Interesting Description of the loss of the Ella and Annie, a daring blockade-runner.
The most daring courage yet shown by a blockade-runner was exhibited by
Capt. F. N. Bonneau, of the
Ella and
Annie, which was captured in November by the
Niphon.
The
Ella and
Annie left
Bermuda for
Wilmington on the 5th of November in company with the
R. E. Lee, having on board the heaviest cargo ever tried by a blockade-running ship--394 tons of dead weight, all on Government account
Capt. Bonneau, who is a prisoner on parole in
Boston, publishes the following highly interesting narrative of the capture of his vessel:
At sunset we were eighty five miles from Wilmington Bar. At 7 o'clock the wind, which had been light from the north and west, suddenly sprang up, and in the course of one hour blew a gale causing an ugly cross sea, and reducing the speed of our ship from eleven knots to five and a half which was the utmost we could get out of her with thirty pounds of steam.
Things began to look squally as to our being able to make the run in time, but it was too late to think of turning back.
We were, too, at this time passing two suspicious lights, which we took for the outer vessels of the blockading squadron.
At 11 I hauled her into Masenboro' inlet, as I found if I did not met smooth water I could not save my time, and it was not until 4½ o'clock that I made the land.
About noon, while to the southward and eastward of the inlet, as soon as I got fairly under the beach and in eighteen feet of water, I sent word to
Mr. Gray and
Mrs. Nicholson, my two passengers, that it would be impossible for me to save my dark to to the fort, and that at daylight we would be subjected to a very heavy fire (in all probability) from the fleet, as I was determined to try to run along the beach, (I had, however, no other chance,) and that if they would get ready I would land them in the little bay of Masenboro' inlet.
This they bravely refused, saying it would take too much time, and that if I could stand the fire of the fleet they could too. I therefore prepared for the worst, and ordered the anchors taken in on deck, unstocked, and lashed down, the colors set, and all hands but the officer of the watch and the two men at the wheel sent below, determining, if I had to lose her, to make it cost the enemy dearly.
Just as day was dawning we touched the beach slightly, but did not stop, and while hauling away from it, saw a gunboat standing directly across our bow, (she must evidently have heard our wheels,) and was steering so as to cut us off from the beach.
We being in three fathoms of water, I was much surprised to find a boat running so boldly for us. To pass outside of him would be to lose my ship, for he would then cut me off from the support I expected from our own batteries in a few miles more.
To run my ship ashore at this point would have been madness, for the beach here is an
outer one, the sound extending inside of it for miles, and consequently I could expect no protection, and my whole ship company would either be destroyed on this bold beach or taken by the enemy prisoners.
To turn back and run to sea was to give the ship to the enemy without an effort to save her. I therefore determined to try and pass inshore of the bend or over him, (not dreaming that he would dare run into eighteen feet of water.) This matter was soon decided, as we approached each other rapidly, and I could hear the noise of his men preparing for action, &c., and when about one hundred and fifty yards from him I hailed him, telling him he would be afoul of me, hoping to induce the thought that I was one of their own ships, but was soon made aware of my mistaken opinion by a broadside of grape and canister, accompanied by a volley of musketry.
I then ordered my ship pointed for her, and hoped to strike her just forward of her waist boat.
Unfortunately he perceived this move of mine; and shifted his helm, causing his vessel to swing away from me, and making it impossible to strike fair.
Our ships came together the next moment with a fearful crash, carrying away his starboard boat rail and part of his stem and cutwater.
My engine was kept working to its full capacity, as I had but one chance of getting clear of him in case I failed to sink him, and that was to force my ship past him before he could board, as I distinctly heard him call away his boarders.
In this last attempt I failed, as the ships were both going ahead, and had now swung broadside on, and he firing broadside after broadside into us while in this condition, and almost at the same time boarding us on the port quarter and wheelhouse guard.
Then ensued a scene which none but an eye-witness would believe.
Officers and men rushing along our deck, shooting and cutting at everything that came to sight, and even shooting, in their mad career, one of their own men — and in the case of Jany, of my ship, shooting him as he was coming up the hatchway to give himself up. Having satisfied themselves with this (courageous charge) they went below and broke open everything that came to sight, state-rooms, trunks, boxes, &c., officers and men quarreling over trunks for the contents and the owners standing by. This robbery and carouse was kept up until the arrival of
Commodore Ridgely, in the flag-ship
Shenandoah, when it was quickly put a stop to by the appearance of
Lieut. Skerritt, to whom it was reported, (
Lieut. Skerritt is an officer and gentleman of the old navy.) Not one of the officers of the capturing ship — the
Niphon — belonging to this class of officers.
The ship was then plugged (having received forty one shots in her hull,) and sent to
Beaufort, N. C., where we landed our passengers and wounded and then proceeded North, destination
Boston, having on board the two cooks, two stewards, and myself.
The crew otherwise were sent North in the transport
Newbern.
Thus ended the fate of the favorite ship
Ella and Annie.
A more cowardly and murderous fire a vessel was never subjected to, and the conduct of the boarding the most unheard of barbarity upon record.
The officers of my ship behaved — as we all had a right to expect of them — cool, determined, and at their posts all of them, as they had often said if they were killed their bodies would be found at their stations in their engine-room.
Strange as it may appear, her engine was not struck, although the balls are to be seen sticking in the wood work of the gallery frame.
Both ships are now in
Boston.
The
Niphon to be repaired, as well as her prize.
Had I been successful in the destruction of the
Niphon, I presume I would have been considered deserving at least of a "well done;" but the reverse shows angry, false, and calumnious opinions, which are generally heaped upon the heads of those who "try" by those who stay at home afraid to try, having heard even in this lonely prison that a voice had gone forth in "Dixie." condemning all of the
Captains of the vessels captured on the 8th and 9th of November.
I thought it proper to say that for the discharge of my duty, and for the responsibility of all that occurred on that day, I am responsible, and to none but my country and my conscience.
Riley, fireman, mortally wounded by grape;
Jos. Jany, dangerously in groin;
Barre, fireman, shot in shoulder;--, (name forgotten,) fireman, shot in neck; two of the cabin bosy cut severely with cutlasses.
