Our Northern summary.
attempt of a Confederate Bearer of dispatches to escape from Fort Lafayette the funeral of Col. Baker--the Personnel of Norfolk editors as Described by an escaped Yankee, &c.We continue this morning our summary of Northern intelligence obtained from late papers received at this office.
Unsuccessful attempt of a Confederate Prisoner to escape from Fort Lafayette.
From the New York Times, of the 28th ult., we gather the following account of the attempt of a Southern gentleman to escape from the confines of Fort Lafayette. Although foiled in the attempt, it will be seen upon a perusal of the account that his failure in no ways dampened his ardor for the cause of the South. Our brave Southerners now under bondage in Lincolndom may rest assured of the deep sympathy of their brethren in this Confederacy, and be cheered with the consciousness that the day of retribution upon the fiends at the North, for the persecutions practiced by them during the unholy war now being waged against us, is near at hand. The Times says: ‘ Between 1 and 2 o'clock yesterday morning one of the sentinels on the dock surrounding Fort Lafayette had his attention attracted to one of the port holes in the Fort by an unusual noise. He at once regulated his movements with reference to that spot, when he soon discovered that one of the Secessionist prisoners was working to make his escape. Mr. Lawler was the adventurous individual — the gentleman who was arrested some weeks ago at Crestline, Ohio, bearing dispatches to the rebel Confederacy. This was the man who was found in the act of offering stealthy defiance to the walls of the Fort. Lawler appears to have procured a key which fitted the padlock which fastened the grating of the port hole, and with it had opened the grating. He had also been provided with a new washtub and a rope, and also a life- preserver. He had $47.50 in gold and his gold watch packed in a bladder, and fastened in one of his pockets. Having packed his valise, he placed it in the tub; he then fastened a rope to a tub, let the tub out of the port-hole, and after securing the rope, bid good-by to Fort Lafayette, and entered the tub himself. He then began sailing for the ground, all the while closely watched by the sentinel, who permitted the bold Lawler, his tub and cargo to land on the dock in safety. But no sooner had he landed than he was commanded to surrender or be shot. Mr. Lawler certainly did not fancy the shooting part, so he surrendered, and suggested to the sentinel that he take the bladder containing the gold watch and the $47.50 in money, and allow him to go back into the fort through the port-hole, and have nothing said about it. But the sentinel was not to be bribed by Mr. Lawler. He alarmed the garrison, and Lieut. Wood, the officer of the port, had the prisoners' roll called to see if all his prisoners were in the fort. He then had Lawler secured in double irons and placed in the guard-house. As the sentinel had had occasion to order off one of the three vessels which had been laying very close into the fort during the night, Lieut. Wood ordered a boat to be manned, and taking some soldiers with him, duly armed, he proceeded to the three vessels referred to and had them taken under the guns of the revenue-cutter Bibb. The sea was very rough at the time of the boarding. It seems that Lieut. Graham in command of the Bibb, received the order to hold the three vessels in rather a sour manner, and was a good deal unwilling to do anything in the matter. It is stated in the neighborhood of Fort Hamilton, that the Bibb has been somewhat neglectful of its prisoners for some time past. Yesterday Lawler said that he had not succeeded, but if he had, by that time (afternoon) he would have been in Dixie's Land. He told the officers in charge that they might search for a better Secessionist, but they would have to go further South than Fort Lafayette routine a truer one. It appears that Mr. Lawler has lately received some visits from ladies, with skirts of an extraordinary size. Hereafter, visitors will doubtless be subjected to close scrutiny, ’The funeral of Col. Baker.
The Washington correspondent of the New York Times has the following in relation to the funeral of Col. Baker. The base ingratitude which could dictate the indifference to his death which is manifested in the subjoined paragraph, is truly disgusting. In their efforts to screen their master from all censure whenever they meet with reverses, the Yankees even cease to speak well of the dead: ‘ To day has been the funeral of Col. Baker. The ceremonies were not very imposing. One hardly feels like criticising the conduct of one over whom the grave is closing. If his courage outran his prudence — if in the excitement and daring of the moment he disobeyed orders and hazarded an unequal engagement, most dearly has he paid for his fault. Let the brave sleep quietly. As I looked on his form, wrapped in the colors of his country, I could not but reflection the adventurous life he had led. To-day a poor boy sitting at the hand loom in Philadelphia — to-morrow trudging on foot over the West in search of a livelihood — and soon appearing on the arena battling his way to success with such men as Douglas and President Lincoln. Casting aside his hard-earned honors at the sound of the war trumpet, he is lost from sight only to reappear on the smoking heights of Cerro Gordo. With the return of peace winning all his honors back again, he is yet too restless, too intensely active to be content with the monotonous movements of organized settled society and goes to California. Still adventurous, he pushes on to Oregon, where his resolute will, energy, and ability make him so conspicuous that he is sent to the Senate. Upholding the Government by his eloquent tongue so soon as it was assailed by arms, he again drew his sword and fell, where everybody knew he would fall if slain at all in front of his regiment cheering on his men. To such a man a violent death in some form is almost inevitable. His uniform was exhibited, and showed what a target the enemy's sharpshooters had made of him. It was covered with blood and mud, and pierced with balls. One had gone through his hat into his head, another through his side, and another near his heart, and so on — each planted with a precision which showed that only one was needed to do the work. ’Mr. Seward gives a Colored man a Certificate of Citizenship.
Mr. Gerald Ralston, the noted colonizationist, writes to Lord Brougham a letter, in which he says: ‘I have great pleasure in informing your Lordship that the decision of the Dred Scott case is practically annulled by the present Government at Washington. I have before me the passport of Rev. Henry H. Garnet, a black man of note, and of great distinction among the negroes of New York, given by William H. Seward, the Secretary of State, dated Washington, August 26, 1861, in which the Secretary requests all whom it may concern to permit safely and freely to pass Henry H. Garnet, a citizen of the United States, and in case of need to give him all lawful aid and protection. This passport is impressed by the seal of the Department of State, and signed by the Secretary of State, in the eighty-second year of the independence of the United States.’The Personnel of Norfolk editors.
The Philadelphia Press, of the 20th ult., has quite a lengthy description of affairs in and around Norfolk, furnished by a Yankee who has been living in that city, but who very recently escaped to the Quaker City. The whole statement abounds in falsehood and vituperation, and none but an arrant fool could be at all inclined to give it credence.--The following paragraphs in relation to the editors of Norfolk, we extract from the article: ‘ The following is a brief sketch of the personnel of several of the most prominent editors of Norfolk. It may be worth recording, as an evidence of the utter insincerity of their devotion to their own bad cause. Ewing, the editor of the Examiner, had previously published a paper at Williamsburg, Va., but it had not met with any degree of success.--He is a native of Massachusetts, and his paper had been largely supported by the advertising of Northern merchants, who were made to believe that its circulation was something fabulous. Although one of the first to espouse the cause of treason, the people of Norfolk have no confidence in him whatever. The Southern confidence in the fealty of the editor of the Day Book, (John R. Hathaway,) has also been rather impaired of late. It is said that he has been bought over to an advocacy of the secession cause, at a less price then would be paid for an ordinary field hand in busy times, and by a Northern renegade named Harris, who made a large fortune from the Federal Government in the fulfillment of contracts. Harris owned property in New Jersey some months since, but we understand has had it conveyed to some relatives, who reside in that State. ’Official report of the attack on the New Orleans Blockading fleet.
United States Steamer Richmond, S. W. Press, Mississippi, Oct. 18, 1861.
Sir:
I have the honor to make the following report: At a quarter to four A. M., October 19th, 1861, while the watch on the deck were employed in taking seal on board from the schooner Joseph M.
nels, tearing the schooner from her fastenings, and forcing a hole through the ship's side.
Passing aft the ram endeavored to effect a breach in the stern, but failed.
The planks in the ship's side were stove in about two feet below the water line, making a hole about five inches in circumference.
At the first alarm the crew promptly and coolly repaired to their quarters, and as the ram passed abreast of the ship the entire port battery was discharged at her, with what effect it is impossible to discover, owing to the darkness.
A red light was shown as a signal of danger, and the squadron was under way in a very few minutes, having slipped their cables.
I ordered the Preble and Vincennes to proceed down the Southwest Pass, while I covered their retreat, which they did at about 4:50, A. M. At this time three large fire rafts, stretching across the river, were rapidly nearing us, while several larger steamers and a bark-rigged propeller were seen astern of them.
The squadron proceeded down the river in the following order: First, the Preble; second, the Vincennes; third, the Richmond, fourth, the Water Witch, with the prize schooner Frolic in tow. When abreast of the pilot settlement, the pilot informed me that he did not consider it safe to venture to turn this ship in the river, but that he believed he could pass over the bar. I accordingly attempted to pass over the bar with the squadron, but in the passage the Vincennes and Richmond grounded, while the Preble went over clear.
This occurred about 8 o'clock, and the enemy, who were now down the river with the fire steamers, commenced firing at us, while we returned the fire from our port battery and rifled gun on the poop — our shot, however, falling short of the enemy, while their shell burst on all sides of us, and several passed directly over the ship.
At half-past 9 Commander Handy, of the Vincennes, mistaking my signal to the ships outside the bar to get under way, for a signal for him to abandon his ship, came on board the Richmond with all his officers and a large number of the crew, the remainder having gone on board the Water Witch. Captain Handy, before leaving his ship, had placed a lighted slow match to the magazine. Having waited a reasonable time for an explosion, I directed Commander Handy to return to his ship with his crew, to start his water, and if necessary, at his own request, to throw overboard his small guns for the purpose of lightening his ship, and to carry out his kedge with a cable to heave off by. At ten A. M., the enemy ceased firing and withdrew up the river.--During the engagement a shell entered our quarter port, and one of the boats was stove by another shell.
I have this morning succeeded in getting this ship over the bar. The McClellan and South Carolina are using all exertions to get the Vincennes off. The Nightingale is hard and fast ashore to the end of the bar. I have succeeded in reducing the leak of this ship so that our small engines keep the ship free.--This is only temporary, and the ship will have to go to some place and have three planks put in. I have received rifle-guns and placed the thirty two-pounder on the forecastle, and the twelve-pounder on the poop.
Could I have possibly managed this ship in any other way than keeping her head up and down the river, I would have stopped at Pilot Town, to give battle; but this was found too hazardous, owing to her extreme length.--The attempt was made, but a broadside could not be brought to bear without running the ship ashore.
I then concluded, as advised, to start for the bar, and trust to the chance of finding water enough to cross.
In narrating the affair of the river, I omitted to state that the ram sunk one of our large cutters, and a shot from the enemy stove the gig.
I am pleased to state that the Vincennes is afloat, and at anchor outside on my starboard quarter.
Assistant Surgeon Robinson, from the Vincennes, is ordered to temporary duty on board this ship.
Assistant Surgeon Howell, condemned by survey, will return in the McClellan.
The master of the Nightingale will deliver fifty tons of coal to the McClellan.
This, together with what I will take out, will, I trust, lighten her so that we can haul her off.
Sir:
