Doc. 63.-capture of the Boston.
June 10, 1863.
Mobile, June 11, 1863.
A party of our daring marines started to get a steamboat; the party was under the command of Captain James Duke.
After experiencing rather hard fare in the marshes of the Mississippi for some days, they discovered the Boston towing the ship Jenny Lind, loaded with ice, up to New-Orleans.
This was some three miles from the Pass a l'outre lighthouse.
The brave fellows hailed the ship, and a line was thrown out to them — they were in an open boat.
On getting aboard of the Boston the confederates made a very pretty display of revolvers, when the Captain of the ship remarked: “I told you they were----rebels.”
It was too late; the fastenings were instantly cut, and our men were in possession of the steamer.
In coming round at sea, they met the bark Lennox, from New-York, loaded with an assorted cargo, principally stores, to which they helped themselves, and retaining the captain and mate as prisoners, sent the passengers and crew ashore.
They then set fire to her, completely destroying the vessel.
This took-place yesterday, (Wednesday.) There were about forty on the Lennox.
About an hour afterward they came up with the bark Texana, also from New-York.
They did not take any thing from her but the captain and mate — the balance they sent ashore.
The Texana was then set afire, and was burning splendidly when she was left.
Among the prisoners is Captain Woolf, of the old bark Asa Fish, well known here.
There are about seventeen prisoners on board of the Boston, all of whom seem quite resigned to their fate.
The Boston arrived at Fort Morgan this morning about two o'clock, and at the wharf at eleven o'clock. She is a staunch tug — runs about twelve knots an hour, and is a propeller.
In the Mississippi River the confederates were for some time within speaking distance of the United States man-of-war Portsmouth, sixteen guns, and about half an hour previous to their capturing the Boston, a gunboat had passed up within gun-shot of our men.
This prize will prove very valuable to the captors — and shows what daring can accomplish in the way of a little private enterprise.
What a howl will go up in New-York when they hear the news.
The Boston was cheered all along our front as she came in, the confederate flag over the gridiron.
She now lies in at the slip back of Gage's icehouse. 