The Daily Dispatch: January 29, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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Capture of the Wilder.

--Full Particulars--The following particulars of the capture of the schooner Wilder, returning from Havana with an assorted cargo, by the Federals, is from the Mobile Tribunes. The schooner seeing the Federal cruiser approach, made for the beach, but had no time to save anything before the cruiser came within range

The Federals lowered their launches, boarded the schooner, lowered the colors and commenced discharging the cargo into their launches within three hundred yards of the beach. Captain Ward of the Wilder says he had set English colors before he left. As regards the fight he says, that the enemy came, up in their launches. Some of Capt. Wm. Cottrill's scouts met them and fired a few volleys, but did little or no damage. A dispatch was sent to the Captain, who came down, at about 3 o'clock in the evening, with a reinforcement, and went into the engagement in good earnest, killing about twenty-five or thirty, that is, all that were in one launch, and some others in another launch. The Federals fired several rounds of shots and shell from the steamer, and also several rounds from the howitzers on the launches and musketry, but not doing the slightest damage to any one on our side. One of the steamers drew off, and her place was filled by another, which also took part in the engagement, but with no effect. At night the steamer came along side and towed the schooner off. Afterwards, Capt. Cottrill's men picked up one of their small beats, which was pierced from stem to stern with bullets.