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The following report was written by
Colonel Charles Lovenskiold to General Hamilton Bee
July 17, 1862
All letterings in bold are done so by Judy C. Ware as it
pertains to family history
JULY 7-17, 1862
Operations
in Aransas Bay, Tex.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX., July 17, 1862.
GENERAL: Your letter of the 11th
instant, by express, came duly to hand, but only this day. From its tenor I see
that my communication in relation to the appearance of the enemy off Aransas Bay
and his entrance in the bay had not then been received. I will therefore report
to you in full since the 7th instant, the date of his first
appearance.
On the 7th a bark, with a
100-ton schooner and one large frigate (second-class cutter), came off the bay.
The schooner and cutter, with six launches, entered the bay and proceeded to
take a position near the Shell Bank, and so as to rake and control the ship
channel leading from Aransas [Bay] to Corpus Christi Bay. Upon receiving this
news I sent the dispatch-boat Breaker, under Captain Rose, with
Captain Ware and 10 men, to make a
reconnaissance, and, returning, they reported the enemy's force to be as before
represented - all well armed and probably some 225 men. Next Captain Harrison,
in command of gunboat General Bee, of Major Shea's command (here present on
recruiting service for a crew of sailors), went down and reconnoitered the enemy
very closely, say within 200 yards. His report was to the effect that the
schooner was heavily armed with cannon, about 125 tons burden, evidently a fine
sailer, sharp and deep, and drawing at least 6 feet of water. The cutter was
thirty-oared and armed with one 24-pounder howitzer, the launches four-oared
whale-boats. The force was deemed too formidable, on account of its superiority
in artillery, to warrant any attack or action on the offensive. Three prizes had
already been taken by the enemy, say sloop Bella Italia, of 10 or 12 tons, with
corn and bacon; schooner Reindeer, of about 15 tons, with 52 bales of cotton,
and a lugger, with corn, name unknown. The schooner Monte Christo had been
visited, and the cotton at Lamar (some 47 bales) taken off to Saint Joseph and
stored near Johnson's house.
I received a communication from Captain Neal upon the subject,
which I enclose, marked Numbers 1*. From its tenor I concluded that he was
undecided as to what he should do, and desired advice from me.
I wrote him at once that there could
be no danger for his command, as from my information the numerical strength of
the enemy must be insignificant; that I deemed it of great importance that he
should retreat or fall back no farther, but, on the contrary, maintain his
position, and that, if practicable, without too great a risk of life or public
property, he should endeavor to tease the enemy, so as to draw his fire and
ascertain range and caliber of guns of the armed schooner.
I enclose subsequent communications
from Captain Neal, marked Nos. 2 and 3, which will throw further light on
proceedings up to this date.
The rapid movements of the enemy,
the numerous exaggerated reports, and the absence of the commanding officer,
together with want of experience in the officers present and unwillingness to
assume responsibility for fear of consequences, all tended to create a perfect
panic at the very beginning; and to put this down and take all necessary steps
for the proper defense of the town and the protection or rescuing of a large
amount of cotton and tobacco, with the cargo just landed from the schooner
Penelope, it became necessary that someone should command and take the lead. As
the officers all seemed to look to me for guidance, advice, and orders, and
showed themselves willing and anxious, with their men, to obey me, under the
circumstances, I did not shrink from the great responsibility, and at once made
all necessary suggestions.
All the necessary ammunition was at
once prepared, and finding the troops without caps for their arms, almost
barefoot, very small quantity of serviceable powder on hand, and in want of
clothing, I took from the cargo of the schooner 20,000 percussion caps, 400
pounds of fine powder, the necessary shoes, 1 ½ dozen flannel overshirts, and 2
pieces ditto; also - as the company of
Captain Ware needed them - I took for them 15 double-barrel shot-guns and 3
five-shooters. Thereupon I obtained the requisite transportation, and forwarded
the remainder of said cargo to Victoria, and sent all the cotton and tobacco on
hand to its places of destination. There have been sent off from the 7th
until date 421 bales of cotton, 500 bales of tobacco, also about 7,600 pounds of
powder. If the enemy should be able to pay us a visit here he will not find
anything worth plundering or carrying away. The records of the county and
district clerk I have caused to be made ready for packing in chests made for the
purpose, ready to be moved at a moment's warning.
From the passengers referred to by Captain Neal as sent from on
board the enemy's bark, and whom I critically examined, assisted by
Captain Ware, Lieutenant-Commanding
George, and Mr. Robert Mott, late of New Orleans, and known as an able lawyer,
we learned that the enemy's forces did not number 125 men, all told, and that
the men on the gunboat, cutter, and launches were supplied from the bark,
leaving this latter with only about 20 men or less. Captain Kittredge is in
command inside on board gunboat, which carries two 32-pounder Dahlgrens and one
large caliber gun amidships. She was a pleasure yacht in New Orleans, built by
Robinson, owned by Story, and lastly taken and fitted up by and for General
Lovell, and brought out as one of the enemy's trophies of war, about 125 tons
burden, and about 6 feet draught of water. The cutter carries 30 oars, one
24-pounder howitzer, and is manned from the schooner.
The greatest number of men ever seen on
these vessels, including the prizes, does not exceed 87. The cotton taken by the
enemy is piled, as before stated, on Saint Joseph's Island, opposite Captain
Johnson's house. The conclusion as to the prisoners
was unanimous that Andres Roeg and wife were citizens of Matamoros, caught in
New Orleans by the enemy on his taking possession, and that, as a matter of
kindness, Captain Kittredge had carried them as passengers. But in relation to
Mr. Cavanos, a doubt as to his true status and feelings was created, and hence I
released the former two and detained the latter, to be sent to Colonel Luckett,
whom he claims to be well and intimately acquainted with, for final disposition.
Owing to the information received as
above - that from Captain Neal, the results of several reconnaissances, and
reports brought in from various quarters as to the design of the enemy and his
expecting re-enforcements within a few weeks - I called the officers together
for consultation and to decide as to what ought to be done to oppose and prevent
the further encroachments of the enemy. It was unanimously decided -
1st
To send the gunboat General Bee, Captain
Thomas Harrison, with a picked crew, and the dispatch-boat Breaker, Captain J.
Harding, with a detachment from Captain Ireland's company, to guard the ship
channel.
2nd
To obstruct the ship channel by sinking
in the narrowest point such number of "come-at-able" vessels as were requisite,
the vessels to be loaded with stone.
3rd
To take possession of the schooner Elma
and fit her for a gunboat at once, arm and man her, and place her at Corpus
Christi Pass, to prevent the enemy's cutters or launches to force [from forcing]
an entrance to our from said point.
4th
To send 40 picked men, as well armed and
mounted as possible, under a proper guide, and commanded by Lieutenant W. Mann,
around by the reef, avoiding the coast until above Lamar, and thence crossing to
Saint Joseph's Island, to burn and destroy the cotton taken by the enemy and
piled at Johnson's house in the night.
5th
To fit out an expedition by water, to
make a feint upon the enemy at the Shell Bank, to divert his attention from
Saint Joseph's Island, while Lieutenant Mann's forces attempt to destroy the
cotton.
6th
To appoint Captain John Dix to
superintend and direct the arming, equipping, and fitting out of the vessels to
be employed.
Under the second head the schooners
Relief and Confederate, after appraisement, were taken, loaded with concrete,
and sunk in the night unobserved by the enemy, and the sloop Iowa is now in like
manner being loaded for the same purpose. These will effectually prevent the
enemy's gunboat from coming into Corpus Christi Bay through the ship channel.
All the other heads have been acted on, and are either executed or in progress
of execution. I enclose you a slip from Captain Ware,* and will report final results as soon as possible.
Captain Ware, with his party, attacked
the enemy near the Shell Bank and drove him back, firing with rifles at 200
yards, and causing the enemy to seek shelter in the hold of his boat. The prize
Bella Italia now fitted up by him as a small gunboat. There is no doubt that
the Corpus [Christi] Pass is now blockaded by the prize-schooner Reindeer, and
that the entrance thence must be guarded. I will see that the proper steps are
taken for preventing a surprise. The cotton at the Flour Bluffs and the salt
trade along the Laguna de la Madre are the objects sought by the enemy.
I trust that my action in the
foregoing may meet with your approbation. Should it be otherwise I should feel
much chagrined. I send you English paper and New Orleans Delta of the 1st
in which see an infamous special order
from Butler in relation to Mrs. Philips. I have not had time to answer your
letter in relation to McKinney. He lies basely if the messenger reports him
correctly. I thank you for having taken notice of it, and will furnish proper
refutation as soon as the present excitement is over.
I must not forget to say that all
here is harmony and perfect union among all officers, men, and myself, and all
vie with one another in zealously obeying orders,
In haste, very truly, yours,
CHAS. LIVENSKIOLD.
General H. P. BEE,
Commanding Mil. Dist. of the Lower
Rio Grande, San Antonio, Tex.
P. S. - I trust you will at once send Major Shea to assume
command of the operations or return Captain Ireland.
Taken from the War of the Rebellion records This site maintained by John Reagan |
