Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Monhegan Island, Me., June 22— (AP)—The schooner Bowdoin, which left here yesterday noon with Lieut. Commander Donald B. MacMillan and other members of his Arctic expedition, was well up the coast of Maine today. With fair weather, friends of the explorer here believed she would be off the Bay of Fundy by nightfall.
MacMillan Leaves Boston Amid Great Outburst of Enthusiasm
Boston. June 17.—(AP)—The arctic expedition of Lieut. Commander Donald B. MacMillan sailed from the navy yard at Charleston shortly after noon today In the steamship Peary bound for Wiscasset, Me. From Wiscasset the Peary and the schooner Bowdoin will sail on MacMillan’s ninth trip
The big guns on the navy craft thundered farewell as the little steamer slipped away on the first leg of the trip beyond the arctic circle. A navy band on the pier played “Auld Lang Syne.” The crowd which had crammed its way into the navy yard cheered. The harbor echoed with the shrill of marine whistles as craft at anchor joined In the parting tribute.
Com. Tatnall reports as follows to the Rebel Secretary of War :
“We observed from the Merrimac that the flag was not flying on Sewell’s Point Battery, and that it appeared to have been abandoned. I dispatched Lieut. J. P. Jones, the Flag Lieutenant, to Craney Island, where the Confederate flag was still flying, and he there learned that a large force of the enemy had landed on Bay shore, and were marching rapidly on Norfolk ; that Sewell’s Point Battery was abandoned, and our troops were retreating. I then despatched the same officer to Norfolk, to confer with Gen. Huger and Captain Lee. He found the Navy Yard in flames, and all the other officers had left by railroad—that the enemy was within a half a mile of the city, and that the Mayor was treating for its surrender.
On returning to the ship he found that Craney Island and all the other batteries on the river had been abandoned.
It was now seven o’clock in the evening, and this unexpected confirmation rendered prompt measures necessary for the safety of the Virginia.
Captain Boggs, of the Varuna, tells a story of a brave boy who was on board his vessel during the bombardment of the forts on the Mississippi river. The lad, who answers to the name of Oscar, is but thirteen years of age, but he has an old head on his shoulders, and is alert and energetic. During the hottest of the fire he was busily engaged in passing ammunition to the gunners, and narrowly escaped death when one of the terrific broadsides of the Varuna‘s rebel antagonist was poured in. Covered with dirt and begrimed with powder, he was met by Capt. Boggs, who asked “where he was going in such a hurry?” “To get a passing-box, sir; the other was smashed by a ball!” And so, throughout the fight, the brave lad held his place and did his duty.
Fortress Monroe, April 22.—A small row-boat arrived here this morning, from Norfolk, containing three men, a woman, and two children, refugees.
They report that the Merrimac is still at the Gosport navy yard. Workmen were engaged in placing iron shields over her port-holes. It was supposed that the improvements would soon be completed, and the Merrimac be out again in two or three days. She was aground on the last day she came out, as was generally supposed here.
Cairo, April 4th, 1862.
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Navy :
This morning the Benton, Cincinnati and Pittsburg, with three mortar boats, opened and continued for more then an hour a fire on the rebels heavy floating battery at Island No. 10, when the latter, having received several shells from the rifles and mortars, cut loose from her moorings and drifted two or three miles down the river, The shells were thrown from the flotilla into different parts of the Island and into rebel batteries lining the Tennessee shore. The return fire produced no effect on the squadron. No more men than were actually necessary to man the batteries were visible.
(Signed) L. H. FOOTE, Flag Officer.