Soon after the battle and capture of Galveston from the enemy, on the 1st day of January, 1863, an expedition was fitted out in the Bay of Sabine, and the waters entering into the Bay, for the purpose of driving the enemy from the bay and clearing the coast of the blockading fleet off the Pass.

To carry this project into execution, the steamers Josiah H. Bell and Uncle Ben were converted into gun-boats by the use of cotton bales. These cotton bales were first compressed and confined on the boats so as to form a breast-work around the boats from the lower decks up to the boiler decks of the boats, making solid works, the thickness of two cotton bales. The Bell was commanded by Captain Fowler, and the Ben by Captain Johnson. These boats were manned by Captain Odlum's company, heavy artillery, a detachment of Colonel Pyron's regiment Texas cavalry, dismounted, commanded by Captain Nolan, and a detachment of Colonel Spaight's battalion, commanded by Captain Keith, numbering in all about three hundred men, artillery and dismounted dragoons. The dismounted dragoons acting as sharp-shooters. The gun-boats and men were under the command and direction of Major Watkins.

However, in the meantime, while this expedition was being fitted out, the enemy got wind of it, and taking advantage of the lesson we had taught them at Galveston the 1st of January, they left the Bay and took the old position outside to bar. But our boys were not to be thus cheated out of their fun; and though the enemy had left our waters, nevertheless they determined to have a fight.

There were but two vessels blockading the Pass, the Morning Light and Velocity, and they were six or seven miles off the bar at the mouth of the Pass.

On the morning of the 24th of January, 1863, our gun-boats were ready, manned, and the boys anxious for a chase, and notwithstanding the distance the enemy was from the Pass, our boats steamed up, and dashed out after him, and as soon as he saw our boats approach, he took to his heels and put out to sea. Our boats pursued, and after a chase of twenty odd miles, we came up within range and opened fire on the Morning Light with our heavy ordnance. The enemy's being sail vessels, our steamers outrun them, and as our boats neared the ships we continued to pour a heavy fire into them. The fire was returned by the enemy, but with no effect. In a little while we were alongside the Morning Light, and our boys, without waiting for the second command, boarded her amidst showers of minnie balls. Without further defence, the commander of the Morning Light, Captain Dillingham, surrendered his ship, self, and crew to our commander. The magazine of the captured vessel was at once looked to by Lieutenant R. W. Dowling, who ordered the commander to conduct him to it. This being looked after and secured, the vessel was brought in, but owing to the shallowness of the water on the bar, she could not be brought into the bay, and to save her from again falling into the enemy's hands, she was set on fire, after removing all her stores, &c. Thus was destroyed one of the finest war vessels belonging to the Yankee navy. Her hull and guns now lay at the bottom of the sea, about three miles off the bar of Sabine Pass. We captured a large amount of stores, arms, ammunition, and one hundred and twenty prisoners. This was one of the most daring adventures of the war. None but the most fearless and determined officers and men would have undertaken it. The enemy was astonished at our intrepidity after they saw our gun-boats. The commanding officer of the Morning Light, Captain Dillingham, expressed his surprise and astonishment at our daring, after seeing our boats. He was of the impression we were pursuing him with iron clad rams.