing in for the Suwanee River, and after a chase of two hours, and the firing of several shells, she hove to. Being ordered by Mr. Ashbury to send a boat on board, the stranger put his helm up with the intention of running the Fox down, and came down upon the starboard quarter, carrying away the boat-davits, but doing little damage, as the Fox was immediately kept away.
While his vessel was passing off, Mr. Ashbury directed a rifle-shot to be fired for the purpose of intimidation; but a heavy sea was running at the time, and the bullet took effect upon the captain of the strange vessel, who was at the wheel, passing through his leg, but without touching an artery.
The vessel was then boarded and found to be the British schooner Edwin from Havana, bound to the Suwanee River, with a cargo of lead and salt, and was accordingly seized as a prize.
In addition to these achievements, I would remind the department that the Fox was one of the three tenders that assisted the Honduras in the capture of the British steamer Mail.
Respectfully,
Theodorus Bailey, Acting Rear-Admiral Commanding E. G. B. Squadron.
