An Account of Ships Lost at Sea

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JAMES SPRSag
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DERELICTS
DERELICTS
AN ACCOUNT OF SHIPS LOST AT SEA IN
GENERAL COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLOCKADE
RUNNERS STRANDED ALONG THE
NORTH CAROLINA COAST
1861-1865
BY
JAMES SPRUNT
Author
of
" CHRONICLES OF
THE CAPE FEAR RIVER
WILMINGTON,
1920
N. C.
'
57 J
Copyright 1920
BY
James Spbunt
MAR 3C 1320
Z^t
B,ox\>
(gaftimore
BALTIMORE, HD., V.
S.
(preffet
A.
^0
J.
G.
deROULHAC HAMILTON
ALUMNI PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
WHOSE GENIUS FOR THINGS HISTORICAL INSPIRED
ME WITH A DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE SOMEA REMINISBELEAGCENCES OF A STRANGE TRAFFIC THROUGH
URED CITY TO THE HISTORY OF THE LOWER CAPE FEAR.
—
"Some
night to the lee of the land
(Heigh-ho
No
pilot but
To
lie
Death
(None knoweth
And
home from
to be
the harbor as he!)
tide creeps hither
the shifting sand laps
me
and fro
around, for
gallant old crew are in
Forever
the sea!)
at the rudderless wheel,
where the slow
That my
I shall steal,
I
know
Port long ago
at peace with the sea!"
The Song of the Derelict.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
FOREWORD.
About
years
twenty-five
Sotithport
Leader
blockade from
ago
my
the
Advance, Eugenie,
Lilian, Susan Beirne,
and
the Alonzo, which greatly interested the
pilots
for
Cape Fear
personal experiences as a par-
ticipant in the blockade runners
North Heath,
wrote
I
a series of stones of the
who had taken
part with
me
in this
finally in
Cape Fear
hazardous
and were found entertaining by some other
service
Later, in the year 1901,
readers.
I
contributed at
Walter Clark for
the request of Chief Justice
his ad-
mirable North Carolina Regimental Histories an ac-
count of
the
my
personal adventures and observations
North Heath,
Lilian,
and Susan Beirne,
in
in the
capacity of purser, or paymaster, at the age of seventeen and a half years, and as prisoner of
war on
Keystone State and the Glaucus, Federal
and
later prisoner of
war
in
Fort
the
cruisers,
Macon and
in
Fortress Monroe.
Again,
icles at
Fear
in 19 14, I
wrote
some length on
Cape Fear Chronphase of Cape
form largely of personal remiwhich have been most generously com-
history, in the
niscences,
in the
this interesting
FOREWORD
X
mented upon by eminent writers and
now,
this
at the
end of the
unpretentious
which
secrets of old ocean
bosom for more than
to refrain
it
from
volume,
httle
it
historians; and
have endeavored,
skein, I
has kept hidden
half a century.
I
and
twice-told tales
able
form than
title,
Derelicts,
This compilation of new
is
now
in the original
is
general, but
to a
few sea
Some
The
bulky volumes.
much space has been
left as dere-
along the Cape Fear coast during the
States.
stories
presented in more port-
given to blockade runners destroyed or
tween the
in its
have desired
repetition, but in several instances
was unavoidable.
licts
in
some
reveal
to
War
be-
space has also been given
tales not dealing directly with derelict
ships.
The Northern Navy
doubtless contributed
more
than any other arm of the Federal forces to the
final
defeat of the Southern Confederacy, and this was
because the South at the beginning of hostilities did
not possess a single ship of war.
A
dozen such ships as the ironclad Merrimac,
in the
South during the war
later revolutionized the
navies of the world,
which type originated
and
could probably have entirely destroyed the Federal
fleet
of
inefficient ships in the
second year of the war,
raised the blockade, and compelled the recognition of
FOREWORD
The
the Great Powers.
were numerous, but
promptly an
efficient
"Yet with
fatal.
its
XI
errors of the Confederacy
failure
its
to
buy or build
navy proved irremediable and
limited resources," says Chief
Justice Clark in concluding his history, "the
Confed-
eracy was on the very eve of success, but some un-
expected fatality intervened.
At Shiloh within
half
Army
with
an hour of the capture of the Federal
Grant and Sherman
at
its
head,
a
single
bullet,
which caused the death of Albert Sidney Johnston,
changed the history of the continent.
cellorsville,
of his
son,
At Chan-
one scattering volley, fired by mistake
own men, took
the life of Stonewall Jack-
when, but for that
Hooker and
his
fatality,
the
capture
of
The
whole army was imminent.
unexpected humiliation of the Federal Government
in
surrendering
Mason and
Slidell to British threats
avoided a war with that power, and, with
it,
the
independence of the South, which would have come
with the
command
of the seas, within the power at
that time of Britain's
fleet.
If Stuart's cavalry
had
been on hand at Gettysburg, or even a competent
corps commander, to have held our gains of the
first
two days,
have ended
Had Mr.
in all
in a
Davis,
human
probability the
war would
great Southern victory at that spot.
when he
sent his commissioners to
FOREWORD
Xll
England
to the
$15,000,000 acceded
to negotiate a loan of
pressure of foreign
capitalists
to
make
it
$60,000,000, not only would the Southern finances
not have broken
down (which was
the real cause of
and the Southern troops have been
our defeat)
amply supplied, but European Governments would
have intervened
ere they
in
favor of Southern independence
would have suffered
their influential capi-
that sum."
talists to lose
Notwithstanding the increasing effectiveness of the
blockade and the serious reverses which followed
Chancellorsville to Appomattox, a buoyant optimism
as to the ultimate triumph of the Southern cause pre-
vailed
among
the blockade runners;
until the failure of
Wilkinson
in the
and
it
was not
Chameleon, and
Maffitt in the Owl, to enter Charleston, which
captured after the
fall
was
of Wilmington, that hope
gave place to despair, for then, to quote Captain
Wilkinson,
*'iAs
we turned away from
the land, our
hearts sank within us, while the conviction forced
upon us that the cause for which so much blood
had been shed, so many miseries bravely endured,
itself
and so many
sacrifices cheerfully
made, was about
perish at last."
James Sprunt.
Wilmington, N. C, January
i,
1920.
to
MARINE WANDERERS.
Years before the beginning of the Great
New York
took passage from
War
I
for Liverpool in one
of the most beautiful examples of marine architec-
When we
ture of that era.
a
were about
from Queenstown, our port of
miles
vessel
crowded
in
distress,
as
a
call,
thousand
we
sighted
dismasted and water-logged,
we thought with
passengers.
Our
course was changed to carry us nearer the vessel,
when we perceived
man
from
ber,
that
what we thought were hu-
beings on deck were the bare ribs of a barque
St.
John's,
New
Brunswick, loaded with tim-
and that the dynamic force of the sea had
away
broken
the
vessel's
bulwarks,
frame standing, which resembled
derelict
leaving
crowd of men.
the
A
abandoned upon the wide ocean, staggering
like a
drunken
sea, a
menace
way
a
man on
the heaving
to every vessel
bosom of
the
upon the great high-
of commerce, this mass of unwieldy timber was
a greater danger in the darkness than any other
peril of the ocean.
2
DERELICTS
To my
and indignation our captain
surprise
turned away from the wrecic without attempting
destruction by dynamite as he
We
compass.
was
were one of the famous
day and could not
afford,
he
its
duty bound to
in
flyers
of that
to reduce our
said,
record of speed by any delay.
Three months
homeward on
at least
was returning
after this incident I
same steamer, and when we were
the
2,000 miles from Queenstown
I
sighted,
through a powerful binocular, a wreck ahead, and
we approached nearer I said to the first officer,
is the derelict we passed three months ago."
He laughed at the idea of such a thing.' "Why,"
said he, "she is thousands of miles away in another
as
"That
current
was
if
she
correct.
we had
is
still
We
But
afloat."
my
seen three months before.
tion of life
observation
ran close to the same vessel that
What
destruc-
and property she had wrought mean-
time, no one could
tell,
and we again disgraced the
service by leaving her untouched.
The meaning
untarily
of a derelict in law
abandoned or
Is
willfully cast
a thing vol-
away by
proper owner; especially a ship abandoned at
Mr. William Alllngham, author of
Marine Meteorology, whom
in
I
Its
sea.
A Manual
of
quote at length, says
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, February, 1912:
MARINE WANDERERS
"Every storm that
divide, yet unite, the
in
its
wake some
3
travels over the waters
New World
sailing
ship
which
and the Old, leaves
abandoned by her
As a rule these dreaded derelicts are of
wooden build and laden with cargoes of lumber.
crew.
Often they have carried costly cargoes under every
sky with credit to themselves and profit to their
owners, but the increasing infirmities of age have
caused them to engage
ocean-carrying.
Under
In
the lowliest
forms of
the adverse influence of a
careering cyclone these gallant craft meet their fate.
The savage
sea opens wide their straining seams;
the pumps, clatter as they may, are quite unable to
cope with the ingress of sea water; and the
heartened crews seek safety
first
opportunity.
Thus
it
dis-
in a passing ship at the
happens that many a
lumber-laden sailing ship drifts deviously at the will
of wind and current,
tion, until
her hull
Is
a
menace
to
safe
naviga-
driven Into fragments by the
combined forces of ^olus and Neptune, or reaches
land after a solitary drift of
many weary
leagues
of sea.
"Quite naturally, the North Atlantic holds the
record for drifting derelicts. Inasmuch as
great ocean highway of the nations.
five
It
is
the
During the
years 1887 to 1891 not fewer than 957 derelict
DERELICTS
4
Hydrographer
ships were reported to the
ington,
(now Admiral)
Capt.
then
at
Wash-
Richardson
Clover, U. S. Navy, as in evidence between the
fifty-second meridian of west longitude
coast of
were
North America.
Of
this large
and the east
number 332
by name, and the remainder were
identified
On
either capsized or battered out of recognition.
an average there were about twenty derelicts
North
ing in the
Atlantic at any instant, and the life
of each was one month.
graphic
Office
under every
drift-
receives
The Washington Hydroreports
from shipmasters
appearance and
flag setting forth the
the geographical position of every derelict sighted
during the passage across, and this information
Is
published in the weekly Hydrographic Bulletins and
the
monthly Pilot Charts, which are freely
tributed
among
by the branch
ports
furnishes
with
of that department of the
offices
United States Navy.
also
dis-
navigators visiting American ports
The
British
shipmasters
similar
printed
in
Board of Trade
United
information,
Kingdom
and the
British Meteorological Office has followed suit by
graphic
representation
on
their
monthly
Pilot
Charts of the North Atlantic.
"Many
derelicts disappear within a
abandonment, but some
drift several
few days of
thousand miles
MARINE WANDERERS
A vessel
before the end comes.
New
the
York, for example,
Labrador current
Thence she
teras.
warm
may
left to
drift
until not far
finds a
way
5
her fate near
southward with
from Cape Hat-
into the relatively
waters of the Gulf Stream, and
may
event-
ually drift ashore on the west coast of Europe.
Should the derelict happen to get into the Sargasso
Sea, an area in mid-Atlantic of light winds
currents,
riable
Julius
made memorable by
Chambers, she
will
the
probably travel
and vapen of
in a circle
for a long series of days.
"The schooner
the blizzard of
JV. L. White, abandoned during
March, 1888,
just
eastward of the
Delaware Capes, made tracks for the Banks of
Newfoundland; there she remained for many days,
on the route of
right
palatial passenger liners; then
she got another slant to the northeast, and eventually
drove ashore
at
Haskeir Island, one of the
Hebrides, after traversing 6,800 miles
Her
in
310
days.
timber cargo was salved by the islanders in
fairly
good
"Metal
condition.
ships are seldom left derelict; but there
are not wanting remarkable verified drifts even of
this class.
Ada
In October, 1876, the British iron barque
Iredale was abandoned, with her coal cargo
burning
fiercely,
when 2,000
miles east of the
Mar-
6
DERELICTS
quesas Islands, South Pacific.
She moved slowly
westward with the south equatorial
2,500 miles
a
in
current, traveled
241 days, and was then picked up by
French warship, which towed her to Tahiti. After
the
hull was repaired; she was
new masts and rigging, and has ever
been known as the Annie Johnson of San Fran-
fire
fitted
since
cisco,
she
had died out the
with
sel.
her being boarded some time ago,
doing well and quite a handsome ves-
still
In April, 1882, the Falls of Afton was pre-
abandoned while on the way from Glas-
cipitately
gow
On
Cal.
was
to
Calcutta
with a valuable cargo.
A
few
days later she was picked up by a French vessel
and taken
had many
to
Madeira.
Since that time she has
successful voyages; but the master at the
time of her abandonment suffered severely under
the finding of a court of inquiry.
"Ships which have been abandoned more than
once
in their career are
ber, 1888, the iron ship
In
Novem-
Diincow stranded
close to
not unknown.
Dunkirk Harbor during heavy weather.
The crew
sought safety on shore, and the ship afterwards
floated.
Belgian
fishermen
boarded the
derelict,
obtained the services of a tug, and took her to Terneuzen, thus assuring for themselves salvage pay-
ment, which could not have been legally claimed
MARINE WANDERERS
had she reached
a
French port.
Australia, went ashore not far
tion.
She again floated
oft"
In 1897 this ves-
from Puget Sound
carrying timber
while
sel,
T
after
from her
to
destina-
abandonment; and
once again a tugboat earned salvage by bringing the
derelict into port uninjured.
"Derelict ships add to the difliculties of trans-
demand of
Atlantic navigation; hence the
the ship-
ping industry for specially constructed derelict destroyers, such as the
American Seneca,
Atlantic, experience having
shown
not nearly so impossible to locate as
alleged.
the
to patrol the
that a derelict
is
is
sometimes
The barque Siddartha was abandoned near
Azores
in
February, 1899.
to the northeast until within
She drifted slowly
400 miles of Queens-
town, and there she hovered over the liner tracks
Moved
for several successive weeks.
British
Admiralty sent out two warships
the derelict, and she
Bay.
by a joint ap-
White Star and Cunard Companies, the
peal of the
This
was soon anchored
vessel, while derelict,
ist
miles west of
./
of
Bantry
to
more than
In February, 1895, ^he barque Birgitte
was abandoned on the western
and on the
in
was reported
the United States Hydrographic Oflice by
sixty ships.
in quest
of
March
Cape
side of the Atlantic;
she
was sighted about 1,000
Clear.
Drifting slowly east-
DERELICTS
8
ward, almost continuously on the routes followed
by the large trans-Atlantic
was
this derelict
liners,
found by a tugboat and towed
into
Queenstown.
Forty-three vessels had reported her to Washing-
ton during the interval.
weather such dangers
At nighttime and
may
in thick
be passed quite close
without any one's having an inkling of their prox-
About
imity.
east,
the
the
same
date, but
more
to the north-
Russian barque Louise was abandoned.
She apparently went north as far as the Faroe
Isl-
ands, under the influence of the Gulf Stream extension; thence proceeded eastward;
and was picked
up by two steam trawlers when sixteen miles from
Aalesund, Norway, and thence towed into that port,
The
after a drift of approximately 1,400 miles.
American schooner Alma Cumming was
fate in February, 1895, off
the end of
May
left to
Chesapeake Bay.
her
After
nothing was heard from her until
March, 1896, when she was about 800 miles
the Cape Verde Islands.
She was then totally
off
dis-
masted, had evidently been unsuccessfully set on
fire
by some passing
ship,
with the sea surface.
ashore on an island
off
and her deck was
level
In August she was observed
the San Bias coast. Isthmus
of Panama, with the natives busily engaged annexing
all
they could from the wreck.
On
the ist of
MARINE WANDERERS
9
sian steamer
in 53 deg. N., 28 deg. W., the RusKorea was abandoned by her crew;
and two days
later,
March, 191
1,
about a degree farther
east, the
steamer Ionian sustained considerable damage by
collision with the derelict.
"Some of
the reports of alleged derelict ships are
as thrilling as a nautical novel.
In
May, 1823,
the
Integrity fell in with a derelict close to Jamaica,
the decks and hull of which were showing a rich
crop of barnacles.
Her
cabin
was
full
of water,
but a trunk was fished up which contained coins,
rings,
and watches.
This salvage realized 3,000
In August, 1872, the schooner Lancaster
pounds.
sighted a dismasted derelict, the Glenalvon, on board
of which several skeletons of
but not a morsel of food.
ported, lay face
side
downward on
a loaded revolver
piece of paper on which
this to
some helper!
perish!"
had
discovered,
Bible,
it is
re-
the cabin table alonga
containing a
bottle
was written:
"Jesus, guide
Merciful God, don't
let
us
and the
into
derelict left for
whatever the
in store for her.
"In 1882 the
towed
and
open
All the bodies were reverently committed
to the deep,
future
men were
An
a
Nova
Scotia barque L. E.
Cann was
United States port by a steamship
which had found her
adrift.
Later on
in
dry dock,
10
DERELICTS
auger holes were located
fifteen
They had
the water line.
all
her
in
hull,
and subsequent inquiry revealed the
inside,
below
been bored from the
fact that
her former captain had conspired with a resident
of Vera Cruz to load the vessel with a bogus cargo,
insure
it
heavily, scuttle her
tion at sea,
when
in a suitable posi-
and divide the insurance money.
Un-
fortunately for these partners in crime, the barque
did not lend herself to their nefarious operations
nearly as well as was expected.
"In 1894 the Austrian barque Fila, carrying a
cargo of bones, which were said to have been gathered from the battle
New
the
fields
of Egypt, was found
by a Norwegian steamer and towed into
derelict
York.
fate
Not
a
word has ever been heard
as to
Presumably they
of this vessel's crew.
took to the boats for some reason, and disappeared
without leaving a trace.
sailing vessel
charts,
ually
the
first
The crew
of a
fifty
and
and some
returned
set
on
fire.
pictures, all of
to
their
which were event-
rightful
Hawes, who had been compelled
sel
same time the
salved a bank-book, a sextant,
a drifting derelict
destroyer
About
C. E. Morrison was fallen in with,
owner.
Captain
to leave his ves-
without standing on the order of his going.
In
1895 the derelict and burning barkantine Celestina,
H
MARINE WANDERERS
bound from Swansea
was boarded by
Maud.
A
the
to
a boat's
was found on the cabin
written message
table stating that she
of Magellan,
Strait
crew of the barque Annie
had been abandoned
in
open
The fire having been partially subdued, sail
was made on the prize, and volunteers navigated
boats.
her to Rio Janeiro.
"The Marie
sea.
This
brig left America for Gibraltar; and nothing
more
Celeste
was heard of her
is
a
until she
mystery of the
was sighted approaching
the Strait in a suspicious manner,
found to be
was no
in their
derelict.
Her
sign of an accident aloft,
appointed places.
on the cabin table were
when
she
and her boats were
Some remains of
still
was
was sound, there
hull
fresh,
and
ticking unconcernedly; yet her captain
a
a
meal
watch was
and
his
wife
and daughter, together with the crew, had disappeared forever.
"Nautical novelists have
made moving
pictures
of drifting derelicts, and hoaxers have also utilized
them.
In
1893 some witty person closely copied
parts of a soul-stirring yarn by Clark Russell, and
the
alleged
modern experience was telegraphed
round the world, appeared
in the
then decisively contradicted.
It
the
Norwegian
ship Elsa
press,
and was
was asserted that
Anderson arrived
at Gal-
DERELICTS
12
veston with an English-built brig
in
tow, which had
apparently been burned and sunk more than a half
A
century previously.
submarine seismic disturb-
ance was invented to account for the vessel's return
to the surface.
The
hull
was covered with strange
sea shells, and in the hold were chests containing
many
guineas bearing date 1800, several watches,
and
a
stomacher of pearls!
was
said to be that of a
This hoax was successful
height.
Galveston.
story
One of three skeletons
man over seven feet in
had
Then
until
the slighest foundation in fact.
later a similar
It
reached
the authorities denied that the
Six years
hoax was perpetrated, which ought
immediately to have been recognized as merely a
variant of
The Frozen
Pirate, by the above-men-
tioned eminent nautical novelist.
It
was gravely
asserted that the barque Silicon, on her
the United States to Greenland,
way from
had picked up an
old-fashioned derelict ship near the Greenland coast.
When
access to the hold
was gained,
the salvors, so
ran the hoax, discovered that she was laden with
furs in
that she
good condition; and her log book showed
had been abandoned by her crew in 1848.
Like the ship imagined by Clark Russell, she was
said to have been fast in the ice in the far North.
One
of the most ridiculous derelict-ship hoaxes of
13
MARINE Wy\NDERERS
the past century
had
quite a
boom
passed between the Cape of
tralia,
with her lower holds
A
1896.
in
burn-
had been
ing derelict, read an astonished world,
Good Hope and Ausfull
of coal and petrol-
eum, and the between-decks portion crammed with
the dead bodies of people
who had met
their fate
by suffocation while on their way from Russia to
The burning cargo had generated gas
Brazil.
which
suffocated
the
emigrants;
bodies
the
had
human shape, and subsequent exploThis tissue
sions had torn many limb from limb!
of falsehoods appeared in many of the world's daily
swollen out of
papers without comment.
"H. M.
Resolute, since broken up, was one of
S.
the most famous of
derelicts.
She was abandoned
77 deg. 40 min. N., loi deg. 20 min. W., drifted
southward in the center of a solid sheet of ice, and
in
was eventually picked up by an American whaleship off
been
Cape Mercy,
refitted
was presented
mony.
A
States,
in
in
65 deg. N.
After having
by the United States Government, she
to
England with impressive
desk of the
the
President
of
the
cere-
United
White House, Washington, D. C,
was made from the timbers of the Resolute, and
sent by
Her Majesty Queen
Victoria in
that courtesy and loving-kindness
memory
of America
of
to
14
DERELICTS
England.
The
It is a substantial
token of the good will
between the two kindred peoples."
existing
gifted editor of our National Geographic So-
ciety's
admirable magazine, Gilbert H. Grosvenor,
in the
September number, 191 8, page 235, says on
the subject of "Strange Stories of Derelicts,"
hard
is
shown by
strikingly
Francisco
Drisko
a
the experience
destroying the
in
tried to
first
found that impossible.
three 30-pound guncotton
them
set
were
still
off,
but
still
set off; these
she floated.
to
was only
The
tow her
Then
bombs
of the San
three-master
derelict
was lumber laden.
of the San Francisco
but
derelict
That
decade or so ago.
tons, but she
248
"How
sometimes to send a ship to the bottom
is
it
they
officers
to port,
attached
her keel and
Five more bombs
broke her back and frames, but
Then the San
rammed her amidships and broke her in
she refused to go to the bottom.
Francisco
two, releasing the cargo; but even after that
it
took
several shells to drive the afterpart of the staunch
old schooner
down
into the
jurisdiction of
Davy
Jones.
"Even
missing,
trace.'
peace times ships are often reported
in
and appear
It
is
to
believed
have been 'sunk without
that
most of such
catas-
trophes are the result of collisions with derelicts.
MARINE WANDERERS
How many
future
may
more such
15
collisions there will be in the
be imagined when
two years the number of
it
is
stated that for
derelicts has greatly in-
creased and the steps for their destruction have been
much reduced.
"In
"there
peace
continues
times,"
ous as the derelict, unless
berg, such as sunk the
in
Mr.
Grosvenor,
no other menace to navigation as danger-
is
it
be the submerged
Titanic.
ice-
Refusing to stay
one location, yielding to no law of navigation,
hiding most of her bulk beneath the waves, the
lonely, desolate, moss-covered,
with deck or keel
all
weed-grown
derelict,
but awash, comes out of the
night or through the fog as an assassin out of a
woe
lonely alley, and
who has
to the sailor
not de-
tected her approach.
"Drifting hither and yon,
wind of
a
stormy
sea,
now
forced on by the
now caught
in a
current and
driven along, these rudderless, purposeless, wanderers cover
many
a
weary
sea birds to break the
mile, with only screaming
monotony of
the roaring gale
or the soft surge of a placid sea. Sighted frequently
for weeks together,
now and
again they disappear,
often reappearing suddenly hundreds of miles away.
As many
as a thousand
have been reported
in
a
16
DERELICTS
single year in the
North
Atlantic.
The
majority
of them frequent the Gulf Stream.
"Examining the records of the Hydrographic
Office,
one finds that
in six
years twenty-five derelicts
were reported as having drifted
at least a
thousand
miles each; eleven have 2,000 miles apiece to their
credit, while three sailed
"The
is
5,000 rudderless miles.
of the wanderings of a derelict
classic story
Abandoned Oc-
that of the Fannie E. Wolston.
tober
15,
1
northward
June
Then
When
Gulf Stream.
in the
the broad Atlantic
On
Cape Hatteras, she traveled
off
Norfolk,
changed her course and headed across
she
Va.,
off
89 1,
toward the shores of Africa.
13, 1892, she
was sighted half way
she headed southward
for
across.
more than 300
miles; then shifted her course to the northeast for
another 200 miles, retraced her track for several
hundred
and went
miles, turned again
site direction, like a shuttle in
ship
upon the
sea.
Then
the
in the
oppo-
loom instead of
a
she took another tack and
headed west for nearly 400 miles; then shaped her
course north for 300 miles, and then headed east
again for 700 miles; so that
almost
same
in the
had been
in
May
was
she
latitude
in
the previous June.
a
January she was
and longitude that she
In the following
thousand miles away from where
MARINE WANDERERS
she
had been
in
17
January, on the border of Cancer
and midway between Florida and Africa.
Again
she headed toward America for 600 miles, and re-
Then
peated her shuttle-in-the-loom performance.
many
followed
long months of erratic zigzags and
she was sighted for the last time 250 miles
vannah, Ga.
off
Sa-
She had remained afloat and had out-
generaled the waves
two years and a
for
half,
during which time she had sailed more than 7,000
aimless miles.
"In normal times,"
Mr. Grosvenor,
continues
"the Hydrographic Office of the
Navy Department
keeps careful check on the derelicts.
Every
ship
that sights one of these menaces to navigation re-
ports
The names
location.
its
remain
visible,
The Hydrographic
by their appearance.
tification
Office gives each
and plots
its
of some of them
while others are susceptible of iden-
wreck and
number
Each report is
derelict a serial
map.
position on a
registered with an identification number.
way, by a system of cross checking,
it is
In this
possible to
identify each derelict, to determine the direction of
its drift,
and usually
Coast Guard cutters
On
January
the Coast
16,
to get
may
19 19,
it
so well located that the
run
I
it
down and
sink it."
addressed an inquiry to
and Geodetic Survey, Washington, on the
18
DERELICTS
subject of international protection of
commerce
the destruction of derelicts, ice observation,
which
I
in
to
received the following courteous reply from
Commodore
Bertholf, dated February 7, 19 19:
Your
"i.
etc.,
letter of
January
16,
addressed to the
Coast Geodetic Survey, seeking information on the
subject of an arrangement between our Federal
Gov-
ernment and the Government of Great Britain prior
to the
Great
War
for the protection of
commerce
in
the destruction of derelicts, has reached this office
by reference.
"2.
In reply
I
beg to state that Article VI of
the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea,
which was signed by the delegates of the
various countries on January 20, 19 14, provided for
an international service of derelict destruction, study
and observation of
"3.
Article
ice conditions,
VII of
this
United States to undertake
and an
ice patrol.
convention invited the
this international service,
and provided that the high contracting powers which
were interested
in
this
international
service
con-
tribute to the expense of maintaining this Interna-
tional service In certain proportions.
"4.
that the
While Article VI of the convention provided
new
international service should be estab-
lished with the least possible delay, the convention.
MARINE WANDERERS
come
as a whole, could not
1915, and
service
if
19
into force until July
i,
the organization of the international
were deferred
until after that date, the con-
sequence would be that the two
ice
seasons of the
years 19 14 and 19 15 would not be covered by the
proposed international
ice
the British Government,
patrol,
and,
acting on
therefore,
behalf of the
other maritime powers, requested the United States
to begin this international ice patrol
and observation
without delay and under the same conditions as pro-
vided
The
in the convention.
to be done,
President directed this
and the Coast Guard undertook the work
and performed the
ice
patrol during the seasons of
1914, 1915, and 1916.
It
was intended that
the
Coast Guard should also undertake the international service of derelict destruction at the conclu-
sion of the ice patrol each year, but
outbreak of the war
in
Europe
in
owing
to the
1914, the inter-
national service of derelict destruction
was never
begun.
"5.
As pointed
out above, the international
patrol and ice observation service
was begun
in
ice
19 14
and was continued during 191 5 and 19 16, but for
obvious reasons the patrol was discontinued
and has not
as yet been resumed.
in
19 17
20
DERELICTS
"6.
Of
course, as
you are aware, the various
Coast Guard cutters recover or destroy such derelicts
as
may
be found within a reasonable distance
of our coast.
"7.
I
am
sending you under separate cover a
copy of the International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea, also copies of Revenue-Cutter Service Bulletins
ice
Nos.
i,
3,
and
5,
covering reports of
patrol for the years 19 13, 19 14, and 19 15, re-
spectively.
The
report of the
ice
patrol for 19 16
has not yet been published.
"Respectfully,
"(Signed)
E. P. Bertholf,
"Commodore Commandant."
LOST LINERS.
About forty years ago the fine British barque
David G. JForth, commanded by Capt. Thomas
Williams, and owned by the writer, James Sprunt,
sailed
from Wilmington, N. C, with
a full cargo
of naval stores bound for the United Kingdom.
The
owner had spent $10,000 for extensive repairs
London on
in
in
and the ship was
the previous voyage,
every respect staunch and strong and classed
Ai
Lloyd's and 3/3 II French Veritas. The captain's
wife accompanied him, and the crew numbered
sixteen.
From
the day of her departure
from Wilming-
ton bound to Bristol up to the present time, not a
word, not
a sign of her,
Mr. Joseph Horner
"We
"And
only
know
ne'er
she sailed
"Lost absolutely,
light.
As
away
was seen or heard
sense of the term!
riously,
has ever come to
said in Lost Liners:
In
of more."
the fullest and
most awful
Swallowed up wholly, myste-
by the devouring sea
!
Such has been the
DERELICTS
22
fate of
many
gallant ships; no single survivor to
tell
the story; no boat or piece of wreckage, no bot-
tle,
not a sign or syllable from the vasty deep to
reveal the nature of the awful catastrophe by which
vessel, cargo, crew,
of existence
!
and passengers were blotted out
There
is
a weirdness, an awful terror,
disappearances.
in such mysterious
They
fill
the
imagination with horror, and cause mental tension
in the
minds of
relatives of the lost far
harder to
bear than when the fate of a wrecked vessel
by survivors.
The
sinking of the
is
told
Royal Charter, or
of the London, or of the Northfleet, though grue-
some and harrowing, does not produce
in the
mind
that sense of pain which comes with the recollection
of the fate of the President, or of the Pacific, or of
the City of Boston."
Mr. Horner in Chambers's Journal
"The number of vessels which have so mys-
Continuing,
says:
teriously disappeared at sea that not a trace of
them
or of their crew or passengers has ever been found
is
larger than most people imagine.
Atlantic service alone,
In the North
from the year 1841, when the
President disappeared with 136 souls, to 1890, when
the
Thanemore of
the Johnston Line, with 43 lives,
never came to port, there have been, inclusive of
these,
no fewer than 24 big steamers absolutely and
23
LOST LINERS
human knowledge,
completely blotted out of
to-
gether with their crews and passengers, numbering
in all 1,453.
At
moderate estimate, the value
a very
of these vessels with their cargoes could not have
been
The sum
than £5,000,000.
less
agony involved
terrible
is
human
of
And
contemplate.
to
every year vessels are posted up as missing.
"The
was
President, one of the earliest Atlantic liners,
the
first
steamer to be
She sailed from
again.
March, 1841, with 136
a nearly
first
new
vessel,
and never heard of
lost
New York
souls
having
nth
on the
on board.
left the
of
She was
Mersey on her
The comman of
voyage on the 17th of July, 1840.
mander was Lieutenant Roberts, R. N., a
iron will and resource.
her
first
1838
the
in
He
had taken the
voyage from Queenstown to
eighteen and a half days.
on
Sirius
New York
The
Sirius
in
was
steamer owned by an English company
first
which crossed the Atlantic, and but for the determination of Lieutenant Roberts the crew would not
have proceeded; they became mutinous, and said
was
utter
insisted
the
little
madness
to
go on
and had resort
in so
small a craft.
to firearms,
it
He
and so brought
vessel to her destination.
"After the
years elapsed
loss of the President in 1841, thirteen
in
which only one
life
was
lost
by the
24
DERELICTS
wreck of an Atlantic steamer.
incidence
never heard
curious co-
It is a
the President
after
that,
of, the next great loss
was
of
and
lost
which
life,
occurred in 1854, was also that of a vessel which
disappeared without leaving a trace.
This was the
City of Glasgow, which sailed with
480
The
board.
Pacific,
on
souls
of the Collins Line, left Liver-
pool on the 29th of June, 1856, and with her living
240 was never more heard
freight of
year 1859 an Anchor
liner,
The
ously disappeared with 150 souls.
ton of the
Inman
In the
of.
the Tempest, mysteri-
City of Bos-
Line, with 177 persons,
was never
heard of after leaving port on the 28th of January,
1870.
found
A
board stating that she was sinking was
Cornwall on February
in
Allan liner Hiironian
1902, for
St.
left
John's and disappeared.
gunboat Condor was
lost
Besides these, the names of
sels swell the
long
"The White
crew of
lost in
sixty
list
in
the
February,
in
The
Pacific
British
1901.
in
many lesser-known
ves-
of tragic disappearances.
Star cattle steamer Naronic, with a
hands and seventeen cattlemen, was
February or March, 1893, while on
from Liverpool
to
New
York.
that heavy weather
a
voyage
She was a month
overdue before very much anxiety was
was known
The
1870.
11,
Glasgow
felt,
had been
as
it
experi-
25
LOST LINERS
enced
and
In the Atlantic,
it
was thought that she
might have broken down and was making for the
Azores. A boat with the name Naronic on it was
subsequently found half
doned.
launched
built
full
of water and aban-
In this case the vessel was a
May
in
of the previous year.
with bulkheads and
all
new
one,
She was
modern improvements,
and had engines of 3,000 horse-
was 460
feet long,
power.
Yet she disappeared, perhaps 1,500 miles
from
New
York, that being the location of the
abandoned boat."
Probably the most mysterious disappearance of
recent times
is
that of the United States collier
transport Cyclops, which sailed from Barbados for
Baltimore
of since.
March 4, 19 18, and has
The official information
important vessel
is
not been heard
respecting this
fragmentary and disconnected.
In December, 19 17, she reached Bahia, Brazil, and
was ordered
to take
on a cargo of manganese at
Rio de Janeiro for the return voyage.
The Navy
Department exchanged several messages regarding
her cargo with the commander
cific fleet,
in chief of the
Pa-
and, on February 7, the latter sent the fol-
lowing message concerning damage to one of her
engines:
26
DERELICTS
found to be
"Starboard high pressure engine
damaged on board U.
Cyclops during passage
S. S.
Bahia, Brazil, to Rio de Janeiro.
Board of
investi-
gation reports accident due to loosening of nuts on
resulting In breaking of
follower ring studs,
lower ring.
Cylinder
is
fol-
broken into two parts by
plane of fracture passing from inboard upper edge
down and outboard
at angle of about
45 degrees.
Cylinder cover and piston ring broken and piston
rod bent
just
now
far as
upon engineer
who
below
That
officer
piston
rings
damaged.
So
watch Lieut. L.
J. Fingleton,
cylinder, piston rod
Board
and
pis-
and follower be manufactured.
cylinder cover be repaired by welding
return United States.
ing believed possible.
gine
is
did not stop engines nor report noise.
recommends that new
ton,
which
piston,
determined, responsibility seems to be
compounded and
upon
Repair of cylinder by weld-
Can not be made
here.
En-
vessel will proceed thus
when
loaded."
She reached Barbados safely and began her voyage from there to Baltimore.
Navy Department
sent the
the naval stations at
tanamo,
Jlbert:
Being overdue, the
following message to
Key West, Charleston, Guan-
Navy Radio San
Juan, and the U.
S.
S.
27
LOST LINERS
March
*'U. S. S. Cyclops sailed
Now
4 for Baltimore.
22, 1918.
from Barbados March
about ten days overdue.
Endeavor communicate Cyclops by radio and
certain location
The
as-
and condition,"
following day the
Navy Department
sent a
Patrol Force, Atlantic
commander of Squadron I,
fleet.
On March 24 the sta-
tion at Charleston, S.
C, reported
similar message to the
that at intervals
for twenty-three hours messages by radio had been
sent in an endeavor to locate the Cyclops, but with-
out
calls
success.
Commander Belknap
March 26
be continued, and on
directed
the
that
Navy De-
partment sent the following message to the Governor of the Virgin Islands:
"U.
S. S.
March
Have you
Cyclops sailed from Barbados
4 for Baltimore.
Has
not yet arrived.
any information regarding
this
vessel passing St.
Thomas?"
The reply was "No information regarding U.
S.
S.
Cyclops."
Every
station within radio
communication of her
route and every ship within call during the time of
her passage, including foreign ships, was asked for
any fragment of information.
tinued as long as
it
The
seemed possible
search was conto gain
news of
:
28
DERELICTS
was ever heard. The only
may have been lost is conthe Navy Department from
her, but nothing definite
how
suggestion of
she
tained in a message to
the First
Naval
June
District, received
"Mr. Freeman, now
in
191 8:
6,
Boston, telephone address
U.
S.
S.
Amalco
shows that on night of March 9 U.
S.
S.
Cyclops
held in this
was about
damaged
office,
five
states log of
Amalco.
the
Amalco, now
March 10 heavy
miles distant.
at
gale
Capt. C. E. Hilliard, of the
2876 Woodbrook Avenue,
Balti-
more, Md."
On
April 22 the
cific fleet
commander
sent to the
in chief
of the Pa-
Navy Department
the follow-
ing statement of her cargo
"U.
S.
by draft
,S.
Cyclops had by
in feet
tally
of bucket 10,604,
10,835 tons manganese, distributed
number one hold 1,614; number two hold 1,995;
number three 2,250; number four 1,875; number
five
in
2,870.
Cargo stowed
bottom of hold.
direct
Reports
on wood dunnage
differ
left
middle.
belief.
vessel
Incline
to
latter
as to
in
Reported also
had 4,000 tons of water, mostly
bottoms.
whether
somwhat higher
cargo was trimmed level or
in
double
So far as ascertained, no steps taken to
prevent increasing of metacentric height, and
must have been considerably increased."
this
29
LOST LINERS
What
caused the catastrophe will probably never
be known, but with one of her engines reported out
of order she was not in the best condition to weather
the storm reported by the Amalco, and
likely that a
and
to capsize
it is
not un-
sudden shifting of her cargo caused her
to be instantly engulfed.
Exactly one hundred days from the date of her
sailing the following order
"From:
"To:
was
issued:
Secretary of the Navy.
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
(via
Bureau of Navigation).
Re
"Subject:
on board the
official
Navy
declaration of death of
men
collier Cyclops.
The following named enlisted men in the U.
Navy and Marine Corps should be officially de-
"I.
S.
clared dead as of June 14, 191
curred
their
in the line
8,
deaths having oc-
of duty through no misconduct of
own:"
(Here followed
of the
Navy
a list of the
collier
crew and passengers
Cyclops at the time of disap-
pearance.)
"(Signed)
Franklin D. Roosevelt,
"Acting."
In his annual report for 191 8 the Secretary of
the
Navy
lost
and her name stricken from the registry."
states
"Cyclops was
finally
given up as
DERELICTS
30
Causes of the Destruction of Lost Ships.
Since the veil that conceals the catastrophes that
sent the missing vessels to their
lifted, a
wide
field
of surmise
is
doom
can never be
We
open.
can only
guess at the causes of these losses by considering
of vessels which
what has taken place
in the case
have received serious
injuries the nature of
is
known.
I
Mr. Horner
quote
in
lowing as the possible causes which
the total disappearance of liners:
which
giving the fol-
may
account for
"Capsizing; dam-
age from within, as explosion, breakdown of machinery, or fire;
damage from
without, as collision
with an iceberg or with a derelict hulk; and mysterious causes.
explosions, there are
"In reference to
sible causes.
One
is
due to the steam
two pos-
boilers, the
other to coal gas generated in the bunkers.
Acci-
dents from both causes have frequently occurred;
and though
it is
not easy to see
how
the force could
be sufficiently great to rend a vessel asunder without affording time for the use of boats or life-saving
appliances,
yet
the
possibility
must be admitted.
Boilers are always in the bottom of the vessel, and
it
is
quite conceivable that one or
plosions
would rupture the
sides
more
and
let
boiler ex-
the water
31
LOST LINERS
in in large
bor
volumes.
In the case of a tug in the har-
at Cardiff this actually
happened.
And
although
the loss of no big vessel has been traced to this cause,
it
must be admitted that the cause would be
suffi-
and the end would be sudden.
cient,
"Explosions of coal gas have occurred; and in
when
past years,
built of
wood,
it
was paid
less attention
tion than at the present time
and when
to ventila-
vessels
were
within the bounds of possibility
is
that an explosion might have torn a hole or started
planks, or might have given rise to a
extent.
If to
weather
at night,
would be
is
fire
of large
added the terror of rough
when most of
asleep, the chances of
would be
ing
this
those on board
any vestige remain-
slender.
"Breakdowns of machinery alone would hardly
account for the loss of vessels, but they might do so
indirectly
—
first,
by leaving a vessel exposed to the
mercy of rough weather; secondly, by damaging the
hull
and
letting the
water
in.
Fractures of pro-
peller shafts or of propeller blades are not infre-
quent occurrences.
It
for
is
Neither
is
damage
to a rudder.
quite conceivable that a vessel disabled thus
several
days
and encountering exceptionally
heavy weather, might be overwhelmed by the sheer
force of the waves.
In rough weather the chance
32
DERELICTS
of a disabled vessel being seen in mid- Atlantic
she drifts out of the regular routes
is
if
very slender.
Steamers for many years past have been entirely
dependent on their machinery, having no
Only
back on.
fall
in
sails
recent years have the
to
most
modern and
best liners been fitted with twin screws
and double
sets
available
the other
of engines, one of which remains
is
A
damaged.
disabled ves-
might, therefore, in the past have suffered badly
sel
if
if
she drifted out of the trade routes, and might
have gone down
"Damage
in
bad weather.
to machinery
may
also be sufficient to
explain the loss of a vessel by causing her to sink
at once.
The
had
smash
a big
25th of March,
fine
Inman
City of Paris, of the
weather, and
in
Line,
one of her engine rooms on the
1890.
when
She was coming home
she
the starboard engines broke
was near the
down
in
in
Irish coast
consequence of
the fracture of the starboard propeller shaft, and
the sea filled the engine room.
Then
the massive
fragments of the wrecked engine hammering against
the bulkhead
smashed that and allowed the water
to flow into the engine
room, completely
filling
that
also.
In about ten minutes both engine rooms were
filled
with water, adding 3,000 tons to the vessel's
weight.
Yet she
still
floated securely,
and the outer
33
LOST LINERS
skin
was not damaged
The
in the least.
compartments kept the City of Paris
water-tight
afloat for three
days until help came to tow her into Queenstown.
At Queenstown
the openings in the sea connections
of the vessel were closed with the assistance of
The water was pumped
divers.
out of the engine
rooms, and with her port engines and one screw
the vessel renewed her voyage and went on safely
and quietly
Liverpool without harm to anyone.
to
In the case of the P. and O. steamer Delhi, which
stranded on December 12, 191
on the Morocco
1,
off
Cape
coast, all the passengers
Duke of
cued, including the
Spartel,
were
res-
Fife and the Princess
Royal and her daughters.
"Capsizing
but
it
is
loss of
not so likely a cause as some others,
is
possible.
hundreds of
very different
The Captain capsized, with the
lives.
The type was, however,
from that of the
But the
liner.
draught of a vessel diminishes toward the close of
her voyage, as coal
unsteady, and
shifting cargo,
it
is
and
is
reduced.
is
little
vessels are
may
cause a
beam ends and
capsize.
insufficient ballast
vessel to roll over on her
There
Some
conceivable that heavy weather,
doubt that the JVartah capsized by
reason of top-heaviness.
One of her
life
buoys was
34
DERELICTS
being
reported
as
Waiuku,
New
(December,
found
191 1)
at
Zealand.
"But the most probable cause of unexplained
losses of ships at sea
is
or
fire,
it
is
one, at least,
which divides probabilities with explosions and
bergs.
Even on
ice-
the supposition of an explosion,
it
seems almost inexplicable that no trace of a sunken
A
vessel should ever afterwards be seen.
liner or other large vessel
all
is
seafaring men, and a keen outlook
track which the vessel was
Any
missing
a source of interest to
known
kept on the
is
to
have taken.
stray spar or belt or bit of wreckage, there-
fore, could scarcely escape observation.
If a ves-
sel sinks in
mid-ocean some portions
a vessel
burned everything would probably be
is
float.
But
if
consumed, as the vessel would burn to the water's
Boats might or might not be launched,
edge.
ac-
cording to the rapidity of the rush of the flames,
the state of the weather, etc.
say,
a
rescue or of
fore,
If boats are launched,
thousand miles from land, the chances of
making land are remote.
Fire, there-
seems adequate enough to account for the
loss
of some of the numerous vessels which have never
been heard from after leaving port.
"Considering other possible external causes of the
total disappearance of liners,
heavy weather must
35
LOST LINERS
be regarded as a probable reason
in
some
Instances.
Although we do not admit that the roughest weather
would harm
a
modern
liner,
we must remember
that
the older vessels were not as large and powerful
as those of the present time.
ample, which disappeared
in
The
Pacific,
Bulkheads
half the length of the latest vessels.
had not been brought
to the perfect condition of
security
which they have
quently
even now
and reach
happy
if
vessels
a
for ex-
1856, was not nearly
now
Not
attained.
infre-
steamers become water-logged
sinking condition and their crews are
rescued.
It
may
have foundered
in
well have happened that
mid-ocean
in
consequence
of not being able to receive assistance, while the
sailors could not take to their boats with
of living
in the
"Uncharted rocks also cause the
as in the case of the Pericles.
a
man
any hope
tempest.
loss of vessels,
But her captain was
of resource and no lives were
lost.
"Icebergs are a probable cause for the loss of
some
vessels, especially of liners
running to Cana-
The damage to the Arizona may be
and many other vessels have had hair-
dian ports.
instanced,
breadth escapes.
A
vessel insufficiently secured by
bulkheads would stand a poor chance
with an iceberg.
in
collision
DERELICTS
36
"Tidal waves are probably accountable for some
There are three
unexplained losses.
waves
—
waves occurring
ances, solitary
(the origin of which
sea
classes of such
those due to submarine seismical disturb-
Each
waves.
is
in
an otherwise calm
obscure), and cyclonic
very dangerous, the
is
chiefly in the vicinity of coasts, the
sea.
It
was
havoc
at
Lisbon
seismic
a
in
and
last
wave which wrought such
in Japan in 1896, when
1755 and
30,000 people were
But the
killed.
do not usually extend far out
of solitary waves.
first
second out at
Many
effects
to sea,
as
of these
do those
records of the latter have
been given where the decks of vessels have been
swept of
1
88
1
all
Rosario.
the
hands and of
all
deck erections.
all
hands were washed
off
In 1882 the master and half the crew of
Loch Torridon were swept
tidal
In
the decks of the
off
the deck by a
In 1887 the Unibria was flooded by
wave.
two great waves.
In
1894 the Norma?iia was
struck by a solid wall of water reaching as high as
the bridge, smashing the cabin on the
deck,
oflUcers' quarters.
from forty
when
The
height of tidal waves ranges
to eighty feet.
was struck by
1903,
promenade
and carrying away the music room and the
a
a tidal
The Cunarder Etruria
wave on
the loth of October,
Canadian gentleman was
killed
and
37
LOST LINERS
several
The
wounded.
Though
such waves
would not greatly endanger the huge modern
swamped
they might have
their
skylights.
Many
liners,
predecessors
breaking through the decks or rushing
ways and
and
captain's port bridge
stanchions were carried away.
vessels
down
by
hatch-
have been
lost
by being pooped by vast storm waves, which are not
as high as
many
tidal
waves.
"In reference to mysterious agencies, these can be
dismissed
in the
secrets of the
The
present state of knowledge.
sea have been investigated so well
that no destructive agent
likely to
is
exist that is
known to science. Collision with a whale would
not damage a liner, though it would be bad for
the whale. The sea serpent may be dismissed withThe eruption of submarine volcaout comment.
noes may be dangerous to small vessels, but the idea
of harm from them can not be entertained in connot
nection with the Atlantic service.
all,
we
So
disappearances to the same causes which are
to
after
that,
are driven back for the solution of these
must be included
known
Among
these
collision with derelict wrecks,
which
have wrecked so many
have been known
vessels.
to drift about in the Atlantic for
over a twelvemonth, and unhappily the malicious
placing of explosives
as
was done
at
among
Bremerhaven
the cargoes of liners,
in
1875."
38
DERELICTS
During the
War
between the
States,
on the 24th
of August, 1864, the writer was captured after bom-
bardment for
five
hours while serving as purser of
the Confederate steamer Lilian, engaged in running
the Federal blockade off Wilmington,
made
a prisoner of war.
Halifax,
Nova
citizen of that
Scotia,
and reported
town who was acting
He
ate States representative.
good business
man
qualifications,
He
to a
prominent
as the Confeder-
was one of the most
popular Southern sympathizers; a
ence,
N. C, and
Subsequently he escaped to
of
fine pres-
courteous
was trusted by
and
all,
and
he acted as banker for nearly every Southerner
who
amiable to a degree.
came
his
way.
Halifax was then the center of
large Confederate interests.
Several Confederate
war steamers were there, among them the Chickamauga and the Tallahassee. It was the rendezvous
of blockade runners who had escaped from confinement or who had been discharged after detention
was atby the Federals for several months. K
tentive to all of them. When the war ended K
suddenly disappeared with the cash entrusted to him
by confiding Confederates.
Several years after, there was a great explosion
upon the dock where
a
German
mail steamer was
loading for sea which produced a sensation through-
39
LOST LINERS
An
out the world.
wreck the
infernal machine intended to
had prematurely exploded on the
liner
killed and maimed a large number of peramong whom was the shipper, under an as-
quay and
sons,
sumed name.
This man, mortally wounded, was
eagerly questioned by the police as to his diabolical
plans and his accomplices; the only clue they obtained from his incoherent ravings
that he
had been connected
in
was an intimation
some way with the
Confederacy, and strangely enough he said something about Captain Maffitt and
The
authorities
my
ship the Lilian.
took photographs of him, which
were imperfect because of the reclining position of
the dying man.
Further investigation after
revealed one of the most fiendish plots
cial
history; large shipments of bogus
been made by the
in
his
goods had
and heavily insured by
this
designed a clock machine
in-
liner,
stranger,
who had
tended,
it
was
sailing
of the steamer, and sink her with
board.
tives
said, to
explode three days after the
For many months the
were working on
them came
the man,
to
death
commer-
all
on
secret service detec-
this case;
at length
one of
Wilmington and questioned me about
whose
nor any of the
picture
pilots
was
exhibited.
Neither
I
at Smithville could identify
him, although his face was strangely familiar to me.
DERELICTS
40
The
detective
went away, but returned
weeks and asked me
K
.
author of
case.
It
"Yes,"
this
I at
if I
had known
a
in
a
few
man named
once replied, "and he was the
awful crime."
Such proved to be the
was the old story of depraved
and the downward road
to ruin.
associates
TO THE RESCUE.
I
have said
in
Chronicles of the
Cape Fear River,
pages 525-527, that a public service which measures
its
efficiency
from the
by the number of human
perils of the sea
is
saved
lives
to be classed
among
the highest humanities of a great government,
arm of great reach and
that an important
is
the admirable service of the
U.
S. S.
and
efficiency
Seminole on
this station.
The
activities
of this ship in assisting vessels in
distress are so continuous as to be classed
efficient
commander
the four months
from December
191
i,
assisted nine vessels in distress at sea
a tenth, the
A
Savannah, a dangerous
typical case
a gale of
is
by her
work.
In
2, this
ship
as all in the day's
and destroyed
derelict.
described in the recent rescue in
wind three hundred miles
off
Cape Fear,
of the British mail and passenger steamer Korona,
bound from
St.
Thomas, West
Indies,
York, whose boilers broke down,
for
rendering
New
the
ship helpless without motive power, wallowing in a
heavy sea which threatened to engulf her.
:
DERELICTS
42
The
human
story of this splendid rescue of a hundred
lives is told in the matter-of-fact official re-
port of Capt. Eugene Blake,
and
in
jr.,
of the Seminole,
the letter of thanks to the Secretary of the
Navy, which follows, with the Acting Secretary's
reply
"Wilmington, N. C,
"Jpril
2,
19 ig.
"Seminole.
Commanding
"From:
Officer.
Commandant, Fifth Naval District.
Report of search and tow of Canadian
"Subject:
"To:
Korona.
S. S.
At
"i.
I
a.
m. on the morning of March 25,
the following message
was transmitted
to the Semi-
nole from the communication officer at district headquarters:
"
'March
mission.
24, 19 19:
Needs
Korona
boilers out of
com-
Position, latitude 31-
assistance.
48 N., longitude 72-12 W., noon, today.
Signed,
Doyle, Master.'
"2.
7
a.
The Seminole
left the
Berkley
oil
docks at
m. the same morning and proceeded
at top
speed for the reported position of the Korona, passing through the Gulf Stream
of the morning of
March
from
26,
2
a.
m.
to 8 a.
m.
TO THE RESCUE
"3.
At
8
a.
m.
in the
intercepted a radiogram
43
forenoon of March 26,
from the Porto Rican
Co.'s steamer Coanio that she
S. S.
had the Korona
in
tow, and was proceeding with her to the westward.
Communication by radio was immediately
lished with the
Coamo, and
speed ascertained.
Coamo was bound
she
was anxious
It
was
estab-
and
the position, course,
also learned that as the
southward for Porto Rico,
to the
to be relieved of the tow.
Arrange-
ments were therefore made to meet the Coanio at
the nearest possible meeting point and at 10 that
morning the course of both
vessels
was changed
meeting at about 7 that evening.
effect this
Seminole was run under forced draft
in
to
The
order to
take advantage of the weather, which was then fa-
vorable to picking up the disabled vessel.
"4.
Korona
At 6.45 p. m. March 26, the Coamo with
in tow was sighted bearing almost dead
ahead, and at 8.15 p. m. the
lieved of the
Coamo had been
into the starboard chain of the
Korona.
The Ko-
rona's master stated that his port of destination
New York
ward.
and requested
to be
Hampton Roads was
the port of destination
Diamond
re-
tow and the Seminole's hawser shackled
Shoals buoy.
towed
was
to the north-
accordingly selected as
and the course shaped for
DERELICTS
44
The
"5.
fine,
weather, which up to this time had been
commenced
show
to
signs of a decided change,
and the storm warning received the following morning,
March
27, confirmed the prediction of an ap-
The
proaching gale.
was
however,
wind,
from
southwest to south, and, being favorable, good progress
was made,
at
an estimated speed of
five
or
six
knots from the time the Korona was picked up until
midnight of March 27.
By
"6.
time the wind had shifted to west
this
and was blowing
was unable
We
up to her course with the tow.
were shipping heavy seas
and were
practically
About
ward.
and the Seminole
a strong gale,
to hold
2 a.
hove
at frequent intervals
to
and drifting
to
lee-
m. March 28, the wind shifted
and the
to northwest with slightly increased force,
Seminole was put before the gale with engines turning over at dead slow speed, sufficient to keep the
Korona
astern, to act as a drag.
favorable position
rolls to a
takes
for
the
dangerous angle
much water
This
is
an un-
Seminole because she
following sea and
in a
in the waist,
but
it
was
the best
that could be accomplished under the circumstances.
The tow semed
"7.
of
to be fairly comfortable.
During the night of March 27 and daylight
March
28, the Seminole with
tow
lost
miles in a general southeasterly direction.
about 60
TO THE RESCUE
On March
"8.
28, picked
from the steamer Alapaha
in fact this
in
45
up an
O.
S.
call
S.
our immediate vicinity;
steamer reported herself
in sight at
one
time during the day, but as she was going to lee-
ward
faster than the Seminole
and reported no im-
mediate danger to her crew, there seemed no reason
for abandoning one vessel for a doubtful chance of
picking up the other.
was
It
also learned that the
Coast Guard cutter Yamacraw was proceeding to
her assistance.
The weather moderated slightly during the
March 28, and at 5.40 p. m. the Semi-
*'9.
afternoon of
nole with tow
was brought up head
sea on course northwest,
ress.
m.
The
making
to
wind and
little if
any prog-
gale increased again in force
to midnight,
and
at 3 a.
from
8 p.
m. March 29 west was
the best heading that could be held.
"10.
During the worst of the gale
the Seminole's air
sels
fell off into
pump
this
night
stopped, and the two ves-
the trough of the sea
and
at
Seminole being the lighter and naturally
one
The
time were in imminent danger of collision.
in
the
weather position, drifted faster than the Korona,
but was worked clear by setting the staysails and
getting a few turns out of the engine at the critical
moment.
As soon
as the
Seminole was to leeward
46
DERELICTS
of the Korona, the engine was stopped and
course of an hour the air
pump was
In the
repaired.
I.
The northwest weather continuing throughMarch 29 with gale force, it was decided to
make Wilmington, N. C, and a westerly course was
"i
out
maintained throughout the day.
"12.
About
managed
2 p.
m. on March 30 the Korotia
to get a small
head of steam on one
boiler,
and, after coupling up propeller, which had been
disconnected on taking up the tow, was able to turn
her engine over at slow speed.
This materially
lightened the weight of the tow and
to
make way
"13.
at a
Continued at
this
weather, and at 1.40
p.
able
five knots.
rate of speed through
March 30 and 31 with very
ing, sighting
we were
speed between four and
slowly moderating
m. on the 31st got on sound-
Frying Pan Shoal buoy at 5.30
p.
m.
that date.
"14.
During the night of March 31 a mod-
erate northerly gale developed, but the tow, being
under the
lee of
ageable.
.Speed
Frying Pan Shoal, was easily man-
was regulated
Fear River entrance
to arrive off
at daylight,
ing that point the heavy hawser
and the Korona towed up the
was unshackled
river to
with a lighter line and short scope.
Cape
and upon reach-
Wilmington
TO THE RESCUE
Arrived
"15.
Wilmington
off
where Korona was turned over
ander Sprunt
to her
wharf
"16.
A
assistance
&
2.30
at
report of this
statistical
attached.
"April
Quebec
As
m.,
Sons Co., the Seminole proceeding
"Eugene Blake,
"Sir:
p.
to her agents, Alex-
at the custom-house.
Coast Guard
is
47
Co.,
owners
igig.
N. C, of
agents in Wilmington,
Steamship
2,
Jr."
of
the
the
British
steamer Korona, as agents of Lloyds, as agents of
the
London Salvage
Association,
and as
official
agents of the British Ministry of Shipping, and in
behalf of Capt. Austin Doyle, his officers and crew
and passengers of the
bering in
all
a
British steamer
Korona, num-
hundred persons, we desire to
ex-
press to you and to Captain Blake, his officers and
crew of the U.
tS.
S.
Seminole, through you, our
deep sense of gratefulness for the rescue from im-
minent peril
in a
heavy sea of the disabled steamer
Korona while on her voyage from
New
York; and for
their splendid
Thomas
to
seamanship
in
St.
averting collision and in towing her under great
difficulties to this
port of refuge.
DERELICTS
48
"Tossed upon
Korona was
the
a raging sea without
in great
motive power,
danger, and her rescue
after four days' continuous assistance adds another
high record of splendid achievement by the U.
S. S.
Seminole and her devoted men.
"Permit
names of
and
S.
to
thank you cordially
concerned for
this
in
the
added admirable
example of the highest degree of hu-
effective
manity and
U.
Sir,
us,
all
efficiency in
an Important arm of the
Navy.
"Yours very
"To
the
respectfully,
Alexander Sprunt & Son.
"(Signed)
Honorable Josephus Daniels,
"The
Secretary of the
Navy,
"Washington, D. C."
"Navy Department,
"Washington, April
"Dear
Sirs:
Receipt
is
7,
IQIQ.
acknowledged of your
letter of April 2, expressing gratitude for the rescue
of the disabled steamer
Korona by
the
U.
S.
S.
Seminole.
"Your
to the
letter of appreciation has
commanding
officer
been forwarded
of the U.
S. S.
Seminole
Commodore Commandant of the Coast
Guard Service and the Commandant of the Fifth
via
the
TO THE RESCUE
Naval
District,
Seminole
"It
is
is
49
under whose orders the U.
S.
S.
operating.
a great pleasure to
know
our salvage and rescue ships
is
that the
work of
appreciated,
and
I
thank you very sincerely for your expression of
thanks and recognition of the excellent seamanship
and devotion
to duty
and crew of the U.
shown by the
S. S.
"Very
truly yours,
Franklin D. Roosevelt,
"(Signed)
*'
"Messrs.
captain, officers,
Seminole.
Acting Secretary of the Navy.
Alexander Sprunt & Son,
"Wilmington, North Carolina."
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS.
For many years
ville Beacli
the
summer
on Wrights-
visitors
have looked out upon the hurrying swell
of the broad Atlantic and have
felt the fascination
of the long lines of crested breakers like Neptune's
racers charging and reforming for the never-ending
fray; and,
when
the unresting tide
receded, they
have seen the battered hulks of some of the most
beautiful ships that ever shaped a course for Wil-
mington
in the
days of the Southern Confederacy.
They represented an epoch
country's history, for, in the
conditions which
that
is
modern
then prevailed
unique
in
our
art of
war
the
can never occur
again.
Some of
these wrecks
may
be visible for a hun-
dred years to come, and, as nearly every one who
knew
these vessels
passed away,
I
and of
have thought
their
it
last
might
voyage has
interest
some
of our people, and perhaps future generations, to
know something of
these ships, which I
ber distinctly and with whose
less familiar.
So that
I
officers I
still
remem-
was more or
have noted from memory
52
DERELICTS
and from
records of the Four Years'
official
War,
the tragedies which involved the destruction of these
between Topsail Inlet and Lockwood's
fine vessels
These
Folly.
nearly
all
will
comprise
about
thirty
ships,
of the steamers that were stranded on
our coast during the war while running for the Cape
Fear Bar under
a
heavy bombardment by the Fed-
eral cruisers.
Many
millions were lost with the destruction of
these blockade runners, and possibly valuable metal
might be recovered now,
in the
present high prices
supplies.
The average
the blockade runners
was $150,000
for
all
war
were mostly
rode
built
cost of one of
in gold.
They
of thick iron, which does not cor-
like steel in salt water.
The
cargoes comprised perishable and imperish-
able goods, and they were often as valuable as the
vessels which carried them.
When
these ships
were
stranded so high upon the beach that neither Federals
nor Confederates could salve them, the guns
from both
sides
were used
to destroy them, so that
neither could profit by a rescue.
some of the
ships on
fire,
The bombshells
set
but none were totally de-
stroyed, because the breakers extinguished the fires
when
the superstructure
was burned away, so
very probable that some of them
goes of value.
still
it
is
contain car-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
For more than
fifty
years these melancholy tokens
of distress have settled
gether," said
53
"To-
in the shifting sands.
Mr. George Davis, Attorney-General
of the Confederacy, "they stand for warning and
for woe; and together they catch the long majestic
roll
of the Atlantic as
ward
the Gulf.
tempests, the
sweeps through a thousand
it
miles of grandeur and
power from
It Is the
kingdom of
the Arctic to-
playground of billows and
silence
and awe, disturbed
by no sound save the seagull's shriek and the breakers' roar."
It
might be interesting to add later an account of
the ships that were captured at sea, numbering over
a
hundred during the four years of the Cape Fear
blockade,
and to attempt,
friend. Professor
North Carolina,
versity of
remarkable
traffic
Wilmington)
at
the
my
request of
deRoulhac Hamilton, of the Unia short history of this
(through the beleaguered
city
of
which almost wholly sustained the
Confederate States commissariat during the
last
two
years of the war.
The "Fannie and
The Fannie and
Jennie.''
Jennie was a side-wheel Confed-
erate steamer of note, engaged In running the block-
ade for about a year during the Four Years'
War.
;
DERELICTS
54
She was of good speed, fourteen knots, and was com-
manded,
it is
said,
by Captain Coxetter, of Charles-
ton.
During the night of February
made
the land to the northward of Wrightsville
Beach, but her
position, so he
pilot,
9,
1864, she
was not sure of
Burriss,
his
anchored the ship and made a land-
ing in the surf to ascertain his bearings.
It
having
been the intention of the captain to make the land
about two miles north of Fort Fisher, he then pro-
ceeded down the beach
Unhappily,
darkness.
in the
however, she stood too close
and grounded
in shore,
repeatedly, and at about midnight stranded on a
shoal a mile or two to the southward of where
Lumina now
stands.
At
daylight she was discov-
ered by the Federal cruiser Florida,
Capt. Peirce Crosby,
war
a
few months
to save the
later.
when
Fannie and Jennie and realize big prize
his ship to the
intending to pull her
a
a prisoner of
Captain Crosby, desiring
money, ran a hawser from
vessel,
commanded by
who made me
Confederate
flying
off
stranded
deep water,
into
battery of
Whitworth
guns of long range, from Fort Fisher, opened
fire
from Masonboro Beach, and with great precision
cut off one of the Florida's paddle-wheel arms, broke
a second one,
also,
and cut a rim of the wheel
one of the Confederate
shells
in
two
exploded on
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
55
board the Florida and came near destroying her.
The Florida
returned the
which so alarmed the
fire,
and Jennie that some
captain and crew of the Fannie
of them attempted to reach the beach in boats.
this
In
attempt Captain Coxetter and his purser were
drowned
the breakers,
in
the
others gaining the
shore; the rest of the crew, twenty-five in number,
who remained on board were made
the Federals.
Captain Coxetter had
prisoners by
In his
a very valuable gold jewelled sword, which
keeping
was
to
be delivered to Gen. R. E. Lee as an expression of
the admiration of
thizers.
near a
It Is still
line
many prominent English sympaon board
this
Fannie and Jennie was loaded with
five
wreck, which
of breakers to the south of Lumina.
a valuable cargo,
days out from Nassau bound to Wilmington,
when
was stranded.
she
The "Emily
of London."
During the month of January, 1864, while
ship
lies
The
was
mington,
In St.
I
my
George, Bermuda, loading for Wil-
met frequently an
attractive
young Vir-
named Selden, of the Confederate Signal
Service, who had been detailed as signal ofiicer on
the fine new steamer Emily of London; and I beginian
came most favorably Impressed with
this
courteous
DERELICTS
56
Christian gentleman and with the superior qualities
All of her appointments
of his beautiful vessel.
were
first-class,
and her equipment was superior to
that of any other blockade runner of the
she
lies
now
in sight
of
my
fleet.
As
cottage on Wrightsville
often won-
Beach, visible at every turn of the
tide, I
der what became of Selden, for
never learned his
fate after the stranding
and
I
loss of his fine ship a
mile or so above the wreck of the Fannie and Jennie,
on the same
The
night,
February
only particulars
Emily are embodied
9,
1864.
of the
stranding of the
in the oflicial
report of her dis-
covery on the beach by Captain Crosby, of the Federal cruiser Florida,
Masonboro
Inlet
captain and crew
set
on
fire
who found her
ashore between
and Wrightsville Beach after her
had abandoned
her.
She was then
by bombshells from the cruiser Florida,
a loud explosion
on board of the wrecked vessel
indicating that her cargo
was probably partly com-
posed of explosives for the Confederacy.
Captain Crosby adds that she was a new and very
handsome steamer, expensively
fitted out.
sumed
and crew, numbering
about
that the Emily's captain
fifty
men, succeeded
of the Confederates.
in
It is pre-
reaching the protection
57
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
The
An
ex-Confederate
"Ella."
Wilmington
officer describing
among many
during the blockade,
interesting things,
said the following:
"Owing
to the configuration of the coast
almost impossible to
Cape Fear had two mouths, Old
The
Inlet,
nine miles up the river,
Inlet,
New
where Fort Fisher
the station
where there were usually from
around
blockaders,
a vessel
miles,
From
to
would have
owing
to the
the
at
Inlet,
entrance of which Fort Caswell stands, and
guarded the entrance.
was
it
a close blockade.
effect
the station
off
Old
off
five
New
to
six
Inlet,
make an arc of some fifty
Frying Pan Shoals intervening,
to
while from Caswell across to Fisher was only nine
miles.
was
plan of the blockade runners coming in
The
to strike the coast thirty or forty miles
or below the
inlets,
at night) until they got
forts.
under the protection of the
Sometimes they got
ning through the blockading
ardous; for,
if
in or'
out by boldly run-
fleet,
but that was haz-
discovered, the ocean
rockets and lights,
above
and then run along (of course
and
it
was
alive with
was no pleasant thing
to
have shells and balls whistling over you and around
you.
The
chances were then
tha,t if
you were not
58
DERELICTS
caught you had,
good many
in spite
of your speed, to throw a
bales of cotton overboard.
"The wreck of
these blockade runners not infre-
quently occurred by being stranded or beached, and
highly diverting skirmishes would occur between the
blockaders and the garrisons of the forts for the
The
possession.
however,
fleet,
never
liked
the
Whitworth guns we had, which shot almost with
the accuracy of a
The
stranded
rifle
and with a tremendous range.
generally
soldiers
vessel
managed
with great peril and hardship.
little
to the
wreck
to
though
successfully,
It
the
often-times
mattered very
owners then who got her, as they did
—
much of what was recovered the soldiers
what they got at the
not see
thinking they were entitled to
risk of their lives.
But a wreck was
The whole
alizing affair.
a
most demor-
garrison generally got
drunk and stayed drunk for a week or so
Brandy and
wards.
and
it
was
a
fine
after-
wines flowed like water;
month perhaps before matters could
be got straight.
Many
accumulated snug
little
sums
from the misfortunes of the blockade runners, who
generally denounced such pillage as piracy; but
it
could not be helped.
"We
Head,
recollect the
in
wrecking of the Ella,
December, 1864.
off
Bald
She belonged to the
59
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
splendid
Bee Company, of Charleston, and was a
a large
with
In,
trip
new steamer, on her second
private
by
owned
entirely
and valuable cargo almost
by
ashore
chased
was
She
and speculators.
parties
and Immediately abandoned by
and crew, whom nothing would Induce
the blockading
her
to
officers
go back
In
fleet,
Yankee
order to save her cargo.
around her, had
shells flying over, and through, and
Captain BadNeptune.
of
sons
for these
no charms
ham, however, and
C.)
his
with
Battery,
company, the Edenton (N.
Captain
Quaker from Salem, N.
Bahnson,
a
fighting
C, boarded and wrecked
passing
fire of the Federals, six sheUs
her
removing
were
they
while
Ella
through the
for a month afthat
was
consequence
The
cargo.
her under the
on 'a tight,'
terwards nearly the whole garrison was
plentiful In that
were
goods
dry
and
groceries
and
vicinity.
The
general demoralization produced by
to have
'London Dock' and 'Hollands' seemed even
said some
who
chaplain,
the
man,
holy
that
affected
mess table."
very queer graces at the headquarters
The "Modern
One of
ers near
Greece."
steamthe earliest strandlngs of friendly
was
bar,
main
Fear
Cape
or
Inlet,
New
that of the
Modern
Greece, which was also the most
DERELICTS
60
On
important and interesting.
27th of June,
the
morning of the
Modern
1862, at 4.15 o'clock the
Greece had safely evaded many Federal cruisers
and was within three miles of Fort Fisher, headed
New
for
Inlet,
when
she
was seen by one of the
Federal blockaders, the Cambridge, which immediately gave chase
with bombshells.
and pelted the Modern Greece
The Cambridge was joined by
opened
fire
and
Stripes,
which also
on the Modern Greece, the
latter being
the Federal cruiser Stars
then run ashore to avoid capture, her crew escaping
in their boats to the shore.
In the meantime Fort
Fisher was firing at the enemy and also at the
Mod-
ern Greece where she was stranded, in order to pre-
vent the Federals from hauling her
of the
Modern Greece was
bombardment,
sisted of a
off.
in great peril
The crew
during this
as part of her valuable cargo con-
thousand tons of powder for the Con-
federacy and
many
guns.
The
garrison at Fort
Fisher subsequently landed a large amount of clothing and barrels of spirits, and the spirits flowed like
water for several weeks to the scandal of the fort
and
in
its
defenders.
Wilmington.
Its
potent influence was also
The Modern Greece was
felt
a large
British propeller of about 1,000 tons net register.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
61
one of the largest blockade runners of the war.
She now
lies
deep
in the
The
One
sand near Fort Fisher.
"Elizabeth."
of the regular passenger and freight boats
which ran between
New
Orleans and Galveston be-
war was named
fore the
Atlantic.
She became a
famous blockade runner under her original name,
which was changed later
to Elizabeth.
was commanded for several voyages
I think she
by the celebrated Capt. Thomas
J.
Lockwood of
Southport and Charleston, whose capable brother-
George C. McDougal, was her chief engiMr. McDougal was a man of fine qualities,
and retiring in his demeanor. He made in
in-law,
neer.
quiet
various steamers sixty successful runs through the
For more than
blockade.
the
war
fidences,
was
to
I
and
On
steel
I
have no hesitation
my mind
been engaged
sailed
twenty-five years after
enjoyed the privilege of his intimate con-
in
in
the most remarkable
saying that he
man who had
~~
blockade running.
the 19th of September, 1863, the Elizabeth
from Nassau with
and
saltpeter,
a general cargo,
bound
for
mostly
Wilmington,
but
through some unknown cause ran ashore at Lock-
wood's Folly, twelve miles from Fort Caswell. The
62
DERELICTS
captain set her on
fire
and burned her on the 24th,
A
the crew escaping to the shore.
his
name
officer
as Norris or
on the
he told the
that he
was
Z)o//ro,
man who gave
Morris was captured, second
stranded October 12, 1863, and
commander of
the cruiser
a Federal spy
and that he was on the
Nansemond
Elizabeth when she was stranded, and he exhibited
eight ounces of
laudanum and two ounces of chloro-
form which he said he bought
the whisky
in
Nassau
to put in
and water of the firemen of the Eliza-
beth and of the
Douro
so as to cause the capture of
these vessels, but he did not explain
why
the Eliza-
beth went ashore while he was in her.
The "Georgiana McCaw."
About
the year 1878 there flourished in
ton the Historical and Literary Society,
about
fifty
eminent citizens of education and
In those days our representative
ment.
Wilming-
composed of
refine-
men found
pleasure and relaxation from the drudgery of business or the strain of professional life in the congenial
company which assembled
for mutual benefit
once a month in the lecture room of the Presbyterian
Church on Orange
Street.
Such men as Doc-
tor Wilson, father of the President, Doctor deRossett,
Alfred Martin and
his
son
E.
S.
Martin,
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
63
who sometimes represented opposing views, Doctor
Wood, Edward Cantwell, Doctor Morrelle, Alexander Sprunt, Henry Nutt, and many others, enlearned discussions of subjects suggested
gaged
in
by the
title
On
of
this organization.
certain
a
named,
to
whose
occasion
patriotic
one
of
the
New
wholly indebted for the closure of
Inlet
and
Cape Fear commerce, rose
the consequent benefit to
in his usual dignified
gentlemen
ardor we were almost
and impressive manner with
an air of extraordinary importance and mystery.
"Mr. Chairman,
Said he,
I
hold
in
my
hands a
relic
of prehistoric times, cast up by the heaving billows
Federal Point, formerly known as Confederate
off
Point.
It
a piece of
Is
corroded brass upon which
inscribed a legend as yet indecipherable; in all
Is
probability
it
long antedates the coming of Co-
lumbus."
A
curious
learned
ration,
group
member with
Immediately
surrounded
expressions of
and after several speeches had been made,
by resolution unanimously adopted, Mr. E.
tin
the
awe and admi-
S.
Mar-
and two other members were entrusted with the
precious relic for
Its
elucidation by conferring with
the antedeluvlan societies of the North.
64
DERELICTS
At
the following monthly meeting
Mr. Martin
reported for his committee that their efforts to identify the relic
through reference to archaeological
cieties in the
North had been
futile,
so-
but that a pro-
fane Scotchman had informed them that the piece
bow
of metal was no more than a part of the
or
stern escutcheon of the stranded blockade runner
Georgiana
McCaw,
the
palm
tree in the center sur-
rounded by the motto "Let Glasgow Flourish," being the coat of arms of Glasgow,* Scotland, the
home
port of the said blockade runner.
was only another case of
we never took
the antedeluvians of the
our confidence about
The
S.
official
Bill Stubbs, his
off
into
U.
cruiser Victoria,
Western Bar, Wilmington, N. C, June
1864, addressed to the senior
is
I
officer
2,
of the block-
as follows, with reference to the
stranding of the Georgiana
"Sir:
North
report of Acting Master Everson,
ading squadron,
it
it.
Navy, commanding the Federal
dated
Alas!
mark, but
have the honor
McCaw:
to report that at 3 a. m.,
of this date, and while drifting in three and a half
fathoms water, Bald
Head
Light bearing
east,
saw
white water near the beach to the south and west-
* "Let
Glasgow
flourish
by the preaching of the Word.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
ward, which
beach
in
"On
I
supposed to be a steamer.
steamed ahead
diately
65
at
order to cut her
near approach
I
I
Imme-
speed toward the
full
off.
discovered her to be a side-
wheel steamer, steering for the bar.
"As he crossed my bow
and discharged
loaded with one 5-second
and kept
firing
my
I
my
him
at
to In his
and stand of grape,
rifle
as I continued the
m. she struck on the bar.
mediately ordered the
first
wake
starboard 8-Inch gun,
shell
30-pound
chase, until 3.30 a.
rounded
and second
I
cutters
imto
command of
Acting Master's Mate William Moody, the latter
board and
the former under
fire her,
under charge of Acting Third Assistant Engineer
Thomas W. HIneline.
"On arrival on board
they found that two boats,
with their crews, had escaped to the shore.
"They, however, succeeded
in
capturing twenty-
nine of the crew, including the captain and
most of
the officers, together with three passengers.
"They
fired
her
In several places,
tinued to burn until 10
from the shore.
At
a.
shell,
when
she
and she con-
was boarded
daylight Fort Caswell and the
adjacent batteries opened
and
m.,
fire
on our boats with shot
which compelled them to return without
accomplishing her destruction.
DERELICTS
66
"She proved to be the Georgiana
McCaw
of Liv-
700 tons burden, from Nassau, bound
erpool,
to
Wilmington, N. C.
"Her cargo
consists of about
60 tons provisions,
etc.
"I would add,
awarded
sir,
that too
to Acting Master's
and Acting Third Assistant
Hineline
played,
under
for
and
fire
their
much credit can not be
Mate William Moody
Engineer Thomas W.
perseverance ^and
their cool
energy
dis-
and gallant conduct while
of the enemy."
The "Wild Dayrell."
One
of the most prominent personalities of the
blockade era was
Thomas E. Taylor, a young Engwho was sent by a wealthy
lishman, aged twenty-one,
Liverpool firm to direct
in
person the movements
of steamers which they had bought or builded for
this
dangerous
traffic.
He
began with the old
steamer Dispatch, which was found to be too slow
and after one or more voyages was sent back to England.
His employers then began building
lighter,
faster boats specially adapted to the purpose, until
owned and operated a fleet of fifteen steamers.
One of them, the Banshee, was the first steel vessel
that crossed the Atlantic, and Mr. Taylor came in
they
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
her to Wilmington.
67
His agreeable manners and
courteous deportment attracted the favorable recog-
Whiting and of Colonel Lamb,
nition of General
whose personal and
official
regard was of great
Mr. Taylor. He wrote an interesting book
the war from which 1 take the following inci-
value to
after
dents in his eventful career.
"As soon
made
ing very
were
as the nights
a start for
sufficiently
dark we
Wilmington, unfortunately meet-
bad weather and strong head winds, which
delayed us; the result was that instead of making
out the blockading
intended,
no signs of
and
I
fleet
about midnight, as we had
when dawn was breaking
there were
then held a hurried consultation as to what
we had
better do.
and
again,
Capper was for going
still
threatening, our coal supply run-
ning short, and, with a leaky ship beneath
engineer and
make
'we'll
go
"We
smoke
I
us, the
decided that the lesser risk would be
a dash for
it.
'AH
right,'
steamed cautiously on,
as possible, whilst I
went
said Capper,
d well peppered!'
on, but you'll get d
take a look around; no land was
make
to sea
necessary returning to Nassau; the
if
weather was
to
still
Captain Capper, the chief engineer,
it.
making
to the
as
little
masthead
in sight,
but
I
to
could
out in the dull morning light the heavy spars
68
DERELICTS
of the blockading flagship right ahead of
soon after several other masts became
each side of her.
how
and
on
Picking out what appeared to
me
to be the widest space
the deck
us,
visible
to steer,
between these,
and we went
signaled to
I
steadily on, de-
termined when we found we were perceived to make
a rush for
it.
No
us through, as for
evidently thinking
doubt our very audacity helped
some time they took no
notice,
own
chasers
we were one of
their
returning from sea to take up her station for the
day.
"At
just
last,
to
my
great
relief,
I
saw Fort Fisher
appearing above the horizon, although we knew
that the perilous passage between these blockaders
must be made before we could come under the
friendly protection of
came aware
saw two
that our
its
guns.
cruisers steaming
we
be-
us out;
we
Suddenly,
enemy had found
toward one another from
either side of us, so as to intercept us at a given
we could get on the land side of them.
now became simply a question of speed and immunity from being sunk by shot. Our little vessel
point before
It
quivered under the tremendous pressure with which
she
was being driven through the water.
"An
exciting time followed, as
we and our two
enemies rapidly converged upon one point, others
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
in the distance also
hurrying up to
were now near enough
away our
had
just
opened
We
them.
to be within range,
cruiser on our port side
carried
assist
69
and the
fire; his first
shot
on which our ensign
flagstaff aft
been hoisted; his second tore through our
forehold, bulging out a plate on the opposite side.
Bedding and blankets
requisitioned,
heavy
fire
from both quarters.
smoke from the
the
fort
were
to stop the leak
and we steamed on
showed
at once
speed under a
full
Suddenly, puffs of
us that Colonel
Lamb,
commandant, was aware of what was going on
and was
firing to protect us; a
we were drawing
welcome proof that
within range of his guns and on
the landward side of our pursuers, who, after giv-
ing us a few
more parting
hauled
shots,
steamed away from within reach of the
we were
"We
off
shells
rejoiced to see falling thickly around them.
had passed through
a
most
thrilling experi-
ence; at one time the cruiser on our port side
only a hundred yards
sort a
hundred and
seemed
away from
fifty
was
us with her con-
on the starboard, and
a miracle that their
pletely sunk us.
to stand
and
which
double
It certainly
fire
required
it
had not com-
all
one's nerve
upon the paddle box, looking without
flinch-
ing almost into the muzzles of the guns which were
firing at us;
and proud we were of our crew, not a
70
DERELICTS
man of whom showed the white feather. Our pilot,
who showed no lack of courage at the time, became,
however, terribly excited as we neared the bar, and
whether
to being
it
was
he ran her ashore whilst going at
On
was
the following voyage
a critical time
The
threatening.
at the
at the
off,
I
round
owing
that the ship steered badly,
submerged forward, or from some mistake,
mast-head
when
full
speed."
Mr. Taylor
"It
says:
daylight broke, dull and
captain
was
at the
wheel and
I
other hands being employed
(all
pumps, and even baling), when, not four miles
She turned
sighted a cruiser broadside on.
as
if
preparing to give chase, and
we were done
for, as
we could
I
thought
not have got
more
than three or four knots an hour out of our crippled
boat.
was
To my
great joy, however,
needless, for she evidently
I
found our alarm
had not seen
us,
and
instead of heading turned her stern toward us and
disappeared into a thick bank of clouds.
"Still
we were
the weather
far from being out of danger, as
became worse and worse and the wind
increased in force until
Things began
it
was blowing almost
a gale.
to look as ugly as they could,
even Captain Capper
lost
hope;
and
never forget
came up to me and
Mr. Taylor, the beg-
the expression on his face as he
said, in his gruff voice, 'I say,
I shall
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
going,
gar's
beggar's
the
I
ble for
lives, too,'
to
was the answer.
lose
It
is
the
ship
not possi-
any one unacquainted with Capper to appreSturdy, thickset, nearly as broad
ciate this scene.
as he
pointing vehe-
the devil do you mean?'
'Why, we are going
asked.
and our
going,'
'What
mently downwards.
Tl
was
heart
kindest
and with the
long,
without fear.
—
a
rough
With
gruffest
manner but
diamond and absolutely
the exception of Steele he
the best blockade-running captain
was
we had.
"In order to save the steamer and our lives we
decided that desperate remedies must be resorted
to, so
again the unlucky deck cargo had to be sacri-
The good
ficed.
effect
of this was soon visible;
we
began to
gain on the water, and were able, by de-
grees,
relight
to
our extinguished
struggle continued to be a
when we began
fires.
to obtain a
it
out our
just
mastery over the water
the donkey engine broke down, and before
repair
But the
most severe one, for
we
could
the water Increased sensibly, nearly putting
fires
again.
So the struggle went on for
when we were truly thankful
Nassau Harbor and beach the ship.
sixty hours,
to steam
into
It
was
a
very narrow escape, for within twenty minutes after
stopping her engines the vessel had sunk to the level
of the water.
72
DERELICTS
"After
just
this I
made
a trip in a
new boat
that
had
And
been sent out to me, the Wild Dayrell.
a
beauty she was, very strong, a perfect sea boat, and
remarkably well engined.
"Our voyage
in
was somewhat
exciting, as
about
three o'clock In the afternoon, while making for
Fort Caswell entrance (not Fort Fisher), we were
sighted by a Federal cruiser that immediately gave
We
chase.
soon found, however, that we had the
heels of our friend, but
left us the alternative
it
of
going out to sea or being chased straight Into the
jaws of the blockaders
came
on.
Under
off
the bar before darkness
these circumstances
what course
take was a delicate point to decide, but
the problem by slowing
a
just sufficiently to
keep
few miles ahead of our chaser, hoping that dark-
ness
would come on before we made the
they discovered us.
in
down
to
we solved
we made them
certain that our
up on
us.
Just as twilight
out; cautiously
we
or
crept on, feeling
enemy astern was rapidly
Every moment we expected
whistling around us.
fleet
was drawing
closing
to hear shot
So plainly could we see the
seemed almost impossible
sleepy blockaders that
It
we should
Whether they did
make an attempt so early In
escape their notice.
not expect a runner to
the evening, or whether
it
was sheer good luck on
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
our part,
know
I
not, but
T3
we ran through
the lot
without being seen or without having a shot fired
at us.
"Our
however, were not yet over, as
anxieties,
our pilot (a new hand) lost his reckoning and put
us ashore on the bar.
was
stern
rising
first
in
a
Fortunately, the flood tide
and we
fast,
refloated,
bumping over
most inglorious fashion, and
an-
—
Fort Caswell before 7 p. m.
a record
performance. Soon after anchoring we saw a great
chored
off
commotion among
who were
the blockaders,
throw-
ing up rockets and flashing lights, evidently in an-
swer to signals from the cruiser which had so nearly
chased us into their midst.
"When we came
luck, as the night
very squally.
No
we put our helm
we met with
out
was
pitch dark
equally
good
and the weather
sooner did we clear the bar than
aport, ran
down
the coast,
and then
stood boldly straight out to sea without interference; and
it
was perhaps
fortune, as before this I
pilot
was of very
as well
we had
such good
had discovered
indifferent caliber,
that our
and that cour-
age was not our captain's most prominent characteristic.
The poor Wild Dayrell deserved
commander, and consequently
fell her.
a better
a better fate than be-
She was lost on her second
trip, entirely
—
74
DERELICTS
through the want of pluck on the part of her captain,
who ran her ashore some
Fort Fisher; as he said
to
my mind
in
a fatal excuse for
captain to make.
on that
if
Steele or
trip she
any blockade-running
'Twere far better
shot and escape in the boats
certain that
miles to the north of
order to avoid capture
if
to be sunk
possible.
I
am
by
quite
Capper had commanded her
would never have been put ashore,
and the chances are that she would have come
through
all right.
"I never forgave myself for not unshipping the
captain on
my
return to Nassau;
was no good man
that there
my
only excuse was
available to replace
my
him, and he was a particular protege of
chief.
But such considerations should not have weighed,
and
is
if
had had the courage of my convictions
I
probable the fVild Dayrell would have proved
it
as
successful as any of our steamers."
The
rest
of the story of the loss of the
fine
steamer Wild Dayrell, which was accidentally run
ashore at Stump Inlet February
of the U.
S. cruiser
as follows:
i,
1864,
is
told in
Commander
F. A.
Roe
Sassacus to Admiral
S. P.
Lee,
the official report of Lieut.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
U.
Off Stump
"Sir:
I
parallel
"Sassacus."
S. S.
Inlet, N. C, February
s,
1864.
have to report that about 11 o'clock
morning of the
m., on the
75
ist Instant, in
of Topsail Inlet, N.
C,
I
a.
about the
discovered a
steamer close inshore, showing heavy columns of
smoke.
headed for her
I
at once, and,
upon ap-
proaching, found her ashore at the mouth of Stump
Inlet.
Her crew were
busy throwing overboard her
cargo, a portion of which
beach.
When
and people
was scattered along the
within reach of
fled in their boats,
my
guns, her crew
when
I
fired a
few
guns to disperse any enemies that might be hovering near.
I
boarded and took possession of the
steamer, which proved to be the blockade runner
IVild Dayrell.
All the papers which
I
could find
I
herewith transmit. She was inward bound, two days
from Nassau.
I
found her furnaces
filled
with fuel
and burning, with the intention of destroying her
boilers.
I
hauled her
fires
and found her machin-
ery and the vessel in perfect order, with a portion
of her cargo, consisting of assorted merchandise,
still
on board.
I
Immediately got our hawsers and
attempted to pull her
falling of the tide.
o'clock
a.
I
off,
but failed, owing to the
made another attempt
at
i
m. on the morning of the 2d, but parted
76
DERELICTS
The weather
the hawser.
until daylight,
when
I
looking bad,
position to endeavor to get her
"In the meantime,
vessel by throwing
I
put to sea
off.
commenced
I
to lighten the
overboard about 20 tons of
At high water, about 2
menced tugging at her
p.
m. of the 2d,
again,
me
time, the current sweeping
During
com-
when, after some
close to the shoal to
the hawser and steamed up to a
Commander
coal.
I
leeward, the Sassacus struck twice lightly.
anchored.
new
returned and assumed a
this trial, the
cut
I
new position and
U. S. S. Florida,
Crosby, came in and anchored, with
offers of assistance to us.
During
this trial the
wind
blew fresh from the southward and westward
heavy
flaws,
which was the principal cause of
failure to get her off.
I
then steamed up to a
On
position to try her again.
on board our hawsers
I
to the prize, with the assist-
was forced
to
fouling the Florida, which
in so
new
the 3d, while getting
ance of the boats of the Florida,
parted and
in
my
in
cable suddenly
was anchored
doing parted the hauling
which were being hauled
my
steam out to keep from
near,
lines of the
and
hawsers,
by the Florida's men on
board the prize.
"During
and opened
this last
fire
operation the enemy appeared
with musketry upon the Sassacus
'<"<'
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
vessels
and the boats coming from the prize. Both
off.
promptly opened fire and the enemy were driven
would here observe that the cable of this vesunduly, without having been strained by
parted
sel
heavy wind, thus losing the anchor and
or
any swell
•'I
about
five
We
fathoms of cable.
were anchored
in
was
two and three-quarter fathoms water; the cable
undoubtedly bad.
"Upon
consultation with
decided that
it
Commander Crosby we
was impossible to get the steamer
and that we must
destroy her.
Accordingly,
the signal to the
men on board
of her to set
I
off,
gave
fire
to
her thoroughly and return aboard, which was done.
Both vessels then opened fire upon the steamer, and
she
was riddled
at
about the water
line
with raking
from the Sassacus. No attempt was made to
save her cargo, as I deemed it impracticable to do
Not one-half of her cargo had been thrown
so.
shots
overboard and the
rest,
which
I
deemed very
valu-
able merchandise, was consumed with the vessel.
Valuable time would have been lost
and
to pillage
in the
her would have demoralized
effort,
my men
for healthy action in some future similar service.
Having
effected this duty,
I
put to sea at about
eight o'clock of the evening of the 3d.
78
DERELICTS
"I transmit herewith an appraisement of value of
the steamer
upon that
and cargo, made by
board ordered
a
service.
"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Very
respectfully,
"Your obedient
servant,
"F. A. Roe,
"Lieutenant Commander.
"Acting Rear Admiral
"Comdg. North
P. Lee,
S.
Atlantic Blockading Squadron,
Hampton Roads."
The "General Beauregard."
Of
little
the steamer General
valuable ship.
1
6,
Beauregard
information, although
I
have but
I
remember her
The Richmond Whig
of
as a
December
1863, states that according to the Wilmington
Journal
this
steamer was chased ashore by the Fed-
eral blockaders
on the night of the
nth
instant
some distance above Fort Fisher, near Battery Gatlin,
and that she had been
set
on
fire.
Captain Ridgely of the Federal cruiser Shenan-
doah (which chased
my
ship
the Lilian
hours later) reported to Admiral
S. P.
for five
Lee, Decem-
ber 16, 1863, that on the evening of the
nth
December, 1863, between seven and eight
o'clock,
of
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
the cruiser
Howquah saw
the General
79
Beauregard
coming down the beach heading for Cape Fear or
New
Inlet.
He
The Beauregard
gave chase and opened
fire
on him.
being impeded by a heavy sea and
finding escape impossible, ran ashore at the point
already described.
The
next morning the cruiser,
accompanied by
the Tuscarora, tried to board the Beauregard., but
they were attacked by two Confederate batteries,
one to the north and another to the south of the
stranded vessel, and driven
the Tuscarora being
off,
struck by a Confederate shell in her quarter.
Beauregard
is
still
The
conspicuous on Carolina Beach
at all stages of the tide,
showing her battered hull
high above the level of the sea.
The "Douro."
In the spring of 1863 this fine steamer was cap-
tured at sea by the Federal cruisers, sent to a port
of adjudication in the North, condemned and sold
at auction, taken to the British Provinces (Halifax,
I
think)
and there purchased,
Confederate Government.
fitted
At
it
was
all
said,
by the
events she was
out for the same service and In a few weeks
saw her
as a
Con-
federate steamer under the Confederate
flag.
On
reappeared at Nassau, where
I
DERELICTS
80
nth
the night of the
of October, 1863, the
attempted to run the blockade at
New
Inlet,
Douro
loaded
with a valuable cargo of 550 bales of cotton, 279
boxes of tobacco, 20 tierces of tobacco, and a quantity
of turpentine and rosin, belonging to the Con-
federate Government.
she eluded the Federal
beach towards
At 8.30 of the same night
and was running up the
fleet
Masonboro
in
two and one-half
fathoms of water, when she was pursued by the
cruiser Nansemond, which tried to get between the
Douro and the beach, but failed because of shoal
water.
Had the Douro kept on her course she
would have escaped,
but,
taking a panic, she re-
versed her course, and headed back for the bar at
New
Inlet,
was then intercepted by the Nansemond
and run ashore, instead of facing the gun
fleet
fire
of the
with a chance of getting under Fort Fisher's
protection.
caped
in
The
captain and most of the crew es-
the Douro's boats, but
remaining on
five,
board, were captured by the cruiser Nansemond.
was
was owned
for the
just
It
said at the time that this fine ship (a propeller)
in
Wilmington and that her cargo was
Confederate Government.
above
Masonboro
the
Inlet.
She
Hebe between Fort
now
Fisher
lies
and
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
The
Two
"Dee."
of the finest blockade runners, sister ships,
called the
Don and
The Don,
aster.
81
the Dee,
met
at last with dis-
some
after running the gauntlet
or twelve times, was captured at sea.
commanded from her
first
voyage
ten
She had been
to the one before
the last by Captain Roberts, so-called, really Captain
Hobart, of the Royal British Navy, who later
became Hobart Pasha,
He
Turkish Navy.
was
admiral
in
chief
of
the
a son of the Earl of Buck-
The Dee was commanded for three
George H. Bier, for-
inghamshire.
successful voyages by Capt.
merly a Lieutenant
a.
m. February
the blockade off
6,
in the
U.
1864, the
New
S.
Navy.
U.
S. S,
At
8 o'clock
Cambridge on
Inlet discovered the
Dee from
Hamilton, Bermuda, loaded with pig lead, bacon,
and military
and on
sonboro
fire
stores,
Inlet.
The Cambridge
vessel
bound for Wilmington, ashore
about a mile to the southward of Ma-;
at
and attempted
once boarded the stranded
to salve her, but the fire
too hot and the ship too deeply embedded
to haul her off into deep water.
ingly
bombarded and abandoned.
in the
was
sand
She was accord-
The Dee's crew
escaped to the shore, with the exception of seven
men, who
fell
into the
hands of the Federals.
It is
DERELICTS
82
not
known whether
the
Dee
ran ashore from
acci-
dent or design.
Steamer "Nutfield."
learn
I
Roe of
from
official
U.
the
S.
S.
reports that after Captain
Sassacus had practically de-
stroyed the Wild Dayrell by gun
to sea
and regained
cruisers,
known
fire
he stood out
his position in the outer line of
as the
Bermuda
or track, and
line
that at daylight of the 4th of February,
1864, he
discovered a blockade
runner to the northward,
which proved to be the
fine
field
new
iron steamer Nut-
of 750 tons (unusually large size), from Ber-
muda bound
for Wilmington.
The
Sassacus, being
the faster ship, increased her speed to thirteen knots,
and
at
noon succeeded
Nutfield with
her
range of the
in getting in
lOO-pounder
rifle
guns,
which
did such execution that the hard pressed Nutfield
changed her course, heading for the land, and ran
ashore at
set
her on
New
fire
for the beach.
in the surf
River
Inlet.
The
Nutfield's crew
and
fled precipitately in their
One
of the Nutfield's boats capsized
and the Federals
tried to rescue the
boats
crew
but only succeeded in saving the purser, the others
being supposedly drowned.
the Sassacus for
two days
Efforts
were made by
to haul oft the Nutfield,
which was a very valuable prize, being loaded with
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
83
an assorted cargo of merchandise, drugs, munitions
of war, Enfield
able
rifles,
Whitworth
a battery of eight very valu-
guns, and a quantity of pig lead;
and the lead were thrown overboard
the battery
during the chase.
The
the blockading fleet at
and was
New
off
Inlet the night before
River intending to try the Cape
Fear the following
but most unfortunately
night,
with the Sassacus, a fast cruiser, during the
fell In
day.
Nutfield had escaped from
New
A large
part of her valuable cargo was taken
out of her by the Federals.
The "Banshee's" Narrow
Escape.*
Mr. Thomas E. Taylor was agent
ade runner Banshee,
"One very dark
and
night
(I
the fourth or fifth trip)
I
for the block-
quote his
think
it
we made
narrative:
was
either
on
the land about
twelve miles above Fort Fisher, and were creeping
quietly
down
as usual,
when
cruiser out, lying on our port
ing about
all at
once
200 yards from the shore.
question of going Inside or outside her;
outside she
was
certain to see us,
us into the very jaws of the
little
a
fleet.
It
if
was
a
we went
and would chase
As we had very
steam up we chose the former alternative, hop-
*The Banshee and
this
we made
bow, and slowly mov-
a few other blockade runners mentioned in
book as escaping capture were later either captured or stranded.
84
DERELICTS
ing to pass unobserved between the cruiser and the
shore, aided by the dark background of the latter.
It
was an
of her,
exciting
we
as
moment
seemed within our grasp,
toward us and heard her
that steamer or
"Old
Steele
I will
;
we got ahnost abreast
unobserved,
thought,
and success
we saw her move
till
we came
hail as
sink you!'
growled out that we hadn't time to
and shouted down the engine-room tube
stop,
Erskine to
in
on, 'Stop
pile
on the
Our
longer any use.
coal, as
friend,
to
concealment was no
which we afterwards
found out was the Niphon, opened
fire
as fast as
she could and sheered close into us, so close that her
boarders were called away twice, and a slanging
match went on between
us,
like that
sometimes to
be heard between two penny steamboat captains on
Thames. She closed the dispute by shooting
away our foremast, exploding a shell in our bunkers, and, when we began to leave her astern, by
It was a miracle
treating us to grape and canister.
the
that no one
was
time
I
crew were
all
lying
at
one
fear he did the same, for as Pilot Burroughs
suddenly cried,
I
killed, but the
on the deck, except the steersman; and
flat
'My God, Mr.
Taylor, look there!'
saw our boat heading
right into the surf, so, jump-
from the bridge,
ran aft and found the helms-
ing
I
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
man on
his stomach.
I
rushed at the wheel and got
two or three spokes out of
off
land, but
"Two
it
was
85
it,
which hauled her head
a close shave.
miles farther
we picked up another
which tried to treat us
we had
plenty of steam
farther
we came
in a similar
we soon
across
a
left her.
large
cruiser,
manner, but as
A
little
side-wheel boat,
which tried to run us down, missing us only by a
few yards; after that we were unmolested and
rived in safe,
ar-
warmly congratulated by Lamb, who
thought from the violent cannonade that we must
certainly be sunk.
"Not more than one man out of
have brought
—
night
the
a
hundred would
boat through as Steele did that
a
other ninety-nine would have run her
ashore."
The "Venus."
The
official
report of Lieutenant Lamson,
steamer Nansemond,
off
New
Inlet,
U.
S.
October 21,
1863, says, "I have the honor to report the capture
and
entire destruction of the blockade runner Fenus,
from Nassau
to
Wilmington with
a cargo of lead,
drugs, dry goods, bacon, and coffee.
"This morning
at 12.30 she
attempted to run the
blockade, but was discovered by this vessel,
and
DERELICTS
86
When
after a short chase overhauled.
opened
fire
another exploding
I
her wardroom, a third passing
in
through forward and
striking
under
knocked
in
the
killing
one man, and a fourth,
guard
near
the
water
line,
an iron plate, causing her to make water
We
She was run ashore.
fast.
abeam,
on her, one shot striking her foremast,
boarded her
at
and twenty-two of her
once, capturing her captain
The U.
Niphon, Acting
officers
and crew.
Master
J. B. Breck commanding, which
S.
S.
was
lying
near where she went ashore, came immediately to
my
assistance.
I
ran a 9-inch hawser to the Venus,
and Captain Breck sent
a
Nansemond's bow, but
our
ing, as the tide
it
set
on
efforts
the
to
were unavail-
hour when she went ashore.
impossible to
fire,
hawser
7-inch
had turned ebb and she was going
least 14 knots an
ing
all
move
which was done
at
Find-
her, I ordered her to be
in three places
Ensigns Porter and Henderson, of
by Acting
Our
this vessel.
boats were for some time exposed to a sharp
fire
of
musketry from the beach, and the vessel was within
range of one of the batteries.
menced
shelling her
was seen
steamer
off
I
in pursuit,
We
had
just
com-
machinery when another vessel
shore, and by the light of the burning
was
but
able to give her one shot and started
it
was
so cloudy
and hazy that we
lost
87
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
sight of her almost immediately.
rate of fourteen knots
till
I
ran east at the
7 o'clock, but did not get
and ran back, making the land
sight of her again,
on the northward.
"In the meantime. Captain Breck, with the
ance of the Iron Age, Lieut.
Commander
assist-
Stone,
had
completed the destruction of the Venus, her boilers
having been blown up and her hull riddled with shell.
my
"I have to express
for the
prompt
thanks to Captain Breck
assistance rendered
his boats to assist in carrying
the
Nansemond's bows.
to Acting
Ensign
The
of the Fenus.
as
it
H.
J.
The Fenus was 265
measurement, and
officers to
vessels
is
who was
in
charge
board
in the
it."
and 1,000 tons
feet long
represented by her captain and
have been one of the
engaged
in
forward not burning well
sent a boat on
morning and rekindled
by sending
His boats then reported
Porter,
fire
was expected, he
my
me
heavy hawser to
finest
and
running the blockade.
fastest
She had
the finest engines of any vessel in this trade and was
sheathed completely over with iron. She drew eight
feet of water,
and when bound out
last,
crossed the
bar at low water with over 600 bales of cotton on
board.
The wrecks
of the Hebe, Douro, and Fenus
are within a short distance of each other.
DERELICTS
88
A
private notebook
boarding party
Venus,
which
steamers,
blockade runners engaged
of which 34 were
stroyed, but this
dred
a list of
the Federal
of the captain of the
year 1863 was entered as follows, a total of
in the
75
in
was found by
in the effects
at least
list
captured or de-
was not complete,
as a hun-
were engaged during that period.
Vessels Engaged in
Running the Blockade
IN 1863.
(Those marked C had been captured or destroyed.)
Nina (C)
Gladiator
Leopard (C)
Hebe (C)
Antonica
Thistle
(C)
Venus (C)
Juno (C)
Douro (C)
Princess Royal
Calypso (C)
Cronstadt (C)
Granite City (C)
Phantom (C)
Flora
Lord Clyde
Ruby (C)
Dolphin
Eagle (C)
Hansa
Havelock
Ella
Douglas
Spaulding (C)
AnnieChilds(C)
Mary Ann
Wave Queen (C)
Mail (C)
Giraffe
(C)
Spunkie
(C)
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
Jupiter
Cornubia (C)
Gibraltar
Nkolail (C)
St.
Boston
John (C)
Hero*
Juno
H
Gertrude (C)
Scotia
Britannia (C)
Flora
Emma
Herald
(C)
Georgiana (C)
J. P.
Elizabeth (C)
R. E. Lee
Hughes
Beauregard
Banshee
Alice {Mobile)
Aries (St.
U
Thomas) (C)
Sumter
Corsica
Neptune (C)
Bendigo
Norseman (C)
Diamond
Merrimac (C)
Margaret and
A-fl/e
Jessie
Don
(C)
Pet
Orion
Siriens (Sirius^)
Charleston
Atlantic
Rouen
Eugenie
Hero
Cuba (Mobile) (C)
Fanny
Raccoon
Stonewall Jackson
H
Arabian (C)
Total, 75
;
captured and destroyed, 34.
"Returned to England.
89
90
DERELICTS
The "Hebe."
Between the 15th of August and the 21st of October, 1863, the Federal fleet
known
as the
"North
American Blockading Squadron" drove ashore
blockade runners between
boro
—
the Arabian
inside
New
five
and Mason-
Inlet
the bar of
New
Inlet,
which became an obstruction to our ships trying to
pass her; the beautiful steamer
boro
Inlet, the
near each other
As her
fine
Hebe near Mason-
Phantom, the Douro, and the Venus
off
classical
Masonboro Sound.
name implies, the Hebe was
a
example of marine architecture. She was loaded
with a
full
cargo of drugs,
coffee, clothing,
and although she was
visions,
knots, she seems to have
made
a
a
fast
and pro-
ship of
14
bad landfall on
the morning of the i8th of August, 1863, and while
she
was heading for
miles, she
New
Inlet, distant
about eight
was intercepted by the Federal gunboat
Niphon, when she up helm and ran ashore, the crew
escaping
When
off
in boats.
the Federals attempted to haul the
the beach after she
with
formidable
Owing
to a
Hebe
had run ashore, they met
resistance
by the
Confederates.
heavy sea the Niphon's boat was driven
ashore and the Federals were attacked by a troop
of Confederate cavalry and
all
of them were cap-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
tured.
A
91
Confederate force of riflemen, supported
the
by a battery of Whitworth guns, also attacked
blockthe
drove
and
shore
cruiser Niphon from the
Conader away from the Hebe, but not before the
load
boat
Federal
another
federate had destroyed
of the enemy which attempted to land.
and the Shokokon, the latter under the
the
celebrated Lieut.
barded the Hebe and
On
mand
B. Cushing, then bom-
W.
set
The Niphon
command of
her on
fire.
August 24, 1863, General Whiting, in comof
Confederate
the
headquarters,
sent to the
forces
at
Wilmington
War, Mr.
Hebe disaster:
Secretary of
Seddon, the following account of the
"Headquarters,
August 24, 1863.
Yesterday the enemy took a
"Wilviingtoii,
"Sir:
*
*
*
the
fancy to destroy what remained of the wreck of
days
some
Hebe, a Crenshaw steamer run ashore
from which a company of the garrison of
Fort Fisher was engaged in saving property. The
steam frigate Minnesota and five other gunboats
ago, and
approached the beach, and, under a terrific fire, attempted to land, but were gallantly repulsed by Cap-
Whitworth and two small rifle
guns of short range. The site was about nine miles
tain
Munn, with
a
92
DERELICTS
from Fisher, on the narrow and low beach between
the sounds and the ocean, and completely under the
of the enormous batteries of the enemy.
fire
tion of the squadron, steaming farther
effected a landing
some two miles
gallantly
fighting
por-
off in
largely su-
down upon Captain Munn,
perior force, and came
still
A
up the beach,
his
little
guns
against
the
Minnesota, they being moved by hand, and, having
fired his last round, the
gunner
Captain
to fall
Whitworths
killed, a lieutenant
Munn
and
disabled, one
and four men wounded,
his small
party were compelled
back under a heavy enfilade
fire
toward Fort
Fisher, with the loss of his guns.
"This took place about nine miles from Fort
Fisher and about the same distance from the
The narrow
city.
beach, separated from the mainland by
the sounds, gives every facility to the enemy, and
secures
them from us who are without boats or
means of
getting at them.
Carolina) Regiment
at a distance, called
at Topsail, in
—
The
the only one
Fiftieth
I
have
(North
—was
off
by a landing made by the enemy
which they burned, the night before,
a schooner, a salt
work, and took two artillerymen
prisoners.
*'These
in
little affairs,
illustration.
This
however, are only mentioned
is
the
first
time
they have
landed; but what they have done once they can do
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
again and doubtless
men on
put 5,000
New
There
will.
if
what they could
the beach; they can get
Berne and Beaufort before
only say
no day scarcely
is
the winter gales set in but
until
I
93
could
them from
know
it.
I
they do they can get either Fort Fisher
or the towns, as they
elect,
if
they set about
it
at
once.
"The
of the enemy to stop our steamers
efforts
Their force
are increasing.
have met with
a serious
worth, a gun that
Lamb
is
largely increased.
and heavy
in the
loss in that
I
Whit-
hands of the indefatigable
has saved dozens of vessels and millions of
money
to
the
Confederate States.
I
beg that a
couple of the Whitworth guns originally saved by
him from the Modern Greece may be
once.
Their long range,
get
sent here at
six miles,
makes
Could
them with horses we could save many
a vessel
that will
I
or
suitable for a seaboard position.
them most
I
five
now
beg of you,
be lost to us.
if
you concur
But
in
chiefly in this letter
my
views, to lay the
matter of the necessity of increasing the force here
before the President.
"Very
respectfully,
"W. H.
C. Whiting,
"Major General.
"Hon. James A. Seddon,
"Secretary fVar, Richmond."
94
DERELICTS
A
The
time of the
Port of Refuge.
advantages of Wilmington
natural
War
between the States made
it
the
at
an ideal
port for blockade runners, there being two entrances
to the river
—New
Inlet
on the north and Western
Main Bar on the south of Cape Fear.
The slope of our beach is very gradual
water. The soundings along the coast are
or
and the
floor of the
ocean
is
deep
to
regular,
remarkably even.
A
steamer hard pressed by the enemy could run along
the outer edge of the breakers without great risk
of grounding; the pursuer, being usually of deeper
draft,
was obliged
to
keep farther
The
"Lilian."
The Confederate steamer
off
shore.
Lilian, of
which
I
was
then purser, was chased for nearly a hundred miles
from Cape Lookout by the U.
S. steamer
Shenan-
doah, which sailed a parallel course within half a
mile of her and forced the Lilian at times into the
breakers.
ever
This was probably the narrowest escape
made by
a blockade runner in a chase.
Shenandoah began
firing
her broadside guns
o'clock in the afternoon, her gunners
manding
officers
The
at three
and the com-
of the batteries being distinctly
visible to the Lilian's crew.
A
heavy sea was run-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
ning,
this
95
which deflected the aim of the man-of-war, and
alone saved the Lilian
bombardment by
furious
from
destruction.
the Shenandoah,
A
aggra-
vated by the display of the Lilian's Confederate
flag,
was continued
ruse, the Lilian,
when, by a clever
until nightfall,
guided by the flash of her pursuer's
guns, stopped for a few minutes; then, putting her
helm hard over, ran across the wake of the warship
straight out to sea, and,
passed the
fleet off
on the following morning,
Fort Fisher
in
such a crippled
condition that several weeks were spent in Wilming-
ton for repairs.
The "Lynx" and Her
He
is
now
the
Jim
Billy, the
James William Craig,*
Rev.
Methodist preacher, but
Cape Fear
Pilot.
like to think
I
pilot of
war
of him as
times,
on the
bridge of the swift Confederate blockade runner
Lynx, commanded by the intrepid Captain Reed, as
she races through the blackness of night on her
course west nor'west, straight and true for the Federal fleet off
New
Inlet,
in utter
silence,
the salt
spray of the sea smiting the faces of the watches as
they gaze
ahead for the
danger.
*Mr. Craig has
since died.
first
sign
of imminent
96
DERELICTS
Soon there
is
added
to the incessant noise of
and waves the ominous roar of the breakers,
wind
as the
surf complains to the shore, and the deep sea lead
gives warning of shoaling water,
"Half-speed"
is
muttered through the speaking tube; a hurried par-
Reed
ley; a recognized landfall, for
"Ready,
Then
as there
monsters
the
of
Billy in the darkness.
looms ahead the
destruction;
first
"Slow
of the dread
"Starboard,"
"Steady."
ship glides past like a phantom, un-
little
Then "Port,"
seen as yet.
in
Pilot?"
her.
the whispered orders through the tube:
down,"
And
comes from Jim
sir,"
a fine navi-
is
and "Are you ready to take
gator,
"Port,"
"Hard
a'port,"
quick succession, as she almost touches the second
cruiser.
She
is
now
of the blockading
in the thick
squadron; and suddenly, out of the darkness, close
aboard, comes the hoarse
"Heave
hail,
to,
or
I'll
sink you," followed by a blinding glare of rockets
and the roar of heavy guns.
Confederate
is
now naked
glare of rockets and
The devoted
to her enemies,
Drummond
men-of-war illuminate the chase.
hail of shot
forward
and
full
shell
lights
little
as the
from many
Under
a pitiless
from every quarter, she bounds
speed ahead, every joint and rivet
straining, while
Jim
Billy
dodges her
in
and out
through a maze of smoke and flame and bursting
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
shells.
The range
ship,
little
of Fort Fisher's guns
Will she make
mile away.
97
Reed nor Jim
for neither
thought of surrender.
Onward
it?
A
shell
yet a
is
speeds the
Billy has
a
explodes above them,
smashing the wheelhouse; another
away
shell tears
the starboard paddle box; and, as she
flies like light-
ning past the nearest cruiser, a sullen roar from
Colonel Lamb's artillery warns her pursuers that
a
few
ship crosses the bar
and
they have reached their limitations, and
minutes the gallant
little
The
anchors under the Confederate guns.
and
his trusty pilot
take the oath," as
was
for a fact,"
all
it
—
for the strain
the captain said.
was the equally
upon
fine ships
their first
"A
close
"It was,
sir,
laconic answer.
The "Ranger" and the
These two
captain
shake hands and go below, "to
Reed described
must be relaxed by sleep or stimulation.
shave, Jim,"
in
"Vesta."
were stranded on our coast
voyage and as
knowledge of either of them,
I
I
had no personal
have copied
in full
the Federal official reports, and a letter dated Wil-
mington, N.
C, January
27,
Gift of the Confederate Navy,
of the Ranger.
1864, by Lieutenant
who was
in
command
98
DERELICTS
"U.
S.
Flagship 'Minnesota,'
"Off Lockwood's Folly Inlet,
*'
At
"Sir:
January ii, 1864.
daylight this morning a steamer was
seen beached and burning one mile west of this
Mr. O'Connor, from
of one man,
loss
this ship,
shot under the
enemy's sharp shooters occupying
sand
inlet.
boarded her with the
from the
fire
rifle
on the
pits
which were high and near, and got her
hills,
from which
log book,
Ranger; that she
left
it
appears that she
the
is
Newcastle [England] Novem-
ber II, 1863, for Bermuda, where, after touching
at Teneriffe, she arrived
that she sailed
made our
1864,
and landed her passengers.
next morning at daylight, intercepted by this
ship, the Daylight,
in
6,
coast January 10, about five miles north-
east of Murrell's Inlet,
The
on the 8th of December;
from Bermuda January
Governor Buckingham, and Aries,
her approach to Western Bar, she was beached
and
fired
by her crew, as above mentioned.
The
at-
tempts of the Governor Buckingham, aided by the
Daylight and Aries, to extinguish the
the
Ranger
shooters,
decks.
off
whose
This
was taken
in
fire
and haul
were frustrated by the enemy's sharp-
ship,
fire
completely
commanded her
drawing about twenty-four
feet,
four and one-half fathoms of water in
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
99
front of the wreck, and the other vessels stationed
on the riflemen on the sand
to cross fire
a deliberate
fire
and allow an attempt
opened
to haul off the
Ranger
at high
Meanwhile, the Ranger was burn-
water at night.
commanding
ing freely forward and the
the
hills
with a view to dislodge the enemy
officers
of
Governor Buckingham and Daylight, who had a
good view of her
situation, thinking that
practicable to get her
she
off,
was
it
was not
also fired into,
which, as her hatches were closed, had the effect of
when
letting the air in,
the
fire
burned freely aft
and doubtless burned the Ranger out completely.
Meanwhile, black smoke was
of Shallotte
Inlet,
rising in the direction
and the Aries, withdrawn
last
night from her station there, was ordered to chase.
She soon returned, and Acting Volunteer Lieutenant
Devens reported
a fine
-
looking double
-
propeller
blockade runner, resembling the Ceres, beached and
on
fire
between Tubb's and
Little
River
Inlets,
and
that the enemy's sharpshooters prevented his boats
from boarding
her.
This was probably the same
steamer that was chased the previous evening by the
Quaker
City,
Tuscarora, and Keystone State, and
escaping from them
made
the western shore, where,
communicating and learning of the presence of the
blockaders
in force,
and perhaps being short of
coal,
100
DERELICTS
was beached by her crew and
fired rather
than be
captured.
"The Department
will
perceive that this
is
the
twenty-second steamer lost by the rebels and the
blockade runners attempting to violate the blockade
of Wilmington within the last six months, an aver-
age of nearly one steamer every eight days.
losses
These
must greatly lessen the means of the rebel
authorities
to
export cotton, obtain supplies,
sustain their credit,
and thus
dispirit
and
and weaken
them very much.
"I have the honor to be.
Sir,
"Very respectfully yours,
"S. P. Lee,
''Acting
"Comdg. North
Rear Admiral,
Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
"Hon. Gideon Welles,
"Secretary of the Navy,
"Washington, D. C."
"U.
S.
S.
'Aries,'
"Off Little River,
"January 12, 1864.
"Sir:
I
would most respectfully report that the
steamer stranded between Tubb's Inlet and Little
River
is
the blockade runner Vesta.
Boarded her
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
this a.
m.;
made
hawser
a
101
on exam-
fast to her, but
ining her found her whole starboard side
and several of the plates
from
which was
her,
"The Vesta was
split;
we could
all
opened
took two anchors
save.
exactly like the Ceres.
"I left her a complete wreck, with five feet of
water
in her.
Her
boats lay on the beach badly
stove.
"Very
respectfully,
your obedient
"Edward
serv^ant,
Devens,
F.
"Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, Commanding."
"Wilmington, N. C, January zj 1864.
Sir:
In Bermuda I took command
,
"My Dear
of a splendid merchant steamer, called the Ranger,
for the passage to Wilmington.
had very heavy
I
weather and no observation for the
out.
On
eighty miles southeast
Shoals.
first
the fourth got sights which put
I
from
went ahead
full
three days
me
speed
in
it
out,
noon
and fearing the
Pan
heavy sea
sight the light early in the night, but the
had put
at
lightship off Frying
to
Yankees
drift of the Gulf, I
determined to run inshore and anchor during the
next day (loth instant)
accurately,
which
and baggage.
On
I
did,
the
my position
my passengers
and ascertain
and landed
morning of the
i
ith, at
12.25
102
a.
DERELICTS
m.,
got underway and ran along the coast for
I
the bar near Fort Caswell.
the fort
I
made
the
When
from
eight miles
Minnesota about one mile
and whilst observing her motions the
pilot
off,
(who had
charge of the ship) suddenly sheered her inshore,
and
in
an instant she was
every effort to get her
in the
off,
see a couple of turns of a
timid
man
lost a fine ship
was destroyed.
I
breakers.
I
made
but unavailingly, so you
wheel
and
in the
hands of a
She
a valuable cargo.
was loaded for Government.
"Your obedient
servant,
"George W. Gift."
'The "Spunkie."
Many
blockade runners were given corresponding
names, Owl, Bat, Badger, Phantom, Lynx, but none
seemed
little
to be
more appropriate than
that given to a
named Spunkie.
managed to make several
toy steamer from the Clyde
She was not fast but she
successful runs.
When
I
scarcely believe that this
saw her
little
in
Nassau
I
could
cockleshell of a boat
had crossed the North Atlantic and had run through
the blockading
eral cruiser
February
fleet.
The commander
Quaker City reported
13,
Spunkie ashore
1864,
that
at daylight
he
to
of the Fed-
Admiral Lee
had discovered the
on the 9th on the beach
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
103
a short distance west of Fort Caswell, but he could
not determine whether she was attempting to run in
Two
or run out.
fleet
tugs belonging to the blockading
made repeated
the Spunkie and she
the Spunkie
but ineffectual efforts to float
still lies
As
near Fort Caswell.
was loaded with
and
blankets, shoes,
provisions for the Confederate soldiers, there
is
no
doubt she was tiding to come into the river by the
Western Bar when she ran ashore.
The
"Phantom.'^
This was a new Confederate steamer
on the most approved
ernment.
lines for the
abroad
She was a handsome iron propeller of
about 500 tons, camouflaged, as were
runners, to decrease her visibility.
was
built
Confederate Gov-
to paint the hull
The
all
blockade
usual
and smoke funnels
method
a grayish
green to correspond with the sea and sky and the
coast-line
visible
sand dunes, which often made them
even
eral cruisers
at close range.
in-
There were two Fed-
most dreaded by the blockade runners
because of their great speed: the Connecticut and
the Fort Jackson. The former made many prizes.
At daylight, the morning of September 23, 1863,
when about fifty miles east by north of New Inlet,
the Phantom was discovered by the Connecticut
104
DERELICTS
The Phantom was bound
standing to the eastward.
from Bermuda for Wilmington with
a very valuable
cargo of Confederate arms, medicine, and general
She had evidently made a very bad landfall
stores.
too far to the northward and eastward at daylight
and was running away from the land
would help her
into
would face the
fleet
gave chase
at
Cape Fear
darkness
when
she
But the Connecticut
again.
her top speed and after four hours'
vain effort to escape, the
in
until
River,
Phantom suddenly hauled
and ran ashore near Rich
Inlet,
where she
still
The crew escaped in their own boats, after
setting the Phantom on fire.
The Federals at-
lies.
tempted
to put out the fire
and salve the Phantom,
but failed to do so.
The "Dare."
This steamer was
Confederate
built
Government.
abroad
in
1863 for the
At daybreak on
morning of the 7th of January, 1864, the
Montgomery saw
flying
Fear.
the
Dare with Confederate
the
cruiser
colors
near Lockwood's Folly, heading for Cape
The Montgomery and
gave chase, the
latter
her consort the Aries
heading
endeavored to escape, but being
off
the Dare, which
in
range of the guns
of both pursuers for about four hours, she headed
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
for the beach, and
little
to the
town,
S.
was stranded
northward of North
105
m. a
at 12.30 p.
Inlet,
near George-
The weather was very stormy and
C.
the
surf very high so that one of the Federal boats, in
attempting to board the Dare, was capsized and her
crew made prisoners by the Confederates behind
Other Federal boats reached the
the sand dunes.
stranded vessel and
The
officers
set
her on
fire.
and crew of the Dare escaped
to the
shore.
The
In 1863,
when
the
"Bendigo."
demand
for suitable merchant
steamers to run the Wilmington blockade could not
be met, even at enormous prices, the eager buyers
began
to bid
on the Clyde River steamers.
extraordinary speed but of
lost
frail
Some of
construction were
on the long and often tempestous voyage across
the Atlantic via
succeeded
in
Madeira and Bermuda, while others
passing the blockade with almost the
regularity of mail boats.
named
previously
as follows:
Of
the Milly.
such was the Bendigo,
Her
description
ship of Liverpool, late Milly,
178 tons,
iron, hull painted green, three portholes
side fore
was
Topsail yard schooner Bendigo; steam-
and aft of paddle boxes.
built
of
on either
Elliptic stern,
106
DERELICTS
carriage and
name on same painted
white, bridge
athwartships on top of paddle boxes; after funnel
or smokestack, with steam pipe fore part of same,
fire
funnel or
smoke stack with steam pipe fore part
of same; draws eight feet six inches aft and eight
feet forward.
I
am
putting this description
record because
runners
in
it
was
a type of
(now
many
obsolete) on
other blockade
1863-64.
The Wilmington Journal
of January 11, 1864,
described the stranding of the blockade runner Ben-
digo at Lockwood's Folly Inlet, from which
it
ap-
pears that the wreck of the blockade runner Elizabeth was mistaken by the Bendigo
cruiser,
and
in trying to
the beach the
for a Federal
run between the wreck and
Bendigo was stranded.
was discovered
at
11
a.
Acting Rear Admiral
,S.
m. January
P.
Lee on
The Bendigo
4,
his
1864, by
flagship
Fahkee, who attempted with the assistance of the
Fort Jackson, Iron Age, Montgomery, and Daylight to haul off the
Bendigo,
in
which they failed
because the Confederate batteries on shore drove
them
off
with the loss of the Iron Age, which got
aground and blew up.
The Bendigo was set on fire
hull may be still visible at
and abandoned and her
Lockwood's Folly Bar.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
107
The "Antonica."
This Confederate blockade runner
known
of one of her
was she
officers that
that
it
remember
as
boat,
516
tons,
So regular and
previously as the Herald.
reliable in her runs
I
She was of the old
a fine ship and
American type of passenger and mail
very successful.
I
recall a
remark
was only necessary
to
start her engine, put her on her course for either
Wilmington or Nassau, lash her wheel, and she
would go
in
and out by
herself.
She ran several times
in
and out of Charleston,
where she was registered carrying 1,000
bales of cotton and
manded on her
who
last
River
voyage by Capt.
made
Inlet, the dividing line
W.
F. Adair,
the land at Little
between North Caro-
and South Carolina, and stood
of Lockwood's Folly
moon
Inlet
set at 2.30 a. m.,
the blockade at
the
1,200
reported that on the night of the 19th of De-
cember, 1863, the Jntonica
lina
to
She was com-
some tobacco.
to the
and waited
eastward
until
when he attempted
Cape Fear Bar, but
in trying to
blockader Governor Buckingham was
the
to run
pass
forced
ashore on Frying Pan Shoals, and he and his crew,
twenty-six
all told,
the beach in their
were captured while making for
own
boats.
108
DERELICTS
The Antonica was loaded and bound
for Wil-
mington with a very valuable cargo of war supplies
The wreck
when she was lost.
ing Pan Shoals.
still
remains on Fry-
an interesting episode with reference to
I recall
the Antonica which nearly caused a rupture between
the British
my
with
incident
and Federal Governments while
I
was referred
Usina of Savannah
to by the late Capt.
in his
most
was
The
ship in the British port of Nassau.
Michael
interesting address
many
years ago before the Confederate Veterans,
and
repeat
I
"On one
it
in his
occasion
words:
I
was awakened by the sound
of cannon in the early morning at Nassau, and imagine
my
fired
at
surprise to see a Confederate ship being
erate proved to be the Antonica,
ter,
who
The Confed-
by a Federal man-of-war.
arrived
oft
Captain Coxet-
the port during the night, and,
waiting for a pilot and daylight, found
light did
him and the
to
bar.
There was nothing
do but run the gauntlet and take
he did
in
when
day-
appear that an enemy's ship was between
left for
his fire,
good shape, some of the shot
him
which
actually fall-
The Federal ship was commanded by Commodore Wilkes, who became widely
known from taking Mason and Slidell prisoners.
ing into the harbor.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
After the chase was over Wilkes anchored
and when the Governor
sent to tell
The
his ship,
him that he must
not remain at anchor there he said:
ernor,
109
'Tell the
Gov-
he would anchor where he pleased.'
etc., etc.,
military authorities sent their artillery across to
Hog
where he was anchored, and we
Island, near
Confederates thought the fun was about to begin.
enough
commu-
But Wilkes remained
just long
nicate with the consul
and get what information he
wanted, and
The
These two
to
left."
"Florie''
fine
and the "Badger."
boats were well
former was named after Mrs.
J.
known
The
to me.
G. Wright, of Wil-
mington, the beautiful daughter of Capt. John N.
who commanded my
Maffitt,
ship the Lilian, a
sis-
ter boat.
The
Florie
was owned by
and by some of
its
prominent
the State of Georgia
citizens,
Gov. Joseph
Brown, Col. C. A. L. Lamar, and others.
made
end
is
She
several successful runs to Wilmington, but her
clouded
in
mystery.
There
is
no record of
her fate except a report by some "intelligent con-
trabands" to the Federal
side the
bar
in
fleet
that she
was sunk
Cape Fear River; whether by
dent or by shell
fire
I
am
unable to ascertain.
in-
acci-
It
:
110
was
DERELICTS
said that the Badger, sister ship to the Lynx,
came
to her
end the same way after making several
runs through the
The
fleet.
following order of the Confederate Secre-
Navy to Capt. John N. Maffitt, who was
command of the Owl, will explain why so
tary of the
then
In
many
valuable ships were run ashore rather than
surrendered into the hands of the Federals
Order of the Secretary of the Navy
mander
Maifitt, C. S.
to
Com-
Navy, repeating telegram of
Instructions regarding the
command
of the blockade
runner Owl.
"Confederate States of America,
"Navy Department, Richmond,
"September
The
"Sir:
ig,
1864.
following telegram was this day sent
to you:
"It
Is
of the
should not
first
Importance that our steamers
fall Into the
enemy's hands.
Apart from
the specific loss sustained by the country In the capture
of
armed,
blockade
now
runners,
these
constitute the fleetest
part of his blockading force
off
vessels,
lightly
and most
efficient
Wilmington.
HI
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
"As commanding
please
and
devise
means for saving
all
Owl you
of the
officer
thorough
adopt
and
will
efficient
hands and destroying the ves-
and cargo whenever these measures may become
sel
necessary to prevent capture.
and
Department
ability the
of this important
passenger
trust.
will, as a
Upon your
firmness
relies for the execution
In view of this order, no
general rule, be carried.
Such
exceptions to this rule as the public Interests
render necessary, embracing those
by the Government,
this
who may
will receive special
may
be sent
permltsfrom
Department.
"Assistant
Paymaster
Tredwell
has
been
in-
structed to pay over to you, taking your receipt for
the same, 5,000 pounds in sterling
bills.
You
will
please keep an accurate account with vouchers in
duplicate of
you
will
all
your expenditures, one
submit to Mr.
W. H.
set
of which
Peters, our special
agent at Wilmington, upon each round trip you
may
make.
"I
am
respectfully your obedient servant,
"S. R.
Mallory,
^'Secretary of the
"Commander John N. Maffitt,
"Care W. H. Peters, Esq.,
"Wilmington, N. C."
Navy.
C. S. Navy,
DERELICTS
112
The "Cape
'
A notable
Fear."
blockade runner called the Virginia was
bought by the Confederate Government during the
war and renamed
der the
command
the
Cape Fear.
pilot of recognized ability,
an English gentleman, a
who
cast his lot with
tain
fine
sailor.
Captain Wise,
river for several years as a
She was destroyed
Confederate transport.
when
Cape Fear
who was succeeded by
our people and ran the Cape
Fear up and down the
river
She was put un-
of Captain Guthrie, a
in the
the Federals captured Fort Fisher.
Wise married
a
Cap-
Miss Flora McCaleb, of Wil-
mington, and for years after the war conducted a
lumberyard here.
He was
a
most courteous,
tractive gentleman, generally respected in the
He
munity.
died here
many
at-
com-
years ago.
The "North Heath."
During the third year of the
States,
I
was appointed
at
the
War
between the
age of seventeen
years purser of the blockade-running steamer North
Heath, under command of Captain Burroughs, who
had
successfully run the blockade twelve times in
charge of the Confederate steamer Corntibia, later
named Lady Davis,
after the wife of the President.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
I
believe that under
God, Captain Burroughs, by
his fine qualities as a cool
this ship
and capable seaman, saved
from foundering
a hurricane
113
when we ran
at sea
into
from
shortly after our departure
St.
George, Bermuda, bound for Wilmington. For two
days and nights we were
lives
—
imminent danger of our
in
tossed upon a raging sea, every
crew of 48 except those
the vessel, while
we
at the
man
of our
wheel was lashed to
bailed with buckets and the use
of hand pumps the flooded fireroom of our sinking
vessel.
For an
wallowed
entire night she
like
a
log in a trough of mountainous waves, which broke
over us
this
in
ever-increasing fury.
frightful scene.
my memory
in all its
The water had
It
I
can never forget
seems photographed upon
fearsome
risen in
details.
our hold
until
every one
There
of our fourteen furnaces was extinguished.
was no steam
power pumps.
to run
our donkey boilers and steam-
Lashed
to one another, in the black-
ness of darkness, relieved only by the intermittent
flashes
of
lightning
which
illuminated
the
waves towering around us and threatening
whelm and
sink the laboring, quivering fabric,
held on in despair until morning,
when we began
gain on the leaks until our steam
used
in
giant
to over-
relieving the boiler room,
we
to
pumps could be
and our brave
114
DERELICTS
Then we
captain got the ship under control.
ceeded
in
suc-
putting her about and headed back to
Bermuda.
The
strain of this exposure resulted in an attack
of fever, which confined
me
to
bed for a long time
on shore, and Captain Burroughs reluctantly
behind when the ship was ready for sea.
repaired our badly
the
damaged
left
me
After we
and machinery,
hull
North Heath proceeded again toward Wilming-
ton, passing the blockading fleet safely.
was about
to load cotton for the
When
she
outward voyage,
the Federal expedition against Fort Fisher arrived
Cape Fear and presented such
off
a
formidable
appearance that the Confederate Government seized
the
North Heath, loaded her with
stone and sank
her at a point below Sunset Park where the river
channel
fleet
is
narrow, as an obstruction to the Federal
which subsequently captured Wilmington.
many
For
years after she was an obstruction to peaceful
commerce, but the wreck was
the River and
finally
removed by
Harbor Improvement Engineers.
The
"Kate."
There were two blockade runners named Kate,
but they were quite different as to origin and enterprise.
The
first
one of that name was an Ameri-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
can-built
previously
steamer,
She was commanded by Capt.
and
was
it
this vessel that
in
coast
the
Thomas
115
J.
trade.
Lockwood,
brought to Wilmington
on the 6th of August, 1862, the fearful plague of
yellow fever, which raged for ten weeks and carried
off
446 of our people.
After several successful voy-
ages she ran ashore above Fiddler's Dreen, near
Southport, and went to pieces.
About twenty years ago
Clark's
I
related
North Carolina Regimental
Justice
in
Histories, pub-
lished in five volumes, 1901, an incident in the career
of this steamer Kate which
On
one occasion
in the
may
be worth repeating:
Kate Lockwood had run
inside the line of blockaders at the
distance up the beach,
while
Main Bar some
and suddenly took the ground
jammed between an anchored man-of-war and
The blockader did not see him, al-
the breakers.
though so near that no one on board the Kate was
permitted to speak above a whisper.
near the
last
hours of darkness
McDougal,
The
tide
was
of the ebb and there were only a few
in
which to work.
chief engineer
George C.
and Captain Lockwood's
brother-in-law, always ready for an emergency,
had
promptly loaded the safety valve down with
bag
a
of iron castings to prevent any noise from escaping
steam, and
when
it
became absolutely necessary the
^
116
DERELICTS
steam was blown
The
very gently under the water.
off
boats were lowered noiselessly and several pas-
sengers and a lot of valuables landed
In
the surf on
the lee side of the vessel, with orders to proceed to
Fort Caswell
In the distance.
At
first It
possible to save the ship, as any noise
dles
would
the
blockaders,
Inevitably have led to her destruction by
which were
seen
plainly
from the Kate's perilous
length
cable's
seemed Im-
from her pad-
Lockwood held
only
a
position.
a consultation with his trusted engi-
neer,
and decided to open the gangway and quietly
slide
overboard
a lot of lead wire in
heavy
coils,
which was part of the Inward cargo, and which was
intended to be cut into bullets by the Confederate
Government.
This served to lighten the ship and
also as an effectual bulkhead which prevented the
vessel
from working higher up on the beach when
the tide turned, and the discharge went on for
some
time without apparent effect; but the rising tide soon
after began to
bump
the bilges of the vessel against
the sand bank inside.
tempt to back clear or
"Boss," as
him that
the
first
make
Lockwood proposed an
to
beach her
McDougal was
called,
at-
at once, but the
calmly showed
unless they were sure of floating clear on
attempt they would never be permitted to
a second trial, as the paddles
would surely
be-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
tray them to the
Another
fleet.
fifteen
117
minutes that
seemed an hour of suspense, and the captain again
action, but the imperturbable en-
urged immediate
"Wait
gineer said:
a
little
longer, Oakie; she
is
rising every minute; let us be sure of getting off be-
we make
fore
the effort."
Meantime
bumping
the
increased,
and
and
a full
head of steam, the engines were reversed
full
speed, and the Kate^ quickly afloat and respond-
at last, with everything in readiness
ing to the wheel, gallantly passed the blockading
fleet in the
gray dawn and shortly afterwards an-
She had
chored under the guns of Fort Caswell.
hardly swung to the anchor before she was seen by
the
who
disappointed blockaders,
sent shell
shell flying after her, bursting in such
able proximity, that the
Stuart's
solid
wharf
shot
still
at
Kate was moved up
where the
Smithville,
followed her,
many
after
uncomfortto
shell
Mrs.
and
passing in a
more than a thousand yards beyond the wharf.
With the aid of a good glass a man could be seen
line
in the
foretop of the Federal flagship with a flag
in his
hand, which he waved to right or left as he
saw the
effect
of the firing; this enabled the gun-
ners to better their aim until the shells struck just
astern of the
vessel.
On
Kate or passed
a closer
in a line
approach of the
ahead of the
fleet
they were
DERELICTS
118
driven
off
by Fort Caswell's heaviest guns.
Kate and her crew were
sion,
owing
barrels of
acy,
to the fact that there
sion that
risk
The
great peril on this occa-
were a thousand
gunpowder on board for
making the
gerous.
in
from the
shells
the Confeder-
extremely dan-
Mr. McDougal said to me on this occawhen the Yankees began shelling them at
Fort Caswell a detachment of soldiers was being
embarked for Wilmington on
the Confederate trans-
port James T. Petteivay, and that
shell struck the
when
the
first
beach near the Petteway, the whole
company broke ranks and ran
like
rabbits to the
fort again.
Some time ago
the
Wilmington Daily Review
published an account of the recovery of a large lot
of wire from the bottom of the sea near Fort Caswell.
This was doubtless part of the Kate's cargo
thrown overboard
as described.
The Second
The second Kate was
a
"Kate."
new
iron steamer, double-
screw propeller, 344 tons, English
by Captain Stubbs.
built,
commanded
She had made a successful run
into Charleston with a valuable cargo,
and was
successful in running out again with
700 bales of
cotton,
which she landed
in
Nassau.
also
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
119
She had loaded a second inward cargo at Nassau and sailed for Charleston, but, failing to elude
the blockaders, she ran for
12,
1863, at 4.55 o'clock
New
Inlet close
Wilmington and on July
a.
m.,
was making for
ahead when she was intercepted by
the Federal blockader Penobscot, which opened a
heavy
fire
on her and drove her ashore on the south
end of Smith's Island, where her wrecked
remains.
off into
The
hull
still
Federals attempted to haul the Kate
deep water, but were prevented by the Con-
who drove them away. With
the exception of two of her crew who remained and
were captured, the officers and men of the Kate esfederates on shore,
caped to the shore.
The "Night Hawk."
is
not surprising that the Federal blockading
fleet so
often failed to refloat blockade runners after
It
they were stranded on the beach, because the runners always timed their attempt to pass the
high
tide, the
fleet at
depth of water on the bar being only
10 to 12 feet and the channel beset with shoals
and obstructions, so that before the Federals could
prepare for hauling
off
these vessels and thereby
secure for themselves large sums of prize money,
the tide would have
fallen,
leaving the stranded
DERELICTS
120
more
ships
firmly
had
erals
embedded
when
Confederate guns, which
to deal with the
There were, however,
kept them at a distance.
instances
eral
sand, and
in the
another high tide would come the Fed-
in daylight
which
I
recall
of
the
rescue
sev-
of
stranded ships by the Confederates, notably that of
the
a
The
Kate and of the Ni^ht Hawk.
most spectacular,
exciting affair,
which
latter
was
I will re-
Mr. Thomas Taylor's words:
my second trip to Bermuda that one
of the finest boats we ever possessed, called the
Night Hawk, came out, and I concluded to run in
She was a new side-wheel steamer of
with her.
late in
"It
was on
some 600 tons
gross,
rigged
as
a
fore-and-aft
schooner, with two funnels, 220 feet long, 21I/2 feet
beam, and 11
work,
feet in depth; a capital boat for the
fast, strong,
sea boat
—
of light draught, and a splendid
a great merit in a blockade runner,
which
weathers.
The
sometimes has to be forced
Night Hawk's career was
in
all
a very eventful one,
she passed an unusually lively night
on her
first
off
attempt.
"Soon after getting under way our troubles
gan.
We
and
Fort Fisher
be-
ran ashore outside Hamilton, one of the
harbors of Bermuda, and hung on a coral reef for
a couple of hours.
There loomed before us the
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
dismal prospect of delay for repairs, or,
121
worse,
still
the chance of springing a leak and experiencing such
difficulties
and dangers as we had undergone on the
IFill-o'-the-Wisp, but fortunately
out
damage and were
able
to
we came
with-
off
proceed on
our
voyage.
my
"Another anxiety now engrossed
captain
was an
entirely
mind: the
new hand, and
nearly
all
the crew were green at the work; moreover, the
Wilmington
pilot
was
unknown
quite
to me,
and
I
could see from the outset that he was very nervous
and badly wanting
in
What would
confidence.
not have given for our trusty pilot
However, we had
to the
to
make
Tom
the best of
not nearly
sufficient,
and toward the
as,
it,
demand, the supply of competent
I
Burriss!
owing
pilots
was
close of the
blockade the so-called pilots were no more than
boatmen or men who had been trading
in
and out
of Wilmington or Charleston in coasters.
"Notwithstanding
way
across,
my
fears, all
and the Night
went well on the
Hawk
proved to be
everything that could be desired in speed and seaworthiness.
We
had sighted unusually few
and nothing eventful occurred
craft,
until the third night.
Soon after midnight we found ourselves uncomfortably near a large vessel.
It
was evident
that
we had
122
DERELICTS
been seen, as we heard them beating to quarters
and were
full
We promptly sheered off and went
hailed.
speed ahead, greeted by a broadside which went
When we
across our stern.
arrived within strik-
ing distance of Wilmington Bar, the pilot was anxious to
go
by Smith's
in
edged that he knew very
it
was better
where, at
all
events,
that as I myself
the
New
Inlet passage,
we should have
the advantage
to
Lamb
knew
concluded
I
and
the place so well, this
fleet,
and arrived near
it,
to protect us;
We
safest course to pursue.
well through the
but as he acknowl-
about
to keep
of our good friend
Inlet,
little
felt
I
was the
were comparatively
although heavily fired
to the bar, passing close
Northern launches which were lying almost upon
Unfortunately,
I
it
at,
by two
it.
was dead low water, and although
pressed the pilot to give our boat a turn around,
keeping under way, and to wait awhile until the
tide
made, he was so demoralized by the
firing
we
had gone through and the nearness of the launches,
which were constantly throwing up rockets, that he
insisted
feared,
upon putting her
we grounded on
strong flood tide
at
it
the
bar,
quickly broached to,
on to the northern breakers.
and,
as
I
forward and with the
We
broadside
kept our engines
going for some time, but to no purpose, as we found
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
we were
123
more on
only being forced by the tide
Therefore we stopped, and
the breakers.
all
to
at
our friends, the two launches, close
once fouiid
aboard; they had discovered we were ashore, and
had made up
"At once
was
nalman rushed
good
minds
their
all
in
to attack us.
confusion; the pilot and sig-
to the dinghy,
their escape; the
lowered
it,
and made
captain lost his head and
disappeared; and the crews of the launches, after
firing several volleys,
me, rowed
at this
moment
one of which slightly wounded
board us on each sponson.
in tq
Just
suddenly recollected that our
I
pri-
vate dispatches, which ought to have been thrown
overboard, were
rushed to
it,
sinking weight
thwarts;
so
I
I
still
in the
starboard lifeboat.
I
but found the lanyard to which the
was attached was
foul of one of the
tugged and tugged, but to no purpose,
sung out
io'.{
by a fireman, ana
a knife,
J.
which was handed to
cut the line
me
and pitched the bag
overboard as the Northerners jumped on board.
Eighteen months afterwards that fireman accosted
me
in the
Liverpool
you remember
I
my
streets, saying,
do,' I replied, giving
mightily pleased.
*Mr. Taylor, do
lending you a knife?'
him
a tip at
'Of course
which he was
Poor fellow! he had been
teen months in a Northern prison.
thir-
DERELICTS
124
"When
the Northerners
were terribly
excited.
I
jumped on board they
don't
know whether
they
expected resistance or not, but they acted more like
maniacs than sane men,
cutting right
in front
and
of the
all
and
firing their revolvers
with their cutlasses.
men on
surrendered, but
lieutenant
left
the
poop and said
commanding was, 'Oh, you
th<
we
that
from the
the reply I received
you?' accompanied by a string of
stood
I
surrender, do
choicest
kee oaths and sundry reflections upon
my
Yan-
parent-
age; whereupon he fired his revolver twice point
blank at
me
he did not
my
head.
not two yards distant;
kill
me, as
I
This roused
it
was
a miracle
heard the bullets whiz past
my
wrath, and
I
lated in the strongest terms
upon
armed men; he then cooled
dowi., giving
expostu-
his firing
charge of two of his men, one of
whom
on un-
me
into
speedily
my binocular Fortunately,
my watch, they didn't discover
possessed himself of
I
had no guard
and
I
have
to
as
it,
it still.
"Finding they could not get the ship
afraid, I presume, of
Lamb and
his
off,
and
men coming
to
our rescue, the Federals commenced putting the captain
(who had been discovered behind
a boat!)
the crew into the boats; they then set the ship on
and
fire
fore and aft, and she soon began to blaze merrily.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
At
moment one
this
of our firemen, an Irishman,
sang out, 'Begorra, we shall
minute; the ship
full
is
125
all
be in the air
No
of gunpowder!'
in a
sooner
did the Northern sailors hear this than a panic
seized them, and they rushed to their boats, threat-
ening to leave their officers behind
come
dropped me
rowed
like
jumped
delight
if
they did not
The men who were
along.
a
their
into
boat,
me
holding
my
hot potato, and to
great
and away they
as fast as they could, taking all our crew,
with the exception of the second
officer,
one of the
engineers, four seamen, and myself, as prisoners.
"We
we were
we had only a boat
chuckled at our lucky escape, but
not out of the woods yet, as
half stove in in which to reach the shore through
surf, and we were
moment that our enemies, finding
was no powder on board, might return. We
some three hundred yards of
afraid at any
there
made
a feeble effort to put the fire out, but
gained too much headway, and although
the
men
with
severe, they
me £50
apiece to stand by
I
it
had
offered
me and
per-
were too demoralized and began to
lower the shattered boat, swearing they would leave
me
behind
if I
nothing for
it
didn't
come with them.
There was
but to go, yet the passage through
the boiling surf seemed
more dangerous
to
my mind
!
126
DERELICTS
The
than remaining on the burning ship.
aders immediately opened
own men had
fire
Hawk
Night
left the
block-
when they knew
was burning; and Lamb's great
their
and that she
shells hurtling
over
our heads,
and those from the blockading
fleet
bursting
around
all
us,
formed
spite of the hail of shot
and
a
weird picture.
of the boiling surf, we reached the shore
wet through, and glad
from
tion
loss of
I
was. In
my
officer.
"The poor Night Hawk was now
and
indeed
who,
thought
It
was
would have been had
calling for volunteers
It
came down
not been for
from
had
after
to her,
and when
my wound
was delighted
to find the
rest, I
visibly decreased.
I
went on board, and
some hours of hard work the
guished.
Lamb,
his garrison, sent
to the beach, after having
dressed and a short
fire
of
sheet
a
up with her; and
all
two or three boat loads of men
off
I
It
I
in safety,
state of exhaus-
blood and fatigue, to be welcomed
by Lamb's orderly
flame,
In
and the dangers
shell
fire
was
extin-
But what a wreck she was
"Luckily, with the rising tide she had
over the bank, and was
now
lying
beach much more accessible and sheltered.
seemed an almost hopeless task
were not going
bumped
on the main
Still
to save her; but
it
we
to be beaten without a try, so, hav-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
Ing ascertained
how
127
she lay and the condition she
made
to get
her dry, and telegraphed to Wilmington for
assist-
was
in,
I
resolved to have an attempt
ance.
"Our agent
sent
negroes to assist
them
it,
to
my
work
me down
in bailing
As good
Banshee No.
at once.
steamer.
finest
about three hundred
and pumping, and
been sent out, ran
in the
improvement on the
luck
2,
I set
would have
which had just
next night. She was a great
first
Banshee, having a sea
speed of 15I/2 knots, which was considered very fast
in those
feet,
tons,
days; her length was 252 feet,
depth
1 1
feet,
beam 31
her registered tonnage 439
and her crew consisted of
fifty-three in all.
I
at once requisitioned her for aid in the shape of en-
now I had everything I
way of hands. Our great difficulty
Night Hawk's anchors would not hold
gineers and men, so that
could want
in the
was that the
for us to get a fair haul at her.
"But here again
I
was
to be in luck.
very next night the Condor,
Hewett,
in
attempting to run
For
the
commanded by poor
in stuck fast
upon the
bank over which we had bumped, not one hundred
yards to windward of
an
ill
us,
and broke
in
two.
It is
wind that blows nobody good, and Hewett's
mischance proved the saving of our ship.
Now we
128
had
DERELICTS
a hold for our chain cables by
by them a
off
seventh day
making them
and were able gradually
to the wreck,
little
during each
we had her
bank and the shore, and
on the
tide, until
afloat in a gut
fast
to haul her
between the
water we steamed
at high
under our own steam gaily up the river
to
Wil-
mington.
"Considering the appliances we had and the
we were working,
cumstances under which
ing of that steamer
was
certainly a
formance, as we were under
time.
The Northerners,
wonderful per-
fire
almost the whole
irritated,
no doubt, by their
failure to destroy the ship, used to shell us
and send
in
cir-
the sav-
boats by night;
by day
Lamb, however, put
a
stop to the latter annoyance by lending us a couple
of companies to defend
us,
and one
night,
when our
enemies rowed close up with the intention of boarding us, they were glad to sheer
a lieutenant
and several men.
off
with the loss of
In spite of
all
the
shot and shell by day and the repeated attacks by
night,
the
we triumphed
Night
Hawk
together a crew,
command
in
the end, and, after having
repaired at a huge cost and getting
I
gave May, a friend of mine,
of her, and he ran her out successfully
with a valuable cargo, which
withstanding
all
made her
pay, not-
her bad luck and the amount spent
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
upon
129
Poor May! he was afterwards governor
her.
of Perth gaol, and
is
dead now
—
a high-toned, sen-
gentleman, mightily proud of his ship, lame
sitive
duck as she was.
"When
was burning, our utmost
she
and
amidships
boilers
intact,
flames to both ends; in this
and
were
efforts
of course directed toward keeping her engine
room
confining
we were
the
successful,
mainly owing to the fact of her having thwartship
bunkers; but as regards the rest of the steamer she
was
complete wreck; her sides were
a
corru-
all
gated with the heat, and her stern so twisted that
her starboard quarter was some two feet higher
than her port quarter, and not a particle of
work was
left
unconsumed.
Owing
wood
to the limited
resources of Wilmington as regards repairs, I found
it
impossible to have this put right, so her sides
were
as no
a bottle
new deck put on
have described, and caulked with cotton,
was
and
procurable.
When
completed she
a queer looking craft, but as tight as
as
seaworthy as ever, although
I
doubt
any Lloyd's surveyor would have passed her.
But as
tic,
I
oakum was
certainly
if
they were, and the
left as
the slope
a matter of fact she
came across the Atlan-
deeply immersed with her coal supply, through
some very bad weather, without damage, and was
130
DERELICTS
mere song,
sold for a
to be repaired
and made
a passenger boat for service on the
where she ran for many years with
"It
had been
clothes except
my
success.
hard week for me, as
a
what
I
into
East Coast,
had no
I
had on when we were boarded,
servant very cleverly, as he imagined, having
my
thrown
portmanteau into the man-of-war's boat
when he thought I was going to be captured, and
all I had in the world was the old serge suit in
which
stood.
I
Being without a change and wet
through every day and night for
tively,
ague,
it
is
wonder
little
of which
I
days consecu-
six
that I caught fever
and
nearly died in Richmond,
and
which distressing complaint stuck to
than eighteen months.
I shall
me
for
more
never forget, on go-
ing to a store in Wilmington for a
new
rig-out
(which by the by cost $1,200), the look of horror
on the storekeeper's face when
I
had purchased would do
thought
it
if
I
told
him
he cut a foot
the coat
off it;
he
such a waste of expensive material."
The Three-Funnel
In the latter part of the
War
Boats.
between the
States,
the experience of the blockade runners evolved a
superior type of construction for great speed, shal-
low depth of hold, and increased furnace draught,
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
A
for which three funnels were provided.
and unusual
teresting
boats.
recall
I
sight
their
131
very
in-
were these three-funnel
names, Falcon, Flamingo,
Mr. Taylor
Condor, Ptarmigan, Vulture.
his
in
book says that Admiral Hewett commanded the
Falcon on an
ill-fated
was the Condor and
voyage, but
remember
I
was the celebrated and unfortunate lady
"Greenhow" or "Greenough," who
when
the
Condor ran aground near
Condor went
it
also that one of the passengers
to pieces
when
lost
her
the bar.
Mrs.
life
The
she was stranded, the
crew escaping to the shore.
The
The
sey,
last
"Pevensey."
stranded steamer on
my
list,
the Peven-
was probably named for the Earl of Wilming-
who was also Viscount Pevensey.
Her chief officer, who gave his name
ton,
tors
as
Brown Long, who ran
the
Cornubia as chief
the blockade
officer
roughs, and as the right-hand
S.
to his cap-
Joseph Brown, was undoubtedly Joseph
with
man
many
times in
Captain Bur-
of Maj.
Norman
Walker, the Confederate agent at Bermuda.
was greatly esteemed by
all
many
with gratefulness.
kindnesses to
me
Southerners.
He
I recall his
:
132
I
DERELICTS
quote
of the stranding
in full the official reports
and destruction of the Pevensey.
Destruction of the Blockade Runner "Pevensey,"
June
g,
1864.
(Report of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Harris,
U.
Navy.)
S.
S. S. 'New Berne/
"Hampton Roads, Va., June 16.
"U.
"Sir:
I
on the 9th
have the honor to report the stranding,
instant, of the
(named Penversey
blockade runner Pevensey
in the extracts
April 16, 1864),
under the following circumstances
"3.30
a.
m., steering
miles distant,
4 miles
made
distant,
N. E. by N., Beaufort 45
steamer bearing N. E. by E.,
a
running slow and heading E, N. E.;
she, being to the eastward, did not
cover this vessel.
immediately
Hauled up E. N.
E.,
ing on her within 2\^ miles, she
made
Opened
E
steering E.
fire
and stood
dis-
when, gainall
by N.
speed,
The
second shot carried away the forward davit of her
quarter boat.
She immediately changed her course,
steered N., and struck the beach 9 miles west of
Beaufort
at 8.05 a.
m.
Her crew
took to the boats
at once, this vessel at the time being 1I/2 miles dis-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
tant.
Ran
Into
133
2V2 fathoms, and when within 100
yards of the strand she blew up.
"Sent
In three boats,
boarded her, and found her
engines and boilers completely blown out.
up the pipes; anchored
rangements to pull her
In 3
off;
9
Plugged
fathoms, and
a.
made
m., tug Violet
ar-
came
down from Beaufort and anchored on the quarter;
9.30 a. m.. Commander B. M. Dove arrived In the
Cherokee, came on board and said he would take
charge of the wreck, and the
ceed to Beaufort,
the tide
at
It
New
Berne would pro-
being then high water, to save
Recalled boats and arrived at Beaufort
In.
a.
m., anchoring outside too late for the tide.
"One
prisoner was found on board the vessel, un-
1 1
harmed from
the explosion,
who proved
himself to
be an escaped prisoner from Johnson's Island, of
Morgan's
beach,
One body was found upon
guerillas.
and
thirty-five
shore by the cavalry, three of
to
be Confederate
officers,
general to Magruder.
the
prisoners were captured on
whom
are supposed
one of them adjutant
She was loaded on Confed-
erate account, cargo consisting of arms, blankets,
shoes,
cloth,
clothing,
packages marked to
lead,
bacon, and numerous
individuals.
She had been
chased on the 7th Instant by the Quaker City, and
had thrown overboard, by log book, 30 tons lead
134
DERELICTS
and 20 tons bacon; was 543 tons, of English regno manifest of cargo found. Gunner S. D.
ister;
Hines has discovered seven Whitworth tompions
tied together, bright,
and
in
good
suggests the possibility of that
condition, which
number of guns
be-
ing under the musket boxes.
*'The prisoners captured ashore were held in Fort
Macon, and
the one secured on
board was trans-
Commander Dove.
ferred there by order of
fied
un-
I
derstood that after the army authorities had
satis-
themselves with regard to the identity of the
prisoners they were to be transferred to this [place]
per Keystone State.
"I have learned since leaving Beaufort that the
reputed mate
tain
is
the real captain; that he
is
a
Cap-
Long, the outdoor agent of Major Walker
(the Confederate agent at
Bermuda),
a citizen of
New
York, and having formerly commanded
from
there.
The reputed
was merely the paper or
facts I
a ship
captain (an Englishman)
clearing captain.
Of
these
have informed Captain Gansevoort.
"It will not
but a large
now
be possible to get the vessel
off,
amount of the cargo can be saved,
if
properly guarded.
"Had
the after 30-pound Parrott, for which the
requisition
was approved by you April
22, been fur-
135
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
nished, his chances of reaching the shore
He
been reduced.
evidently
would have
was ignorant of
his
'How
far
position, as the first question asked was,
is
to
it
Fort Caswell?'
*'Very respectfully,
"Your obedient
servant,
"T. A. Harris,
"Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, Commanding.
"Acting Rear Admiral
S.
"Commanding North
P. Lee,
Atlantic Blockading
Squadron."
(Report of Acting Rear Admiral Lee, U.
S.
Navy.)
"Flagship North Atlantic
Blockading Squadron,
"JFashington, D.
"Sir:
Inclosed
I
C,
July 14, 1864.
forward to the Department a
of those of the crew of the blockade runner
Pevensey, which ran on shore and was destroyed
by her crew near Beaufort, N. C, on the 9th ultimo,
list
who
are
now
Monroe, and
the Pevensey
detained at
at Point
Camp
Lookout.
Hamilton, Fort
The
late
master of
was detained by Captain Gansevoort
as a witness, he supposing that a portion of the
cargo of the blockade runner was saved and would
be sent North as a prize.
136
DERELICTS
"The
others are detained as habitual violators of
the blockade under the instructions of the Depart-
May
ment, dated
ragut,
forwarded
9,
to
1864, to Rear Admiral Far-
me
for
my
May
information
16, 1864.
"The examination of
Commander
Commander
Chester Hatfield.
all
place
in
Peirce Crosby and Lieut.
the Pevensey, Joseph Brown,
Hamilton
men took
these
presence of
The
is
chief officer of
detained at
Camp
as an habitual violator of the blockade;
the others are detained at Point Lookout.
have requested the commandant of the post
Monroe
to discharge the
as there
is
at
I
Fort
master of the Pevensey,
no longer any reason for detaining him,
the vessel and cargo having proved a total loss.
"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Very
respectfully,
Lee,
"S. P.
"Acting Rear Admiral,
"Comdg. North
Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
"Hon. Gideon Welles,
"Secretary of the Navy.**
The "Ella and Annie."
The
chief purpose of this
book was
to record the
incidents leading to the stranding of blockade run-
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
ners upon the
Cape Fear
137
coast while endeavoring
War
to elude the Federal cruisers in the
between
There were more than three times as
many captured or sunk at sea; and a recital of some
the States.
of these exciting chases would
I
am
make another volume.
tempted, however, to include
of derelicts, an
official
the Confederate steamer Ella
mand
in these stories
account of the attempt of
and Annie,
of Captain Bonneau, with
down
paratively intimate, to run
whom
I
in
com-
was com-
the Federal cruiser
Niphon, which opposed her entrance into the Cape
Fear River, on the 9th of November, 1863, because
this incident was of unusual daring on the part of
who was
Captain Bonneau,
liable to be
hanged
as
a pirate for such temerity.
The
Ella and Annie was subsequently
equipped as the U.
S. flagship
armed and
Malvern and served
that purpose until the end of the war.
(Report of Acting Rear Admiral Lee, U.
"U.
S.
"Off Newport News,
'^November
"Sir:
S.
Navy.)
Flagship 'Minnesota,'
Va.,
12, 1863.
In addition to the captures of the
garet and Jessie and the Cornubia, or
detailed in
my
Nos. 948 and 949 of
MarLady Davis,
this
date,
I
138
DERELICTS
have the gratification of presenting
ment the
to the depart-
details of the capture of the rebel blockade
runner Ella and Annie,
"At 5.30
Wilmington.
off
morning of the 9th
o'clock on the
in-
Niphon, returning from an unsuccessful
stant, the
chase and steaming along the beach to the north-
New
ward of
Masonboro
The
Inlet,
Inlet
made another steamer near
coming down along the shore.
stranger finding himself intercepted, put his
helm up and endeavored
This
attempt
Niphon was
was
to run
down
avoided,
partly
the Niphon.
though
the
struck about the fore rigging, and her
bowsprit, stem and starboard boats carried away.
At
the
moment of
collision
reports he opened upon the
canister
Acting Master Breck
enemy with
shell
and
A
keg
and carried the prize by boarding,
of powder and slow match were found ready to
blow her up.
"The Ella and Annie
sel
is
represented to be a ves-
of 905 tons burden, in good order, with the ex-
ception
of
some small damages from
shell
and
grape.
"Her
salt,
rifles,
500
cargo
is
chiefly
composed of 480 sacks of
sacks of saltpeter,
500 barrels of
beef,
281 cases of Austrian
42 cases of paper,
etc.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
"In the collision three
men on board
139
the
and four on board the Ella and Annie were
Niphon
slightly
injured.
"Inclosed
a list of passengers
is
from
this prize,
brought up by the Neiv Berne (thirty-eight
ber) and sent to
New York
in
num-
in her.
"The capture seems to have been well and galmade by Acting Master Breck. Captain
Ridgely, senior officer, commends his spirit and
lantly
promptness.
of
I
this especial
hope that the department,
in
view
and other good service on the part
of Acting Master Breck, will favorably consider
my
application for his promotion.
"The Ella and Annie,
at
Wilmington, Del.,
would,
I think,
is
am
I
informed, was built
of light draft,
fast,
and
be very convenient for general pur-
poses in this squadron, being available either for
inside or outside service.
I
would suggest that she
be purchased by Government and sent to this squadron,
if,
after examination, she be found suitable.
"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Very
respectfully yours,
"S. P.
*'
"Comdg. North
Lee,
Acting Rear Admiral,
Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
"Hon. Gideon Welles,
"Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C."
140
DERELICTS
(Report of Acting Master Breck, U.
manding U.
S. S.
"U.
Navy, Com-
S.
Niphon.)
S. S.
'Niphon,'
"Off New Inlet,
"November g, 1863.
"Sir:
have the honor to report that on the
I
morning of
this date,
runner
bloclcade
while near the beach, saw a
along the
running
chase, fired several guns
and
my
sight of her; stood back to
beach;
station
and steamed
along the beach to the north and about 5.30
saw another steamer running along the shore
southward; stood
in to cut
gave
rockets, but at last lost
him
off,
a.
m.
to the
when he turned
directly
toward me, evidently with the intention of
running
me down, which
avoided, in part, owing
I
to this vessel answering her
He
ness.
struck
at great speed.
broadside
diately
helm with great quick-
me forward, both vessels
As we came together, I
—
grape, canister, and shell
running
— and
boarded him and took possession.
fired a
immeIn
se-
curing the prisoners a lot of shavings and a slow
match attached
to a
keg of powder were found
in
the run, the captain acknowledging his intention to
destroy the vessel.
stove
all
my
The
collision
broke bowsprit,
starboard boats, broke beam, also some
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
wood
planks near the
plates,
ends,
and caused her decks
141
damaged guard,
to leak badly.
chain
We
have
three men wounded; also four of the crew of the
Confederate steamer, one dangerously, by grape or
shell.
The blockade
and Annie, of Charleston,
the Ella
tons;
in
is
consists, as
in
near as
saltpeter, paper,
steamer,
is
in
Her
her upper works.
we can
905
cargo
ascertain, of rifles, salt,
and hardware.
officered
Confederate Navy.
boro Inlet
C,
S.
good order with the exception of nu-
merous shot holes
erate
runner, which proved to be
mostly
She
a Confed-
is
[by men]
She was captured
off
of the
Mason-
four fathoms water, eighteen miles
north of Fort Fisher; no vessel in signal distance or
in
sight immediately after her capture.
toward the
fleet,
and
in
Steamed
about half an hour
made
the mastheads of a vessel which proved to be the
U.
Shenandoah, and shortly after seven o'clock
S. S.
came
to
anchor about three miles north of the
senior officer's usual station.
About half an hour
afterwards the Shenandoah came to anchor near
and contrary
sent his
own
to the usual
custom the senior
prize master on board.
us,
officer
Transferred
the following officers and crew on board the Ella
and Annie by order of senior
sign J. J. Reagean, Acting
officer:
Acting En-
Third Assistant Engineer
142
J.
J.
DERELICTS
Sullivan, one fireman,
one ordinary seaman,
three landsmen, and two black refugees.
"Very
respectfully,
"Your obedient
servant,
"J. B.
"Commanding U.
S. S.
Breck,
'Niphon.'
"Hon. Gideon Welles,
"Secretary U. S. Navy, Washington, D. C."
(Third Report of Acting Master Breck, U.
Navy, Commanding U.
S. S.
"U.
"Beaufort,
my
N. Bonneau, captain of
states that
time, I
have to say
the Ella
and Annie,
he has an appointment as lieutenant in
the Confederate
prisoners,
I2, 1863.
former report, which
was very hurried for want of
that F.
'Niphon/
N. C, November
In addition to
"Sir:
S. S.
Navy, and that one of the wounded
now on
shore in the Hospital Beaufort,
has an appointment as master
Navy, and that
all
in the
Confederate
prisoners, except those detained
on board of the prize as witnesses, and those
mander Lynch
Berne.
to
Fortress
in the
ComMonroe per steamer
Hospital Beaufort, were sent by order of
New
S.
Niphon.)
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
143
"I wish also to state that no vessels were either
in sight or signal distance at the time of the capture
know nothing more
command
my senior to command the
of the Ella and Annie and that
I
as to her cargo, as the senior officer in
sent an officer
who
is
prize.
"I also find that
serious than I at
ports from
gard
my
my damage
to this ship
is
more
thought, and will inclose re-
first
executive officer and master in re-
to the matter.
"The Niphon will be hauled up on the sand tomorrow to ascertain the damage done to her, and
we are lightening her forward.
"I am,
Sir,
very respectfully,
"Your obedient
servant,
"J. B.
"Commanding U.
"Acting Rear Admiral
"Comdg. North
S.
Breck,
S. S.
'Niphon.'
P. Lee,
Atlantic Blockading Squadron,
"Off Newport News."
A Near
Derelict.
This caption with reference to a vessel on
at sea
permits
me
Captain Maffitt's
blockade in the
to describe one of
last
War
runs
my
fire
gallant
through the Federal
between the States.
144
It
DERELICTS
should be borne In mind that the dangers of
blockade running materially increased as the enemy
became more expert and accumulated
facilities
out-wit and out-maneuver the blockade runners.
one of the
last
to
On
voyages of Captain Maffitt he found
that the risks were aggravated by the concentration
of interest on the part of the Federals to Abaco
Light, a night's run from Nassau, and the turning
Three Federal men-
point for blockade runners.
of-war were
stationed
in
the
neighborhood and
greeted the appearance of the small vessel with a
salvo of shot which splintered spars and
bulwarks, and would have
made
damaged
short order of the
900 barrels of gunpowder which constituted
tion of the cargo,
able,
if
the Confederate
by superior speed
facilities, to
a por-
had not been
put a safe dis-
tance between her and her pursuers.
Hardly out
of danger from these three men-of-war, two others
were sighted on the horizon, and the race was
doubled as the Federals made a
The same methods used
just concluded in
in those days,
by following
so successfully in the
Europe were
and Captain
guessing, and finally eluded
after these
war
the best expedients
Maffitt's ship
a zig-zag course,
re-
fight for the prize.
was saved
which kept the enemy
him altogether.
It
was
strenuous experiences of the morning
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
that the lookout announced to
"A
the
145
weary
officer,
burning vessel reported aloft."
Surely this was a challenge to the chivalry and
humanity of the captain of the hard-pressed Con-
To
federate.
manded
the
perils of the
perils
of
unknown and
to discern her character,
a
and
however,
it
his ship's course in the di-
rection of the burning vessel.
From
Plainly,
de-
the
to be faced, not a danger to be evaded,
and the captain ordered
was
that
now added
the perils of delay
risk to the inflammable cargo.
was a duty
adventure
wit and courage were
all his
it
When
near enough
was perceived that she
Spanish barque with ensign at half-mast.
her fore hatch arose a dense smoke, abaft
were gathered panic-stricken passengers and crew.
The
chief
what
mate was dispatched
assistance
in a cutter to
render
might be necessary, and he found
on boarding the foreign barque that there were four
ladies
among
the few passengers, and these were
calmer than the
officers
and crew.
The
latter
had
completely lost their heads, and in the very act of
lowering the long boat were confusedly hauling
upon the stay
tackle.
The Confederate mate went
at once to the forecastle,
which he instantly deluged
with water, to the astonishment of the Spaniards,
who had
not thought of this method of dealing with
146
the
DERELICTS
which proved so
fire
effectual in this case that
the flames were soon under control and the
fire
quickly extinguished.
Three of the
returning from
became
ladies
were natives of Marblehead,
a visit to their uncle in
Cuba.
quite confidential in explaining to the
They
mate
their great fears of being captured by Confederate
buccaneers with which the waters were infested, ac-
cording to Cuban rumors.
On
leaving the boat
rendering this important service,
after
the
mate
could not refrain from declaring himself one of
those awful Confederate slave owners which were
the terror of the high seas, but he did not add, as
he well might have done, that he was also an
in
command
officer
of one of the blockade runners which
they so greatly feared. Their amazement was great
enough without
this bit
of information, which might
have been passed on by them and given aid and
comfort to the enemy.
As
the Confederate
coast of
came
into the waters off the
North Carolina the dangers were mate-
rially increased,
because
all
beacon lights were nat-
urally shrouded to prevent disclosures to the enemy.
Ten
miles
from the bar one of the
officers
to Captain Maffitt his fear that they
proximity of the blockaders.
reported
were
in the
The atmosphere was
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
very hazy and to
escape, for
two
owed
this they
cruisers
were
at
147
the possibility of
anchor just ahead
of them and there was no course to pursue except
perilous
the
The
ships.
this
daring maneuver, and a
fiery rocket
Confederate and the moment's
light
was followed by
eral officer,
enemy
running between the
one of
Federals were immediately aware of
"Heave
the curt
to,
or
I'll
flare
revealed the
of a calcium
demand of
a Fed-
sink you."
In this case discretion was the better part of
valor,
and Captain Maffitt gave the order
in
a
voice loud enough to be heard by foe as well as
friend.
Assured that the Confederate captain was
complying with orders, the enemy did not suspect
that the order that
had been
so plainly heard
was
merely a ruse and that the engineer had received
whispered instructions, "Full speed ahead,
open your throttle valve."
sir,
The movements
and
of the
paddle deceived the Federals into the belief that the
Confederate was really backing, but
just as the ad-
vantage was with the blockade runner and her clever
scheme was detected,
relentless
fury.
fire
was opened upon her with
Drummond
lights
were burned,
doubtless to aid the artilleryists, but so radiated the
mist as to raise the hull above the line of vision,
and the destructive
missiles
were poured
into
the
DERELICTS
148
sparse
Thus
rigging
and the
hull
was spared
the blockade runner escaped
delivered 900 barrels of
gunpowder
erates at Wilmington,
and
this
injury.
from the foe and
to the
Confed-
ammunition was
used afterwards by General Johnston at the battle
of (Shiloh.
A Human
The
story of disasters on
Federal blockade,
1
of
an
human
accomplished
Rose O'Neal Greenhow.
prominent figure
in
Cape Fear during
tragedy, the drown-
Southern
woman, Mrs.
Mrs. Greenhow was a
Washington
Buchanan administration.
society during the
She had become a
dent of Washington in her girlhood, and had
to
womanhood under
the influences which are
around the society element
She was
the
861-1865, would be incomplete
without reference to a
ing
Derelict.
rich, beautiful,
and
in the
resi-
grown
thrown
Nation's Capital.
attractive, possessing a
ready wit and a charming and forceful personality.
She was a close personal friend of President Bu-
chanan and
a friend of
William H. Seward.
With
such friends her social position was of the highest,
and she entertained many of the most prominent
men
in the
country
in
her hospitable home.
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
When
the
War
between the States began she was
Thomas
entertaining Col.
149
Jordan, later Adjutant
Knowing
General of the Confederate Army.
well
Mrs. Greenhow's strong sympathy for the land of
her. birth,
services
Colonel Jordan determined to secure her
for
newborn Confederacy, and pro-
the
posed to her that she become
government.
Her
social
a secret agent for his
her
position,
wide
made her
quaintance, her personal magnetism
ac-
pre-
eminently the one to extract information of mili-
Mrs. Greenhow
tary value for the Southern cause.
consented to perform this perilous service for the
land she loved, and started at once to get possession of facts which
would be useful
in the
coming
campaign.
She began her work
in April,
the Federal Se-
War
cret Service, sent in a report to the
ment
vehemently
Greenhow
cers
from
inveighing
No-
1861, and by
vember Allan Pinkerton, head of
against
Depart-
Mrs.
Rose
for alienating the hearts of Federal
their
sympathy with
their country,
offi-
and
accusing her of obtaining through her wiles and
powerful personal methods memoranda (and maps)
which could only have been known to
Federal Government.
officials
of the
150
DERELICTS
When
the cry
was absolutely
"On
to
Richmond!" was
essential for the
under General Beauregard to have
definite
it
Army
infor-
This data was
mation about the point of attack.
furnished him by
raised,
Confederate
Mrs. Greenhow.
She advised
him that the enemy would advance across the Potomac and on Manassas, via Fairfax Court House
and Centerville.
The Federal Army delayed
the advance, and a
second messenger was sent to Mrs. Greenhow,
was able
to
add
who
and
to her previous information,
on the strength of
it
Johnston was ordered to
re-
enforce Beauregard with the last of his 8,500 men,
and the wavering Federal
fled
It
in
a rout
—
a
was soon known
how had
mob
in
Army
turned back and
of panic-stricken fugitives.
Washington
that
Mrs. Green-
supplied the information upon which the
Confederates had constructed their plans, and she
was
closely watched.
Long
after she
knew
that she
must some day be arrested, she continued her
tivities,
ac-
finding opportunities every day to
commu*
and her
services
nicate with Confederate officers,
were so valuable that she could not be persuaded to
take refuge in the Confederate lines
was
so
Capital.
much work
when
there
for her to do in the Federal
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
She was
in
151
own home when she was finally
Here she was closely guarded,
her
placed under arrest.
but a friend and her
to
remain with her.
little
daughter were permitted
In spite of the heavy guard,
she continued to comunicate with Southern messen-
gers and kept them informed of what she heard.
After a few months she was transferred to the Old
Capitol Prison and kept
child in a
this
room lo by
12.
confinement with her
in
She suffered keenly
The
cold and cheerless place.
guarded her were very
closest scrutiny she
strict,
in
who
soldiers
but in spite of their
managed under
to send messages to the people
their very eyes
who were
eagerly
awaiting news of her on the other side of the
lines.
After tedious months of imprisonment she was tried*
on the charge of treason.
and
There was much
was uncompromising, and
permitted to
after the trial she
make her way through
took passage
whom
in a
was
the lines
Richmond, where she spent some time
ter,
direct
indirect evidence against her, but her attitude
until
to
she
blockade runner with her daugh-
she wished to place In a convent in Paris.
She took with her
letters
to
Mason and
Slidell,
which requested that every courtesy be shown her.
There
are no formal records available to verify
this.
DERELICTS
152
In Paris she was given a
Napoleon
While Mrs. Greenhow was
My
with
audience
private
III.
in
England her book.
Imprisonment, or The First Year of Abolition
Rule
in
JVashington, was published and created a
sensation.
It
was
for
vehicle
a
most pro-
the
nounced propaganda for the cause of the Confederacy and served
it
Not
well.
by
created for the South
a little
this
sympathy was
book of personal
experience.
While
gaged
in
to
a
London Mrs. Greenhow became
nobleman and she expected
and marry him after
a
voyage
to
to
America.
en-
return
In Au-
gust,
1864, she took passage on the Condor and
there
is
in
strong reason to suppose that her business
Wilmington was
in the interests
of the Confed-
eracy.
The Condor
arrived opposite the
mouth of
the
river on the night of
September 30, but
up the
saw an object about 200 yards
river, the pilot
as she crept
from shore which he thought was an enemy
his
New
The
Inlet Bar.
a blockade
vessel,
course and ran his vessel on
and he swerved
object
was the Night Hawk,
runner which had been run
down
the
previous night, and the Condor might have completed the trip in safety.
Mrs. Greenhow and her
DERELICT BLOCKADE RUNNERS
153
party begged the captain to send them ashore
boat, as this
The
a second arrest as a spy.
her request, and the boat put
ever,
in a
seemed the only chance of escape from
off.
captain acceded to
It capsized,
how-
and Mrs. Greenhow, weighted by her clothing
and a quantity of golden sovereigns, was drowned
a
few yards from land.
Her body washed ashore the next day and was
Thomas E. Taylor, who afterwards
found by Mr.
took
it
to
Wilmington.
men's Bethel, beautiful
life.
She was wrapped
She was laid out
in
in the Sea-
death as she had been
in the
Confederate
honors of war interred
flag
in
and
Oakdale Ceme-
with
full
tery,
where a small cross bearing her name may be
in
seen to this day.
After the funeral her personal
articles she
sold at public auction.
countess or duchess
tion
effects
and the
had brought with her from abroad were
and was
to
It
was
had an
said that an English
interest in the specula-
have shared the
profits.
TALES OF THE SEA
A CONFEDERATE DAUGHTER.
The
following extract from Southern Historical
Papers, written about the year
Lamb,
the
glimpse of the social side of
the
War
Fisher,
life at
gives
traffic
a
the fort during
between the States and of some of the
tinguished gentlemen
gerous
1890, by Colonel
commander of Fort
who were drawn
dis-
into this dan-
by a love of adventure, by sentiment,
or by sympathy with the Confederate cause, and by
the promise of large profits for successful enterprises.
"In the
in
fall
of 1857 a lovely Puritan maiden,
her teens, was married
in
still
Grace Church, Provi-
dence, R. L, to a Virginia youth, just passed his
majority,
a
typical
'white
who brought her
ancestral
folks,'
servants,
there
was
quite
from the pickaninny
the old gray-headed
massa.'
to his
home
homestead, where,
in
Norfolk,
beside
the
colony of family
a
just able to crawl to
mammy who
had nursed
'ole
She soon became enamoured of her sur-
roundings and charmed with the devotion of her
colored maid, whose sole duty
it
was
to wait
upon
DERELICTS
158
her young
When
missis.
John Brown raid
the
burst upon the South and her husband was ordered
to
Harpers Ferry, there was not
matron
in
all
Virginia,
a
and when
more indignant
at last secession
came, the South did not contain a more enthusiastic
rebel,
little
"On
the
15th of
the surrender of
May, 1862,
Norfolk
father-in-law, then mayor,
tending a captured
Cut
off
vations
city,
a
few days after
to the Federals
by her
amid the excitement
at-
her son Willie was born.
from her husband and subjected
to the pri-
and annoyances incident
subjugated
to
a
community, her father insisted upon her coming
with her children to his
home
notwithstanding she was
in
all
in
Providence; but,
a luxurious
home with
that paternal love could do for her, she pre-
ferred to leave
all
these comforts to share with her
husband the dangers and privations of the South.
She vainly tried to persuade Stanton, Secretary of
War,
to let her
and her three children with a nurse
return to the South; finally he consented to let her
go by
flag of truce
from Washington
to City Point,
but without a nurse, and as she was unable to man-
age three
little
ones, she left the youngest with his
grandparents, and with two others bravely set out
for Dixie.
The generous
outfit
of every descrip-
A CONFEDERATE DAUGHTER
159
was prepared for the journey, and which
tion which
was carried
to the place of embarkation,
lessly cast aside
was
ruth-
by the inspectors on the wharf, and
no tears or entreaties or
offers of
reward by the
parents availed to pass anything save a scanty supply of clothing and other necessaries.
South,
the
the
Arriving
in
brave young mother refused the
proffer of a beautiful
home
in
Wilmington, the
oc-
cupancy of the grand old colonial mansion Orton,
on the Cape Fear River, and
upon taking
insisted
up her abode with her children and their colored
nurse in the upper
room of
a pilot's house,
where
they lived until the soldiers of the garrison built her
a cottage one mile north of Fort Fisher, on the Atlantic Beach.
In both of these
casionally exposed to the shot
homes she was
and
shell fired
oc-
from
blockaders at belated blockade runners.
"It
was
tive style,
in
a quaint abode, constructed in
most primi-
with three rooms around one big chimney,
which North Carolina pine knots supplied heat
and
light
historic,
on winter nights.
meals which
its
charming hostess would prepare for
her distinguished guests.
trious
This cottage became
and was famed for the frugal but tempting
Confederate
were delighted
Besides the
Army and Navy
many
illus-
officers
who
to find this bit of sunshiny civiliza-
160
tion
DERELICTS
on the wild sandy beach, ensconced among the
sand dunes and straggling pines
many
and black-jack,
celebrated English naval officers enjoyed
under assumed names:
hospitality
wards
renowned Hobart Pasha,
the
manded
the Turkish
its
Roberts, after-
who com-
Navy; Murray, now Admiral
Murray-Aynsley, long since
retired
having
after
been rapidly promoted for gallantry and meritorious services in the British Navy; the brave but unfortunate
Hugh
Burgoyne, V.
C, who went down
in the British iron-clad Captain, in the
toria Cross in the
services as
Bay of
who won
cay; and the chivalrous Hewett,
Crimea and was knighted for
ambassador
to
Bis-
the Vichis
King John of Abyssinia,
and who, after commanding the Queen's
lamented as Admiral Hewett.
yacht, died
Besides these there
were many genial and gallant merchant captains,
among them
Halpin,
who afterwards commanded
the Great Eastern while laying ocean cables; and
famous war correspondents
ley,
M.
Frank
P.,
Vizetelly, of the
afterwards murdered
plucky
—Hon. Francis C. Law-
correspondent of the London Times, and
Tom
London
in the
Illustrated
Soudan.
News,
Nor must
the
Taylor be forgotten, supercargo of the
Banshee and the Night Hawk, who, by
his coolness
and daring escaped with a boat's crew from the
A CONFEDERATE DAUGHTER
hands of the Federals after capture
and who was endeared
161
off
the
fort,
to the children as the Santa
Claus of the war,
"At
first
the
little
Confederate was
satisfied
pork and potatoes, cornbread and rye
sorghum sweetening; but
coffee,
with
with
after the blockade runners
made her
acquaintance the impoverished storeroom
was soon
filled to
overflowing, notwithstanding her
heavy requisitions on
sick
it
for the post hospital, the
and wounded soldiers and
sailors
a subject of her tenderest solicitude,
always being
and often the
hard-worked and poorly fed colored hands blessed
the
little
lady of the cottage for a tempting treat.
"Full of stirring events were the two years passed
in the
cottage on Confederate Point.
The drown-
ing of Mrs. Rose Greenhow, the famous Confederate spy, off Fort Fisher, and the finding of her
body, which was tenderly cared for, and the rescue
from the waves, half dead, of Professor Holcombe,
and
his restoration,
gotten.
the
Her
were incidents never
to be for-
fox hunting with horse and hounds,
narrow escapes of friendly
vessels,
the fights
over blockade runners driven ashore, the execution
of deserters, and the loss of an infant son, whose
little spirit
went out with the
tide
one sad summer
night, all contributed to the reality of this
tic life.
roman-
DERELICTS
162
"When
Porter's
December, 1864,
and the
days,
fleet
appeared
Httle
family with their household
goods were sent across the river
Butler's
powder
Fort Fisher,
off
was storm bound for several
it
to
Orton before
After the Christmas
ship blew up.
victory over Porter and Butler, the
upon coming back
insisted
her husband had procured a
Cumberland County.
little
heroine
to her cottage, although
home
of refuge in
General Whiting protested
against her running the risk, for on dark nights
her husband could not leave the
the firing
sand
hills
fort, but she said if
became too hot she would run behind the
had done before, and come she
as she
would.
"The
of the
1
fleet
reappeared unexpectedly on the night
2th of January, 1865.
and when the
husband sent
It
lights of the fleet
was
a
dark night,
were reported her
a courier to the cottage to instruct her
to pack up quickly and be prepared to leave with
children and nurse as soon as he could
The
them good-bye.
crew,
was stationed
cottage.
were
mounted
at Craig's
After midnight, when
given
for
the
his horse
was dark and
coming
and rode
silent.
come
to bid
garrison barge, with a trusted
He
Landing, near the
all
necessary orders
attack,
the
colonel
to the cottage, but all
found the message had
A CONFEDERATE DAUGHTER
163
been delivered, but his brave wife had been so un-
had
disturbed by the news that she
and no preparations for a retreat
Precious hours had been
lost,
and
fallen asleep
had been made.
as the fleet
would
soon be shelling the beach and her husband have to
return to the fort, he hurried them into the boat as
soon as dressed, with only what could be gathered
up
and household
hastily, leaving dresses, toys,
ar-
the hands of the foe."
ticles to fall into
Mr. Thomas E. Taylor's description of the famous Englishmen referred to is worth repeating:
"As my memory takes me back to those jovial
but hard-working days of camaraderie,
choly to think
how many
before; Mrs. Murray-Aynsley,
commanding
gave up
lately
only to die
;
captains;
Maurice
Frank
Captain; Hewett,
of the Channel Fleet
Portman,
whose bones
Vizetelly,
in the
an
lie
ex-diplomatist;
alongside those of
Soudan; Lewis Grant Watson,
brother agent; Arthur Doering, one of
lieutenants,
are
the ill-fated
command
Burgoyne, one
old Steele, the king of blockade-running
Hicks Pasha
my
all
melan-
who was drowned
of the Navy's brightest ornaments,
who
is
Mrs. Hobart and
Hugh
her husband, Hobart Pasha;
while
it
of those friends have gone
and
a host of old
gone, and
I
my
loyal
Confederate friends,
could count on
my
fingers those
164
DERELICTS
remaining of
chums who did not know
a circle of
what care or fear was, and who would have stood
by each other through thick and thin
In fact,
gency.
my
in
any emer-
old friends Admiral Murray-
Aynsley and Frank Hurst are almost the only two
living of that companionship.
"Of Hobart Pasha and
played
lion
in the
(In
of the Important part he
Turko-Russlan war and Cretan
which he acknowledged that
running experiences stood him
most,
if
not
all
my
He commanded
called the
Don,
steamers ever
craft, in
a
such
in
good stead)
readers will have read or heard.
smart
in fact
little
one of the
And
built.
twin-screw steamer
first
twin-propeller
very proud he was of his
which he made several successful runs un-
der the assumed name of Captain Roberts.
first
In
trip after
Captain Roberts gave up
order to go home, the
Don was
long chase, and his late chief
In
rebel-
his blockade-
On
her
command
captured after a
oflicer,
who was
then
charge, was assumed by his captors to be Roberts.
He
maintained silence concerning the point, and the
Northern newspapers upon the arrival of the prize
at Philadelphia
ture of the
cer,
were
Don and
full
of the subject of the 'Cap-
the notorious English naval
"Captain Roberts."
'
Much
they to find they had got the
the English naval officer
was
wrong man, and
still
offi-
chagrined were
at large.
that
165
A CONFEDERATE DAUGHTER
"Poor Burgoyne, whose
tragic
to the capsizing of the
owing
and early end,
Captain, everybody
deplored, as a blockade runner was not very suc-
remember
cessful.
If I
or three
trips.
Had
gentle as a
have saved
self
only two
before him in the Navy; bravest of
brilliant career
the brave, as
made
correctly he
he lived he would have had a
evidenced by the V. C. he wore,
is
woman,
unselfish to a
his life if
fault,
he might
he had thought more of him-
men on that terrible occasion
when his last words were, 'Look out
yourselves, men; never mind me.'
and
of his
less
off Finisterre,
for
"Then
there
was Hewett, another wearer of the
'cross for valor,'
who
has only recently joined the
majority, after a brilliant career as admiral com-
manding
Fleet;
in the
who
East Indies, Red Sea, and Channel
King John
successfully interviewed
Abyssinia, and
was
his flagship at
Suakim, but insisted upon fighting
the square at El Teb,
geniality later
in
not content to pace the deck of
and whose
on as commander
hospitality
in
in
and
chief
of the
is still
alive.*
Channel Fleet was proverbial.
"Murray-Aynsley,
Who
I
rejoice to say,
that knows 'old Murray' does not love him?
Gentle as a child, brave as a
•^They are all gone now.
—
J. S.
lion,
a
man
without
—
166
DERELICTS
guile,
he was perhaps the most successful of
naval blockade runners.
all
In the Venus he had
hairbreadth escapes, notably on one occasion
he ran the gauntlet of the Northern
into
Wilmington.
eral blockaders
The Venus,
and pounded
fleet in
the
many
when
daylight
hotly pursued by sev-
at
by others, while she
steamed straight through them, old Murray on the
bridge, with his coat sleeves hitched up almost to
his arm-pits
—
a trick
he had when greatly excited
otherwise as cool as possible, was, as
wards
told me,
'a
Lamb
sight never to be forgotten.'
after-
"
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS.
An
almost daily incident of the Federal blockad-
ing fleet
was the rescue from
who
ligent contrabands,"
frail
boats of negro
by the Federals as
slaves, officially reported
"intel-
at the risk of their lives
deserted their owners and escaped to the Federal
warships several miles from the beach.
They num-
bered several hundred during the war, and
I
am
informed that very few of them returned from the
North, where many settled
dom.
Some
of the
more
a larger proportion died
in their
new-found
free-
industrious prospered, but
from exposure
to the rig-
orously cold winters of the North.
Specimens of the
official
reports of such cases
follow:
"u.
s. s.
'monticello/
"Off Wilmington, N. C,
"September 22, 1862.
"Sir:
I
beg leave to forward you the following
information obtained from the within
sons,
who came
"Frank
to Robert
off to this v^essel this
named
per-
morning:
Clinton, aged thirty-five years, belonging
H. Cowan.
167
168
DERELICTS
"Samuel Mince, aged twenty-three years, belonging to
Mrs. Elizabeth Mints.
"Thomas Cowen, aged
twenty-four years, belong-
ing to Mrs. J. G. Wright.
"Charles Millett, aged twenty-eight years, belonging to Mrs. John Walker.
"James Brown, aged twenty-three
ing to
years, belong-
John Brown.
"Horace Smith, aged twenty-two
years, belong-
ing to Mrs. William Smith.
"David Mallett, aged
to
twenty-six years, belonging
Mrs. John Walker.
"The gunboat North Carolina
next Saturday and
down
is
to be launched
to be clad with railroad iron
is
to the water's edge.
The
sides of the boat
are built angular, and the guns are to be
on a covered deck.
The lower
of pine and the upper of heavy oak.
is
to be fitted
engine she
is
have
is
to
come out of
state that they are sanguine of
the loth of October, 1862.
from
in
in
is
This vessel
up by Mr. Benjamin Beery and the
to
Uncle Ben, formerly a tugboat.
agree
mounted
part of the hull
the steamer
contrabands
having her ready by
These contrabands are
and about Wilmington
stating that
The
that city
city,
is
and they
all
completely en-
trenched and guns mounted at every half mile upon
169
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS
the works.
From
their account
has several batteries upon
Camp Brown, two
called
is
Cape Fear River
The
banks.
its
from the
miles
first
city,
is
which
an earth and log work on the right-hand side
river, and mounts two guns; opposite
going up the
to
it
are obstructions
sunken
The
cribs.
the
in
river,
next fort below
Tirza and mounts two guns and
of the river.
side
a
large
The
next
is
is
consisting
called
on the same
Fort
is
of
Mount
Philip,
St.
mounting sixteen guns, near Old
work,
Brunswick, on the left-hand side of the river going
Opposite
up.
tions in the
this
last-named work the
river are
heavy
piles
At
passageway through them.
obstruc-
with a narrow
this point the light-
was taken from Frying Pan Shoals, is
anchored inside the obstruction and mounts four
boat, which
guns.
There
Zeek's
Island,
One of
C, and
is
also
lightboat
a
mounting
these contrabands
like
a
is
anchored inside
number of guns.
from
Fayetteville,
making
states that they are
rifles
N.
and gun
carriages up there, and also that they are building
a large
the
foundry and blacksmith's shop.
arms are completed they are
As
fast as
sent to Raleigh,
North Carolina.
"These contrabands
ceeded
in getting
state
out of the
that
the
rebels
suc-
Modern Greece (which
DERELICTS
170
was run ashore near
vessel
New
Inlet)
cannon, which, from their description,
I
rifled
six
should judge
Whitworth's breech-loading guns; also 500
to be
stand of arms and a large amount of powder and
clothing, the last
two
in a
damaged
One
condition.
also states that the steamer Kate, before running into
this port,
was chased by
of, as
of
and threw over-
a cruiser
board 10,000 stand of arms.
This he
positive
is
one of the hands on board the Kate, a friend
his,
him
told
so.
From
their accounts I judge
that a regular and uninterrupted trade
New
tween Nassau,
is
kept up be-
Providence, and Shallotte In-
N. C, which inlet is about 20 miles to
ward of this place. Schooners are said
to arrive
here weekly, and, after discharging, take
in cotton,
let,
turpentine,
and
rosin,
and
sail
the west-
for Nassau
papers purporting that they sailed from the
Wilmington.
I
of
would suggest that some means be
taken to stop this trade, and
"Very
with
city
I
am,
respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"D. L. Braine,
"Lieutenant-Conijnander.
"Commander G. H. Scott,
"Comdg. U.
S. S.
'Maratanza,'
"Off Western Bar, Cape Fear River."
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS
*'U. S.
Gunboat
171
'Penobscot,'
"Off Cape Fear, N. C,
"September 25, 1862.
"Sir:
I
have
to
Inform you that seven contra-
this vessel this morning who gave
own and their masters' names as follows:
"William, owned by S. G. Northrop, of Wil-
bands came to
their
mington.
"Lewis, owned by Dr. McCrea, of Wilmington.
"Ben Greer, owned by
P. K. Dickinson, of Wil-
mington.
"George, owned by T. D. Walker, of Wilmington.
"Virgil Richardson, owned by James Bradley.
"Abraham Richardson, owned by D. A. F. Flem-
ming.
"No
information of importance was
elicited,
ex-
cept that the steamer Mariner, loaded with cotton,
tobacco,
and turpentine, was ready for sea and
would make an early attempt
to run the blockade
of this port.
"I am, respectfully,
"Your obedient
"J.
servant,
M.
B. Clitz,
"Commander.
"Commander G. H. Scott,
"Commanding U. S. S. 'Maratanza/
"And Senior Officer Present."
:
172
DERELICTS
"From William
who has been
ter,
Robins, contraband, ship carpen-
work upon one of
at
the rebel
gunboats at Wilmington since July
There are two boats
"i.
&
tion; one at J. L. Cassidy
&
Captain Whitehead superintends the
Brothers.
former and Mr. Williams the
Muse
beam, 12
like
latter.
will be
ready
in
engines are on board but not
new, made
at
Richmond
the Uncle Ben.
diameter.
The
feet keel,
They are
The iron
Merrimac.
the
Richmond and
150
plan,
feet draft.
;
Commander
Both boats are
has control of the whole.
upon the same
built
process of construc-
in
Sons, the other at Beery
to
is
One
set.
the other
yet ready.
workmen
left.
in
ninety-five to
"2.
now
moved
at
Boats would have
had not
three weeks
Some
struck for
pay; some were fearful of yellow fever.
boat;
is
Propellers are about eight feet in
Guns are not
of the
of them
was taken from
boats are pierced for eight guns,
been ready for launching
many
made in
The
be
four months.
but will carry but three, which can be
ease.
23 feet
to be iron-roofed
more
Formerly
one hundred were at work on each
only thirty.
Pay $2,50
Provisions scarce.
to $3.
Flour, $27;
rice,
12I/2
cents; potatoes, $3.50 to $4; bacon, 50 cents; beef,
25 cents; meal, $2; butter, 85 cents to $1.
173
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS
There are no
"3.
soldiers in
is
3,000
in all in this vicinity.
Fort
Captain
Fisher.
Island and
is
now
Friday
"4.
Col-
at
last
regi-
There are about
Masonboro Sound.
ment,
at
Wilmington.
(Leventhorpe), with one
Livingsthrop
onel
Colonel
Dudley
Lamb
evacuated
is
at
Zeek's
Fort Fisher.
was
set
apart
by
President
Davis as a day for thanksgiving and prayer for
the victories before
Richmond and
also for the capture of
in
Maryland, as
Harpers Ferry and Cincin-
both of which were taken without the loss of
nati,
a life.
No
"5.
the
vessel has run in or out of the port since
Modern Greece
except the Kate.
Greece had two shots through her
through her donkey engine.
Her
The Modern
boiler,
and one
cargo consisted
Much was taken
much remains. Powder was all wet. They
some of it. She had two heavy guns. She
very fine steamer. They saved none of her
of powder and arms and whisky.
out and
dried
was
a
machinery.
"The Kate ran in and out the main channel. The
is now ready to run out, having 100
bales of cotton and 100 barrels of rosin. They say
tug Mariner
a schooner ran in at Little
The Mariner
is
River Inlet not long ago.
going to Nassau for salt."
174
DERELICTS
Information
by
given
body
Shaw's
Colonel
servant:
hundred
"Thirty-five
troops
margin
large
(a
given) in and about Wilmington, including
forts,
all
the
under the command of General Leventhorpe.
At present most of the soldiers have left Wilmington and moved down this way on account of yellow
fever.
There are about 800
about double the number
Fort Caswell, and
at
at
Fort Fisher.
The
troops are clothed, very dirty, but apparently are
Provisions come to them from the
sufficiently fed.
They
country.
of age.
Many
from fourteen
enlist
Have
deserted in one day.
mond, but they are
rectness
of such.
Richmond
to fifty years
of the conscripts run away; 300 have
in
telegrams from Rich-
doubt about the entire cor-
Previous to the battles before
the people were quite disheartened and
were willing
to give
up the place;
since,
however,
much encouraged, and a better feeling perThere are some Union men in W. Not
vades.
any small craft at W. The two gunboats, not rams,
are being completed; workmen from the army.
One engine is new from Richmond; the other old
from Uncle Ben, and each boat will mount three
guns on a side; also one forward and one aft. The
they are
tug Mariner
two guns;
is
is
prepared to run for Nassau.
loaded with cotton.
Flour
is
Has
$30 per
1'^^
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS
pair.
whisky $15 a gallon; boots $20 a
No
season.
grown some corn about W. this
barrel;
Have
business
Clerks
doing.
all
enlisted.
The
fort's
the Otorara;
southwest breastworks were injured by
and
Charleston,
Beauregard at
no one killed.
left
have
to
ought
Commander Flusser, who
Lieut.
'A "reliable contratoday
band" who says he deserted from the enemy
servant,
officer's
an
and who represents himself as
he has heard of no boat building up
out the
'1'
in his
name, said:
declares that
this river; that
there
;
tion at
he does not believe that there
is
one
construethat one was some time since under
been dishas
her
on
work
Tarboro, but that
continued,' etc.
I
fear the 'reliable contraband'
was
do not think anysent in by Messieurs les Secesh.
unless he be
white,
Carolina
one can outlie a North
I
North Carolina negro."
a
from
Also there were occasional white deserters
Confederate
out-lying
the
Fort Fisher and from
for obcamps or outposts. These were not named
in the offivious reasons, and they were described
vermin
with
infested
so
and
cial reports as so ragged
that they
had
to be
immediately divested of their
and the declothing, which was thrown overboard,
chests.
supply
ships'
the
from
serters were clothed
As
is
cleanliness
is
said to be next to
godliness,
manifest that these fellows were a very
bad
it
lot.
:
MALINGERERS.
It Is
remarkable that the blockade runners seldom
included in their complement of officers and crew
a professional
doctor or surgeon, although there
were occasions when they were greatly needed. Few
of our
burst
men were wounded, although
the bombshells
round us again and again and
all
finally
sunk
the Lilian to a level with the deck.
The
made
Bermuda
runs from Wilmington to Nassau were
in
forty-eight to fifty-two hours,
and
in
seventy-two
and the
eighty hours,
to
to
or
sick
wounded
received scant attention until they reached
port.
therefore devolved upon the purser or the
It
chief officer to attend such cases,
ited
knowledge of medicine
of our alleged sick
and quinine.
all
men
to
my
very lim-
compound
cathartic pills
majority of the cases of "pains
.
over them" were malingerers, some of
dodged
tain
A
and
restricted the treatment
their duty during the entire voyage.
Hobart, of the Don, told us of such
his ship Interviewed
by his chief
follows
1/7
officer,
whom
Cap-
a case
C
,
on
as
:
178
DERELICTS
C:
"Well,
my
man, what's the matter with
you?"
"Please,
Patient:
I've
sir,
got pains
all
over
me."
C:
"Oh,
all
Then during
thing
say:
over you, are they?
the pause
was being mixed
"Here, take
it
up,
this,
That's bad."
was evident that some-
and
I
could hear
and come again
C
in the eve-
(Exit patient.)
ning."
Then C
said to himself:
"I don't think he'll
come again; he has got two drops of
Skulking rascal, pains
the croton.
over him, eh?"
all
"I never heard the voice of that patient again,"
said Captain
had no
C
called
Hobart; "in
fact, after a
short time
we
cases of sickness on board."
explained that what he served out, as he
it,
was croton
oil;
and that none of the crew
came twice for treatment.
The
ship's
discipline
was generally well main-
tained at sea, but instances of insubordination in
port were of almost daily occurrence.
dealt with usually by the
designated, the chief
corrigibles
first
officer.
But some of the
in-
were brought before the commander for
treatment and something like
I
These were
mate, or, as he was
this
colloquy, which
take partly from Punch, would ensue
MALINGERERS
Commander:
"What
Is
this
179
man's
character
apart from this offence?"
Petty
Officer:
"Well,
goes ashore when he
he
to.
likes,
likes,
sir,
this
here
man,
he
he comes aboard when
he uses 'orrible language when he's spoke
In fact from his general behavior he might be
taken for the captain of this ship," which exactly
fitted the case
an expert
of our skipper at that time,
in the use
of 'orrible language.
who was
EXPERIENCES IN QUARANTINE.
Eluding the blockading
Bar was not
days.
that a steamer
town,
hitherto
would run
perfectly
the malign spell of
or smallpox.
at the
Cape Fear
quite within the range of possibility
was
It
fleet
the only adventure in those perilous
into a
harbor and find the
withered under
healthy,
some scourge
like
yellow fever
Sometimes the plague would break
out in the town while the steamer was loading,
sometimes
it
the steamer,
would break out among the crew of
and
this
is
Lilian on the occasion I
what was alleged of
am
the
about to relate.
After several narrow escapes from the squadron
the Gulf Stream, the Lilian made St. George,
Bermuda, on the morning of the fourth day, and at
in
once discharged her cargo, hoping to get away in
time for another run while
we had
a
few hours of
darkness.
We
had, however, hardly received the half of
our inward cargo of gunpowder and commissary
supplies
tor,
who
when we were visited by the harbor docalleged that we had a case of smallpox
182
DERELICTS
on board and peremptorily ordered us
antine ground, about
some uninhabited
two miles out of
to the quar-
which made
rocks,
more
dreariness of a quarantine station
the
usual
distressing,
and where he informed us we must remain
at least
In vain our captain protested
twenty-one days.
that he
among
port,
was mistaken, that
the case to which he re-
ferred was a slight attack of malarial fever, com-
bined with other symptoms which were not at
all
dangerous (which subsequently proved to be true).
The
doctor was unrelenting;
at once, he
said,
ernor at Hamilton,
fij'e,
if
we
did not proceed
he would report us to the gov-
who would
send H.
M.
S. Spit-
then on the station, to tow us out, and after
we had served our
quarantine,
for resisting his authority.
we would
be arrested
Finding remonstrance
of no avail, our captain agreed to get away as soon
as possible, but before
we could make preparation
for our departure a tug
towed us
among
was
out, nolens volens,
sent alongside which
and
left us at
anchor
the sea gulls, with only ten days' provisions
for a three weeks' quarantine.
Being ex
to
officio
the ship's doctor, I began at once
physic the unfortunate sailor
who had
tingly brought us into this trouble,
my knowledge
unwit-
and, although
of the pharmacopoeia did not go be-
EXPERIENCES IN QUARANTINE
yond
cathartic pills
his feet to join all
antine officer,
day and
at a
and quinine,
I
183
soon had him on
hands for inspection by the quar-
who came
windward of us every
off to
respectable distance bawled out his
category of questions which were required by law.
We
were daily warned that
if
any of our
officers
or crew were found on shore or on board any of
the vessels in the harbor, the full extent of the law
would be meted out
and we were given
to them,
to
understand that twenty-one days' quarantine was a
mere bagatelle compared with the punishment which
would follow any attempt
mous
we came
restric-
to a unani-
decision at the end of three days that
would prefer the
in
evade these
to
tions; notwithstanding which,
comparative security, and
solved by the captain that
enough
we
risk of capture at sea to such a life
to take his gig
George and secure some
if
and
it
was accordingly
re-
any of us were plucky
a boat's
crew to
St.
castings at a shipsmith's
on shore which were required by the
chief engineer,
we would proceed toward Wilmington without
fur-
ther preparation and without the formality required
by law.
Being comparatively indifferent as to the
albeit
somewhat
result,
confident of success, I at once vol-
unteered, to which our captain agreed, and amid
184
a
DERELICTS
good deal of
chaffing
who were
officers
from several Confederate
with us as passengers,
I
started
trustworthy
men
were careful to leave shortly after the
visit
with our second engineer and
five
for the shore.
We
of the health physician, so that our absence would
not be noticed when
as
all
hands were turned
out,
and
we approached the harbor I was gratified to obwe were entirely unnoticed. We landed
serve that
about half a mile below the town, and leaving the
men
with the boat, which
concealed,
I
I
ordered them to keep
proceeded with the engineer to
dis-
patch our business, which delayed us several hours.
At
we were ready for the return, and findmen unmolested, we proceeded down the
last
ing our
harbor toward the ship Storm King, which had
recently left the China trade to carry Confederate
States
Government cotton from
dezvous to Liverpool.
quarter,
to
whom
we were
I
excitedly hailed
was well known
Bermuda
ren-
by her captain,
personally, with the in-
telligence that a quarantine boat
ship
the
As we passed under her
had
just left
and that we were probably discovered, as
course had been suddenly changed for us while
were pulling down the bay.
our
its
we
EXPERIENCES IN QUARANTINE
Thinking
to elude the pursuer, if such
185
it
proved
men
to be, I steered for the rocks along shore, the
way at
we were
giving
the oars with a will, but
that
closely
fears were
flag
watched and that our friend's
The well-known yellow
now clearly in pursuit of us;
off, we at once returned to
fully realized.
was borne by a boat
and, finding escape cut
the
Storm King and entreated the captain
us on board, and
if
good fellow agreed
set to
work
of the
We
was
of us altogether.
my men
had hardly
if
This the
having been
were part of the crew,
at once secreted
many staterooms
determined that
and
to do,
as if they
the engineer,
to secrete
the health officer boarded him,
to profess ignorance
and locked
with
I,
one
in
then empty.
settled ourselves in the berths,
came we would cover
the worst
up our heads and draw the
the
we soon saw
curtains,
when we heard
measured sound of oars approaching the gang-
way near the room in which we were hiding, and a
moment later the hail, "Storm King ahoy!" "Aye,
aye, sir;
what do you want?"
"You have on board
steamer Lilian
trary to law.
in
I
a
boat's
quarantine,
demand
crew from the
who have
left
con-
their surrender."
"Quite a mistake. Doctor; quite a mistake,
sure you," responded Captain
McDonald.
I
as-
186
DERELICTS
"But
I
saw the boat
few minutes ago, and
ing,
we
or
"But
I
on board
"What
will search
pull
under your quarter a
I insist
upon
their forthcom-
your ship."
no such people
protest, Doctor, there are
my
a
ship."
consummate
liar
old
McDonald
is,"
groaned the engineer, sweltering under two pairs
of blankets.
"Ah
ha," exclaimed the health officer at this mo-
ment, "we have here the captain's gig alongside;
and here
is
the
name
How
Lilian on the stern.
is
this?"
"Oh," replied the imperturbable McDonald, "we
picked her up adrift this morning;
know
"A
I
am
glad to
the owner."
very unlikely story. Captain, and
to search," quoth the doctor;
we
will
have
and then we heard
several persons ascending the ladder, followed by
further expostulations on the part of our friend the
captain, evidently of no avail, for the party
diately entered the saloon
Door
after
door was opened and
shut,
gradually approached our hiding place,
at
imme-
and began their search.
and
I
as they
looked up
Sandy McKinnon, the Scotch engineer, who pre-
sented a most ludicrous and woeful sight, the perspiration pouring
down
his fat cheeks, as In a
most
EXPERIENCES IN QUARANTINE
despairful voice he moaned, "It's
noo, Purser,
a'
it's
up
wi' us;
up
a'
we
187
wi' us the
shall be put in
preeson and the dell kens what'U be to pay."
With anxious
and
at last
hearts
came;
it
a
we waited
for the worst,
heavy hand wrenched our
door knob and an impatient voice demanded that
The steward protested
room was empty and that the key was
the door be unlocked.
that
the
lost,
which only seemed to increase the
High words
nation to enter.
determi-
officer's
ensued.
The
captain,
with a heartiness which excited our admiration but
increased our fear, poured a volley of abuse
the unlucky doctor,
and
his duty,
come
who was
at times I
to blows.
fancied they
This was at
emptory demand that the
for to force the door.
had almost
last quelled
door
in
I
by a per-
ship's carpenter be sent
The steward
at this juncture
produced the key, which he averred had
found
upon
apparently discharging
just
been
another lock, and while he fumbled at our
thought
I
heard the sound of suppressed
laughter on the outside, but dismissed the idea as
absurd.
A moment
after the
door opened, and before our
astonished vision were ranged our good friends and
shipmates.
Major Hone of Savannah, Capt. Leo
Vogel
St.
of
Augustine,
Sergeant
Gregory
of
188
DERELICTS
Crowels, and Eugene Maffitt,
McDonald and
who
with Captain
several of his friends were fairly
We
shrieking with laughter at our sorry plight.
had been completely
sold.
The whole scheme was
planned on board our own ship immediately after
our departure, and Captain
McDonald was
privy
arrangement which he so successfully
the
to
car-
ried out.
The
voices which
we supposed
from Her Majesty's
own
our fright came
in
were feigned by our
who made the most of
The trick was too good to
people,
expense.
the
officers,
good doctor came next day
from quarantine,
all
the joke at our
keep, and
to
when
discharge us
traces of sickness having dis-
appeared, no one enjoyed the fun more than he,
though he said
enough.
it
might have
resulted
al-
seriously
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL
The Confederate
States Signal
rendered some very
the blockaders and the beach,
As
blockade
in getting
between
where they were
danger of the shore batteries
became known
Corps frequently
efficient service to the
runners after they had succeeded
in
CORPS.
also
until their character
to the forts.
the signal system developed, a detailed
mem-
ber was sent out with each ship, and so important
did this service become that signal officers, as they
were
called,
were occasionally applied for by owners
or captains of steamers
before sailing for
in the
Clyde or at Liverpool
Bermuda or Nassau
to
engage
in
running the blockade.
The
first
batteries
suffered
attempt to communicate with the shore
was
a failure,
and consequently the service
some reproach for
a while, but subsequent
practice with intelligent, cool-headed
in
men
resulted
complete success, and some valuable ships, with
still
more valuable
cargoes, were saved
from cap-
ture or destruction by the intervention of the signal
service,
when, owing
to the darkness
189
and bad land-
190
fall,
DERELICTS
the captain and pilot were alike unable to recog-
nize their geographical position.
To
wells,
the late
Mr. Frederick W. Gregory, of Cro-
N. C, belonged
the
honor of the
as a signal operator in this service.
the corps
success
first
Identified with
from the beginning of the blockade, and
with the Cape Fear at Price's Creek Station, which
was for
a long time in his efficient charge, he brought
to this
new and novel duty an
experience and
effi-
and
sur-
ciency equalled by few of his colleagues
passed by none.
It
was well said of him that he
was always ready and never
afraid,
two elements
of the almost unvarying success which attended the
ships to which he
was subsequently assigned.
was my good fortune
to
It
be intimately associated
with Mr. Gregory for nearly two years, during
which we had many ups and downs together as
mates aboard and as companions ashore.
one of the few young
ning
who
men engaged
In
He
ship-
was
blockade run-
successfully resisted the evil Influences
and
depraved associations with which we were continually
surrounded.
Unselfish and honorable in
all his
relations with his fellows, courageous as a lion in
time of danger, he was an honor to his State and to
the cause which he so worthily represented.
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL CORPS
The
more
191
following narrative related by him gives a
explicit account
of the signal service than
could offer by description of
"Some time
its
I
workings:
early in 1863, the Confederate
ernment purchased on the Clyde
Govtwo
think)
(I
steamers for the purpose of running the blockade.
The
first
to arrive
was the
Giraffe.
While
in the
Cape Fear, Captain Alexander, who had charge of
the signal corps at Smithville, suggested the propriety of putting a signal officer aboard to facilitate
the entrance of ships into the port at night by the
use of two lights, a red and a white, covered with a
shade
in
front of the globe to
lift
up and down, by
which we could send messages as we did with the
flag
on land
in the
day and with the torch
the red light representing the
the white light the
consultation
Alexander
Giraffe,
to
wave
General
wave
to the right
to the left.
Whiting
send up a signal
at night;
ordered
officer
and
After some
Captain
to join the
and Robert Herring was detailed for that
purpose and sent to Wilmington, where the lights
were prepared, and he went aboard.
went out and returned
successfully, but
cause (I never understood
ashore.
In
the
meantime
Giraffe
from some
why) Herring
attract the attention of the land force
message
The
failed to
and sent no
the
other
192
DERELICTS
steamer, the Cormtbia, arrived in port, and Captain
Alexander
having
ordered
been
Richmond
and
nubia,
Gen-
a signal officer for the Cor-
was detailed and
I
to prepare the lights
"We
down from
to take charge of the signal corps,
Whiting ordered
eral
and
elsewhere,
Lieutenant Doggett having been sent
sent to
Wilmington
and report on board.
cleared the bar successfully, with Captain
Burroughs
and had
in
a
command, and C. C. Morse
good voyage
to St. George,
as pilot,
Bermuda,
where we unloaded our cargo of cotton and
re-
loaded with supplies for the Southern Army.
On
our return
we made
trip
land
the
miles above Fort Fisher and coasted
inlet,
fifty
or sixty
down
to the
our intention being to get near the land
side the blockading fleet,
distance on account of shoal water.
off a certain
well as
I
in-
which was obliged to keep
remember, when within
As
twenty
fifteen to
miles of Fort Fisher, Captain Burroughs sent for
me
to
come on
lights ready,
the bridge,
and
if I
sage ashore, Pilot
me
that he
would
Morse
let
and asked
thought
in
I
stant watch
was kept
far
had
the
meantime
all
where
told
op-
a con-
night for our signal.
when Morse
my
telling
me know when we were
posite the signal station on the land,
had not gone
if I
could send a mes-
me we were
We
op-
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL CORPS
We
posite the post.
slowly In the dark.
I
were feeling our way very
was put down on the deck,
with the gangways open,
and a screen behind,
The
the station.
193
my
officers
lights facing the
land
was ordered to call
and sailors were highly
when
I
movement and crowded around
interested In the
called but a
to
few times
watch the proceedings. I had
shore with a torch.
when I was answered from the
and told him I had
to Captain Burroughs
I
turned
forces, and asked what
the attention of the land
follows:
wished to send. He replied as
message he
'Colonel
Protect
Lamb, steamer Cornubia.
me.
for the message from
Burroughs.' I got the O. K.
on land call up one stashore, and saw the corps
tion after the other,
to
and transmit
my
message down
us, and afterwards
Fort Fisher, miles ahead of
notified by telewas
Whiting
that General
learned
Cornubia before she
graph of the arrival of the
when we arrived
and
crossed the bar that night;
down on the
Lamb
found Colonel
at the fort
we
point with his
if
necessary.
impetus
to
Whitworth guns ready
The
the
to protect us
gave an
success of this attempt
time
that
corps, and from
signal
applied to the Governevery steamer that arrived
leaving port."
ment for a signal officer before
194
DERELICTS
The name
changed
of
Cornuhia was subsequently
the
Lady Davis,
to
in
honor of the wife of
President Davis at Richmond, and Captain Gale,
an
officer
of the old
the Confederacy,
Navy who had gone over
was placed
in
left
Bermuda with
adds,
Wilmington
a cargo for
to
"About
Mr. Gregory
the 20th of December, 1863,"
"we
command.
in
charge of Captain Gale, with Mr. Robert Grisson
as pilot
land
and myself as
signal
officer.
some miles above Wilmington,
We
made
apparently
through bad navigation, almost as far north as
Cape Lookout, and when opposite Masonboro
coasting
down we observed
We
rockets going up
rectly
ahead of
when
to our consternation rockets
us.
near abreast of us;
rounded by
were running
in fact
cruisers.
was
tation
on the bridge.
lights,
waiting to be called,
I
at full speed,
appeared quite
we were apparently
There was
at
in
di-
sur-
a hurried consul-
my
when
my
post with
the order
was
given to head for the beach and drive the ship high
and dry.
The
blockaders were then cannonading
When
us very heavily.
our good ship struck the
beach she ploughed up the sand for a considerable
distance,
and keeled over on her
were lowered, and every
himself,
which
I
man
assure you
side.
The
boats
told to look out for
we
lost
no time
in
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL CORPS
195
doing, as we had scarcely left the ship before the
enemy were boarding her on the opposite side and
firing briskly
with small arms.
to the beach,
and kept up
a
and small arms for an hour.
we
the bulrushes as best
toward the
officer,
They followed
heavy
We
dodged about
in
and made our way
could,
Captain Thomas, acting chief
fort.
took ashore with him two
and selected me
us
from cannon
fire
chronometers,
fine
carry one for him, but after
to
beating around with them in the rushes for a mile
or
so,
away.
we became exhausted and had
I
have no doubt they are
We
rushes on the beach.
of soldiers
sound.
We
who
throw them
lying in the
met a company
protected and escorted us to the
forded the sound and remained
and were sent
land, by
at last
to
still
to
all
night
Wilmington the next day, over-
mule teams.
I
always thought
shame that the Lady Davis was
it
was
a
having no
lost,
doubt we could have put to sea and escaped on the
occasion referred
to,
although
as to the supply of coal
"Captain Gale had been very
and was too feeble
I
was not informed
on board.
sick the
on board and was captured and taken
ren.
The U.
S.
S,
day before,
to leave the ship, so
to
remained
Fort
War-
James Adger, commanded by
Capt. James Foster of Bloomington, Ind., had the
196
DERELICTS
good fortune
our ship, and hauled her
to capture
off as a prize.
"After reaching Wilmington and supplying myself
with clothing and a hat,
immediately went on
I
board the steamer Flora with Captain Horner and
made
a successful run to
The Flora was
Bermuda.
considered too slow and sent back to England.
then joined the Index,
shall,
and made several
but she too was
I
commanded by Captain Marsuccessful voyages
condemned
as too slow
on her,
and was
returned to Glasgow.
"I had a thrilling adventure on this ship on a
homeward voyage, when, for the first time in all my
experience, we made land opposite Bald Head Light
on Frying Pan Shoals. As we were coming around
to New Inlet we fell in with a Federal cruiser,
so close when we discovered her that we could
easily discern the maneuvers of the men on deck.
She seemed to have anchors weighed, and was moving about and could easily have captured us, and
were
at a loss to
into us.
understand
why
she did not
Some of our people decided
we
fire
that she wished
to secure us as a prize without injury, as she
steamed
alongside of us for miles and
all
helm hard down and went
under our stern and
close
at once put
attempted to go between us and the shoals.
I
her
re-
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL CORPS
member
the
remark of our
Captain Marshall
"The
a
cruiser
had
a rocket
Grissom, to
inlet.'
only steamed half a mile or so,
from view, and
she suddenly passed
moments
her,
Tom
wreck her before we reach the
I will
when
pilot,
she follows us on that course
'If
:
197
in a
few
last
saw
went up near where we
which was repeated
at short intervals.
After
few minutes, rockets could be seen going up from
the whole squadron and there
was evidently
a great
commotion among them on account of our pursuer,
who seemed
trouble.
We
suddenly
to
have
passed through the
ther molestation,
into
without fur-
entire fleet
as the
serious
got
inlet
had centered
their attention upon the unfortunate cruiser which
had suddenly gone down. When morning dawned,
it
revealed the Federal cruiser hard and fast on the
reef,
with the other vessels of the squadron work-
Colonel
ing manfully to relieve her.
down
to the extreme point with his
and opened
fire
on her.
while in Bermuda,
whole
affair in
I
Frank
A month
saw
a
Lamb went
Whitworth guns
or so afterwards,
spirited sketch of the
Leslie's Illustrated
News,
giv-
ing an account of the wreck, and of an investigation
of the conduct of the officers in charge.
vessel was the gun-boat Petrel.
I
think the
198
DERELICTS
"After the Index was sent back to Glasgow, Captain
Marshall took charge of the steamer Rouen
and
I
joined her as signal
officer.
We
loaded our
cargo and started for Wilmington, and on the third
day out sighted
a
This ship proved
steamer about one o'clock
to be the
U.
S. S.
Keystone State,
which captured us after a hot chase of
We were
a
all
transferred to the
m.
p.
six hours.
Margaret and
Jessie,
former blockade runner which had been captured
and
quently,
confined in the
Ludlow
were taken
Tombs
to
Prison.
we were
transferred to the
After
Street Jail for further investigation.
weeks' imprisonment
our escape through the
after which
New
Subse-
and crew were discharged
the officers
all
except four of us, and
six
We
utilized as a cruiser.
York and
we succeeded in effecting
medium of English gold,
we went down
to
East River and found
an old barque loaded with staves and hay for
Thomas.
Each one of
gold with the understanding that he would
St.
George,
reached
this
Bermuda,
place
St.
us gave the captain $25 in
and land us
sail
there.
after several weeks to
by
We
find
it
Many personal friends
among whom was our lamented
devastated by yellow fever.
died of this scourge,
purser of the Index,
Mr. Robert Williams,
a well-
CONFEDERATE STATES SIGNAL CORPS
known
native of Wilmington,
much beloved
199
for his
superior personal qualities.
"I then made one voyage in the Owl, which became famous under the command of Capt. John
Newland
After
Maffitt.
this I joined the
new
steel
steamer Susan Beirne, commanded by Captain Martin,
of which
my
old friend and shipmate
Sprunt was purser.
age
during which we weathered a fearand although we came very near founder-
in this ship,
ful gale,
ing,
James
After a very hazardous voy-
we returned
to
Nassau
to learn
Maffitt of the steamer Owl, which
from Captain
had
just arrived,
that the last port of the Confederacy
closed,
"A
had been
and that the war was practically over.
small party of almost reckless Confederates,
composed of our
second
engineer,
chief engineer,
Mr.
Carroll;
Mr. Lockhart; our
our purser, Mr.
James Sprunt, and the purser of another steamer
in port, Maj. William Green, bought the steam
launch belonging to our ship, a boat about forty
feet in length
and
six feet
breadth of beam, and
made a perilous voyage by way of Green Turtle
Cay to Cape Canaveral, Fla., where they landed in
the surf after a
two weeks' voyage, and proceeding
on foot 175 miles to Ocala,
Fla., succeeded in evad-
ing the Federal pickets and sentries at various points
200
DERELICTS
along the route and at last reached Wilmington,
having occupied about two months on the way.
"I chose an easier and
proceeded via
New York
more agreeable route and
to visit
some
relatives in
Indiana and returned later to North Carolina to
find peace restored to
country."
our unhappy and desolated
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT.
Among
at the
that devoted
band of United States Navy
whose home and kindred were
officers
outbreak of the War, and
commissions rather than aid
native State, there
Capt. John
sity,
in the
South
resigned their
subjugating their
was none braver than our own
Newland
Maffitt,
severed the strong
flag in
in
who
ties
who, yielding
to neces-
of service under the old
which he had long distinguished himself, and
relinquished not only a conspicuous position directly
in line
of speedy promotion to the rank of admiral,
but sacrificed at the same time his entire fortune,
which was invested
fiscated
shortly
in
the
North and which was
con-
afterwards by the United States
Government.
After the capture of the forts and the closing of
the ports of
uary,
Wilmington and Charleston
1865, Maffitt,
Owl and unaware
in
command of
in
Jan-
the steamer
of the situation, ran into each
port in quick succession, escaping from the
fleet in
each exploit as by a miracle, although under a heavy
and destructive
fire.
While running out of Charles-
202
ton
DERELICTS
Harbor when escape seemed
impossible, his en-
of the cruise of the Florida, which he
tire history
had so long
commanded, was, by an
successfully
unfortunate misunderstanding on the part of a subordinate, sent to the bottom of the sea, along with
mail and other valuable papers.
the Confederate
Captain Maffitt, gifted with the pen of a ready
many valuable accounts
among them a story of naval
writer, left
of his adven-
tures,
life in
service entitled "Nautilus,"
cles for the
title
Army and Navy Magazine
"Reminiscences
of
the old
and a number of
the
arti-
under the
Confederate
States
His paper on the building of the ram Al-
Navy."
bemarle by Captain Cooke, and that gallant
officer's
subsequent attack upon the Federal
in
mouth Sound, which
Scharf
in his history
is
among
War.
It
Ply-
copied entire by Colonel
of the Confederate Navy, has
been pronounced one of the
the Civil
fleet
was my
finest descriptions
privilege to be
his personal friends
from the time he hon-
ored me, a lad of seventeen years, with
his
recom-
mendation for the appointment as purser of
own
ship,
the
was confirmed
just before
Plymouth and
;
his
Confederate steamer Lilian, which
he gave up the
to take charge of the Confederate
at
of
numbered
this friendship
command
ram Albemarle
was unbroken
until
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT
the close of his eventful
203
the sacrifices and serv-
life,
ices of which should ever be held in grateful re-
membrance by our Southern
my
In the year after
I
had
people.
appointment to the Lilian,
the misfortune to be captured at sea after an
exciting chase of five hours
by the Federal cruisers
Keystone State, Boston, Gettysburg, and two others
unknown,
heavy
in
fire
which our ship was disabled under a
by shot below the water
held a prisoner on board the U.
S. S.
whose commander. Captain Crosby,
old Navy, treated
me most
perior
and was
a regular in the
Upon
courteously.
invitation of the paymaster, I
officers in the
line,
Keystone State,
messed with the
wardroom, where
I
heard
the
sufre-
Semmes and other
never a word of cen-
quent bitter allusions to Captain
prominent Confederates, but
sure for the genial Maffitt, the mention of
name would provoke
some of
his
pranks
called by those
a kindly
In the
who had
whose
and amused smile as
old times would be re-
not learned to regard him
as a foe.
The
Porter's
following
passages,
Naval History of
taken
from Admiral
the Civil
War, confirm
the personal observations of the writer with refer-
ence to Maffitt's reputation in the old
Navy:
204
DERELICTS
"Maffitt was a different
thorough master of
of
the qualities that
all
A
man from Semmes.
and possessed
his profession,
make
a favorite naval com-
mander, he became a successful raider of the sea;
but he
made no enemies among
humor
He
in their messes.
was
but was never inhumane to those
who
those officers
had once known him and who now missed
his genial
a veritable rover,
whom
of war threw into his hands, and he
the fortunes
made
himself
as pleasant while emptying a ship of her cargo
then scuttling her, as Claude Duval
a
man
and
when robbing
of his purse or borrowing his watch from his
pocket."
Porter then describes
almost flattering terms
in
and daring
Maffitt's superior skill
in fitting
out the
Florida under most adverse conditions, and then by
way
of explanation says:
may appear
"It
hibited
to the reader that
more sympathy
given him
more
remembered
for
Commander
we have
ex-
Maffitt
and
credit than he deserved;
that
we
it
must be
are endeavoring to write
a
naval history of the war, and not a partisan work.
This
officer,
we venerate
it is
true,
had gone from under the
to fight against
a sore trial for
him
it;
but
we know
to leave the service to
it
flag
was
which
he was attached and that he believed he was doing
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT
205
and
his duty in following the fortunes of his State,
had
the courage to follow his convictions.
not leave the U.
when
S.
Navy
the troubles were
situation gracefully.
He
did
with any bitterness, and
all
over, he accepted the
What we
are going to state
of him shows that he was capable of the greatest
heroism, and that, though he was on the side of the
enemy,
He
his
courage and
skill
were worthy of praise."
then recounts the wonderful story of Maffitt's
perilous run through
Commander
Preble's fleet in
broad daylight, with a crew decimated by yellow
fever,
its
and he himself scarcely able
prostrating
to stand
from
effects.
"The Florida approached
rapidly,
pipes vomiting forth volumes of black
her
smoke
smoke and
a
high press of steam escaping from her steam pipe.
As she came within hailing distance, the Federal
commander ordered her to heave to, but MafEtt
still sped on, having sent all his men below, except
the man at the wheel, and returned to reply to the
hail.
still
Preble then fired a shot ahead of the Florida,
supposing her to be some saucy Englishman
disposed to try what liberties he could take, though
the absence of
suspicion.
lost
him
He
men on deck should have
hesitated,
a prize
excited
however, and hesitation
and the honor of capturing one
206
DERELICTS
of the Confederate scourges of the ocean.
had
his
Preble
crew at quarters, however, and as soon as
he saw that the stranger was passing him he opened
upon her and the other two block-
his broadside
But the
aders did the same.
first
shots were
aimed
too high, and the Florida sped on toward the bar,
her feeble crew forgetting their sickness and heaping coal
upon the furnace
rapidity.
fires
with
possible
all
Every man was working for
his
life,
while the captain stood amid the storm of shot and
shell perfectly
unmoved, keenly watching the marks
for entering the port and wondering to himself
were for getting
his chances
what
in.
"During the whole war there was not a more
exciting adventure than this escape of the Florida
the
The
Mobile Bay.
into
was conducted
gallant
manner
in
which
excited great admiration, even
men who were
responsible for permitting
it
among
it.
We
do not suppose that there was ever a case where a
man, under
all
the
attending
circumstances,
dis-
played more energy or more bravery.
"And so the Florida was allowed to go on her
way without molestation, and Maffitt was enabled
to commence that career on the high seas which
has made his name one of the notable ones of the
war.
He
lighted
the
seas
wherever he passed
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT
along, and committed such havoc
merchantmen,
that,
if
among American
was even more
possible, he
We
dreaded than Semmes.
have only to say that
his being permitted to escape into
then to get out again
was the
Mobile Bay and
greatest example of
blundering committed throughout the war.
officer
who knew
Maffitt
was
certain that he
attempt to get out of Mobile, and
to say that those
who
207
we
Every
would
are forced
permitted his escape are
re-
sponsible for the terrible consequences of their want
of vigilance and energy."
Preble's failure to sink the Florida
—
for nothing
would have stopped Maffitt—brought him into
disgrace with the Navy Department, although he
proved in his report of the affair that every means
else
at his
command had been used
to intercept the bold
Confederate, and shortly afterwards the Secretary
of the Navy, supported by a majority of naval
cers,
recommended the
dismissal
of
offi-
Commodore
Preble from the Navy, which was carried into effect
September 20, 1863.
Preble
which was
repeatedly
demanded an
investigation,
refused, but he ultimately got his case
before Congress and was restored to the list February 21, 1864, with the grade of rear admiral.
208
DERELICTS
At the close of the war Captain Maffitt was summoned by a court of inquiry demanded by Preble
to testify as to the facts of his exploit in entering
Mobile Bay,
which he said:
in
"I can vouch for his (Preble's) promptness and
Mobile Bay.
my
on the occasion of
destructive energy
The
entering
superior speed of the Florida
alone saved her from destruction, though not from
We
a frightful mauling.
man's head taken
off
were torn to pieces
—one
and eleven wounded; boats,
standing and running rigging shot away, also fore
Four
gaff.
(9-inch)
shells struck
our hull and had the one
that grazed our boiler
and entered the
berth deck, killing one and wounding two, exploded
man
every
been
belonging to the steamer would have
killed, as I
had only the
about to cross the bar, when
one
man was wounded
in
about 1,400 shrapnel shots
masts were pitted
like
damage done her was
to sea again for
The
last
officers
I
on deck
made some
the rigging.
in
our
hull,
and
We
had
and our
a case of smallpox.
so great that
we
until
sail,
The
did not get
over three months."
voyage of Captain Maffitt was made on
the Owl, which he boarded at Wilmington the 21st
of December,
bales of cotton.
1864,
With
receiving her cargo
of 750
three other blockade runners
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT
in
company he
He
started for the bar.
209
escaped the
Federal sentinels "without the loss of a rope yarn,"
though one of
his
companions came to grief through
Their destination was
an accident to machinery.
St.
George, Bermuda, which they reached
finding several steamers loaded
in safety,
and anxiously await-
from the Federal expedition under General
ing news
Butler against Fort Fisher.
Through
Halifax
a
steamer the Northern papers apprised them of the
and
failure of the expedition,
other steamers and
many
in
company with
gallant spirits, the
started on her return to Dixie,
all
six
Owl
cheered by the
joyful news.
In the meantime another expedition against Fort
Fisher had been
fitted
out under General Terry and
Admiral Porter, which had been
river
was
In
Communicating with Lockwood's
they reported
all
steamed
Maffitt
o'clock
It
and Fisher
quiet
for
the
rise
channel, he
was surprised
before
eleven.
Some apprehension was
Head and no
to
bar,
where
Captain
At
eight
and the moon
Approaching the
see but one sentinel
Eluding him, he passed
guarding the entrance.
Bald
Folly,
Intact,
Cape Fear.
was high water on the
would not
at
and the
successful,
possession of the Federals.
In.
excited by a conflagration
response to his signals, but
210
DERELICTS
and
as Fort Caswell looked natural
cided to anchor
he de-
quiet,
He
the fort wharf.
off
was immeand
diately interviewed by the chief of ordnance
artillery,
E.
S.
Martin, and another
formed him of the
train
was already
state
of
affairs,
and that the
great
in
A
Captain Maffitt hastily departed.
distress
in-
blowing up of Fort
laid for the
Gunboats were approaching, and
Caswell.
who
officer,
soli-
tary blockader pursued him furiously for some time,
and far
sea he heard
at
explosion that an-
the
As
nounced the fate of Caswell.
his
cargo was im-
portant and much needed. Captain Maffitt deter-
mined
make an
to
effort
to
enter
the
of
port
Charleston, although he had been informed that
was more
Many
as he
closely
attempts were
made
his
necessary to
way
stir
it
guarded than ever before.
made
to overhaul his vessel
into the harbor, but
up the
fire
it
was only
draft a bit to start off
with truly admirable speed that enabled him to outdistance his pursuers.
and the bare
Anticipating a trying night
possibility of capture, the captain
had
two bags slung and suspended over the quarter by
a stout line.
In these bags were placed the Gov-
ernment mail not yet delivered,
all
private corre-
spondence and the captain's war journal
was the
cruise of the Florida.
An
in
which
intelligent quar-
CAPTAIN JOHN NEWLAND MAFFITT
211
termaster was instructed to stand by the bags with
a hatchet,
ture
and
became
The
following
is
moment
cap-
what happened
own words:
*'When on the western
Shoal,
adrift the
a description of
Captain Maffitt's
in
them
to cut
inevitable.
we encountered
end of Rattlesnake
tail
streaks of mist and fog that
enveloped stars and everything for a few moments,
quite clear again.
Running
cautiously in one of these obscurations,
a sudden
when
lift in
it
would become
the haze disclosed that
into an
anchored blockader.
we were about
We
to run
had bare room
with a hard-a-port helm to avoid him some fifteen
or twenty
feet,
when
their officer
'Heave
to,
noticed,
and we received
cut
away
or
I'll
sink you.'
on deck called out:
The order was
up bulwarks
in front of
which
his entire broadside,
turtleback, perforated forecastle,
un-
and tore
our engine room, wounding
twelve men, some severely, some
slightly.
The
quar-
termaster stationed by the mail bags was so convinced that
his
bottom.
the
we were captured
hatchet,
that he instantly used
and sent them, well moored, to the
Hence my meager account of
Florida.
Rockets
were
fired
swiftly out of his range of sight,
lights
lit
the cruise of
as
we passed
and
Drummond
up the animated surroundings of
a
swarm
212
DERELICTS
of blockaders,
who commenced an
discharge of artillery.
We
bombardment, and
the reason of this
indiscriminate
could not understand
we
as
picked
our way out of the melee, concluded that several
blockade runners must have been discovered feeling
their
way
into Charleston.
"After the war,
manding on that
in
conversing with the
officer
occasion, he said that a
com-
number
commanded
who were some-
of the steamers of the blockade were
by inexperienced volunteer
times overzealous
gunboats
firing into
and
officers,
excitable,
and hearing the
me, and seeing her rockets and
signal lights, they thought that innumerable blockade
runners were forcing a passage into the harbor,
hence
the
with blockade
my
Federals,
I
The
partment,
when
holme
did."
&
belligerent
results
last
all
Entering the harbor of
it
in the
possession of the
order issued by the
in
and
re-
Navy De-
hope for the cause had departed,
to deliver the
Co.,
to
association
promptly checked progress
treated.
was for me
last
running.
Charleston, and finding
artillery,
unfortunate
attended with
This was
them.
of
discharge
indiscriminate
which was
Owl
to Frazier, Tren-
Liverpool, which
I
accordingly
CAPTAIN MAFFITT AND THE CONSUL.
The
following story was told
blockade runner George C.
"When
Smyrna,
Capt.
the Yankees ran the
Fla.,
we had
me by
the veteran
McDougal:
Kate out of
to run across light
New
and leave
Thomas Lockwood, who had gone to CharlesThe command devolved on Mr. Carlin,
ton, behind.
We
first officer.
day
ish
night.
On
got the ship into Nassau Satur-
the following day, Sunday, the Brit-
mail steamer appeared
off
Nassau with the new
Governor of the Bahamas on board, but owing
a
heavy sea on the bar she could not
cordingly ran
and
to
to the west
in
and
if
to
ac-
end of the island
order to land the Gov-
During the day a number of prominent
ernor.
habitants
asked
down
smoother water
cross,
in-
of Nassau came aboard the Kate and
the captain
would go down
and bring the Governor up.
them that they were
quite
to the west
end
Captain Carlin told
welcome
to the ship
if
she could be got ready in time, which would depend
upon the
with
chief engineer.
me and we
He
immediately consulted
decided that as the people of Nas213
214
DERELICTS
sau had been very kind to us, the Kate being a fa-
we would try to accommodate them at once.
As we had arrived after midnight on Saturday, and,
not wishing to work on Sunday, we had not blown
the boilers out. The water was hot, and I told the
vorite,
captain
I
would be ready
I started the fires
in
an hour's time or
less.
immediately and in a few minutes
the committee went on shore to gather their friends
and
In a short time gun-
to send off refreshments.
boats began to crowd alongside with the aforesaid
refreshments, both solid and liquid, the latter as
usual predominating in the shape of cases of cham-
pagne, brandy,
"When
etc.
the guests were
the anchor
all
on board we hove up
A
and faced the bar.
was running, and
tremendous sea
at times our topgallant forecastle
We
was under water.
worked
out,
however, and
hauled down the coast for the west end.
time the refreshments began to
pany, especially on the mate.
In a short
work on
the com-
Captain Carlin being
afraid that the small anchor would not hold the
ship,
ordered the mate to get the large anchor from
between decks to the gangway, carry the chain from
the
hawse pipe along the
lines
the
and shackle
it
side of the ship
to the anchor.
I
by
tricing
noticed that
mate was almost incapable from the aforesaid
CAPTAIN MAFFITT AND THE CONSUL
215
refreshments, and I said to him, *You will lose that
anchor,' to which he replied,
know what I am
roll down Into
'I
Presently the ship took a
about.'
the trough of the sea, and overboard went the an-
When
chor.
It
struck bottom the ship
was going
twelve or fourteen miles an hour and the sudden
jerk started the chain around the windlass, and the
way
that seventy fathoms of chain flew around the
windlass and out of the hawse pipe
It
looked as
If
made
the
fire fly.
half a dozen flashes of lightning were
playing hide and seek between the decks.
With
a
crack like a pistol shot the weather bitting parted
and the end of the chain went out of the hawse pipe
to look for the anchor.
"We
soon made the bay at the west end and ran
alongside the mail steamer and
let
go our anchor,
but found to our disappointment that the Governor
had gone
the
to
changing
town
In
a carriage
sent for
him by
After spending a pleasant hour
officials.
visits
between the
officers
of
the
In ex-
two
steamers, our guests In the meantime partaking of
refreshments,
we hove up
the anchor and started
back toward Nassau.
"Among
John N.
our passengers was the gallant Capt.
Maffitt,
to get the
who was
then waiting at Nassau
Oreto, afterwards
named
the Florida,
216
DERELICTS
We
out of irons.
American consul
to
go down
had
also Captain Whiting, the
Nassau,
at
who asked
permission
steamer to get his dispatches,
to the
which was not denied him, although
this
man was
greatly disliked not only by Confederate
sympa-
thizers but by the natives, having, as the Irishman
said,
winning ways to make everybody hate him.
During the run back the
consul,
overcome by
numerous potations, lay down with
and was soon
When we
asleep.
his
aroused him at our
destination the dispatches were missing,
whereupon
he accused Maffitt of stealing them, resulting
grand row
all
The
round.
in a
dispatches were restored
him on the following day,
to
his
dispatches
their disappearance
being caused by a practical joke on the part of the
Confederates.
We
delivered our passengers in a
very shaky condition.
"On Monday morning, having
and early
to start
to the shore by a noisy
gesticulating
staff,
a
and excited group of negroes
flagstaff
of the American con-
and pointing
to the top of the flag-
gathered around the
sul,
from which,
to
my
brand new Confederate
that
some one, said
thizer,
and
turned out bright
work, our attention was attracted
whom
astonishment, was flying
flag.
to be a
It
soon appeared
Confederate sympa-
every one believed to be Maffitt,
CAPTAIN MAFFITT AND THE CONSUL
who was
flagstaff
always ready for a joke, had climbed the
during the night, carrying up with him a
Confederate
yards were
was nailed
and
flag
first
a bucket of slush.
to the staff,
ground, making
The
hal-
unrove, next the Confederate flag
and
descended, he slushed the
to
217
it
of
last
staff
all
as the joker
all
way
the
remove the ensign which was so hateful
friend the consul.
to the
impossible for any one to ascend
When
to our
Whiting came down to
the consulate after breakfast and took in the situation,
he performed a war dance around that pole
which was one of the most interesting spectacles
ever witnessed by the Confederates
then employed a number of
Her
in
Nassau.
remove the
subjects with cans of concentrated lye to
slush,
ceeded
and, after great
in
difliculty,
reaching the top of the
He
Majesty's colored
one of them
staff
suc-
and removed
the Confederate flag, replacing the halyards as before; but this
was not
the last of
it.
On
the follow-
ing morning a United States man-of-war appeared
off
the harbor,
and when the consul
in full official
rig took his seat in the stern of his gig he
found
on reaching the cruiser that he was hard and
fast
by the nether extremities, some North Carolina tar
having been previously applied by the aforesaid
Confederate sympathizer to the seat of
his gig.
Of
218
DERELICTS
course these annoyances created a great deal of
feeling,
show
and a down-east shipmaster, desiring
American
the
made
his spite,
flag
a fool of himself
over the British
being union down, intending
it
to
by hoisting
the latter
flag,
as an insult, of course,
which was immediately noticed on shore, and
in a
short time several thousand shouting, howling British
negroes were lining the water front looking for
boats and threatening to
who had
tain
flag.
drown the American
cap-
taken such a liberty with their beloved
Before they could carry out their purpose,
however, a man-of-war's launch shot out from the
British gunboat Bulldog with a
file
boarding the brig, ordered the
and the English
flag detached,
of marines, and,
flags
hauled
down
took the captain
the launch and pulled to the government
in
wharf and
immediately shoved him into the calaboose, from
which confinement he was not released
day, with the admonition that
board
He
his ship
if
until the next
he remained on
he would have no need of a surgeon.
took the hint and was seen no more on shore.
"On Thursday we were bound
for the northwest
channel with our regulation cargo of i,ooo barrels
of gunpowder and arms and accouterments for
ooo men.
We
lo,-
ran into Charleston on Saturday
night and on Sunday morning the Confederate quar-
termaster pressed every horse and dray
in
Charles-
CAPTAIN MAFFITT AND THE CONSUL
219
ton to haul the cargo to the railroad station.
The
congregations of the churches along Meeting and
King
Streets
probably derived very
benefit
little
from the sermons delivered that sacred day,
roar of the drays and wagons was incessant
Sunday and Sunday
loaded
it
As
night.
soldiers broke
distributed
a
was
me
afterwards that the
open the cases of
the
from the car doors.
was
day
fast as a train
was started out for Johnston's army, and
a conductor of a train told
and
as the
all
It
may
most important factor
rifles
and
firearms
on the cars
accouterments
be said that the Kate
in the battle
of Shiloh.
Johnston's army was a mass of undisciplined
men
with single and double barrel shotguns, old time
rifles,
and anything
way of firearms that
They had nothing
The three cargoes of war
else in the
they could bring from home.
suitable to fight with.
stores, therefore, carried in
Mary
Celeste to
ried by the
Kate
by the Kate, one by the
Smyrna and
the fourth cargo car-
into Charleston, actually
equipped
Johnston's army, immediately after which came the
battle of Shiloh.
One thousand
barrels of
gunpow-
der was a dangerous shipment to run through the
Federal blockade, and
when
it
was
a great relief to us
the Confederacy established
powder
mills in
Georgia, and our powder cargoes were changed to
niter for the mills."
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON.
One of
the most intelligent and successful com-
manders of the blockade-running
fleet
was Capt.
John Wilkinson, who entered the United
Navy
as a
midshipman
in
States
1837, and, after an hon-
orable and distinguished career, tendered his services
upon the
secession of his native State, Virginia,
to the Confederacy.
Having
States
received a commission in the Confederate
Navy, he served
tions until ordered
upon
in
various responsible posi-
special service in
command
of the Confederate States steamer R. E. Lee.
In his interesting book entitled Narrative of a
Blockade Runner, speaking of the
ginia
who
citizens of Vir-
resigned their commissions in the old
service, he says:
*'They were compelled to choose whether they
would aid
ing
it
in
subjugating their State or in defend-
against invasion; for
that coercion
it
was already evident
would be used by the General Gov-
ernment, and that war was inevitable.
In reply to
the accusation of perjury in breaking their oath of
222
DERELICTS
allegiance, since
brought against the
Army and Navy who
officers
of the
resigned their commissions to
render aid to the South,
it
need only be stated
in their belief, the resignation
that,
of their commissions
absolved them from any special obligation.
They
then occupied the same position toward the Gov-
ernment as other
But
classes of citizens.
this
charge
war was
ended.
The resignation of their commissions was
accepted when their purpose was well known. As
was never brought against them
till
the
to the charge of ingratitude, they reply, their re-
spective iStates
ward
the
had contributed
expenses of the
their full share to-
and when these
acting as their disbursing agent,
States
Government,
General
withdrew from the Union their
citizens be-
longing to the two branches of the public service
did not, and do not, consider themselves amenable
to this charge for
abandoning their
official
to cast their lot with their kindred
and
yielding as they did to necessity,
it
less, a
whom
But
was, neverthe-
painful act to separate themselves
panions with
positions
friends.
from com-
they had been long and
inti-
mately associated, and from the flag under which
they had been proud to serve."
With
reference to his experience in blockade run-
ning at Wilmington Captain Wilkinson continues:
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
"The
advantages
natural
of
223
Wilmington
for
blockade running were very great, chiefly owing to
the fact that there were two separate and distinct
approaches to Cape Fear River;
New
the
is
Inlet,
i.
e.,
either by
to the north of Smith's Island, or
Western Bar
to the south of
it.
by
This island
ten or eleven miles in length; but the Frying
Pan
Shoals extend ten or twelve miles farther south,
making the
distance by sea between the
between them
Smithville
equidistant
could be
two bars
more, although the direct distance
thirty miles or
is
only six or seven miles.
(now Southport),
from
From
a little village nearly
either bar, both blockading fleets
distinctly
seen,
and the outward-bound
blockade runners could take their choice through
which of them
to run the gauntlet.
bound blockade runners,
too,
The inward-
were guided by
cir-
cumstances of wind and weather, selecting that bar
over which they could cross after they had passed
the Gulf Stream, and shaping their course accordingly.
The approaches
danger with the
to both bars
were clear of
single exception of the 'Lump,' be-
fore mentioned; and so regular are the soundings
that the shore can be coasted for miles within a
stone's
throw of the breakers.
224
DERELICTS
"These
why
facts explain
was unable wholly
to
the United States fleet
stop blockade running.
It
was, indeed, impossible to do so; the result to the
very close of the war proves
spite
this assertion, for, in
of the vigilance of the
runners were afloat
fleet,
many blockade
when Fort Fisher was
In truth the passage through the
fleet
captured.
was
little
dreaded; for although the blockade runner might
receive a shot or two, she
in
was rarely disabled; and
proportion to the increase of the
would be the danger, we knew, of
As
each other.
to say, they
kill
the greater
their firing into
the boys before the deluge used
would be very apt
the calf.'
fleet
The
to *miss the
chief danger
cow and
was upon the open
sea, many of the light cruisers having great speed.
As soon as one of them discovered a blockade run-
ner during daylight, she would attract other cruisers
in
the vicinity by sending up
smoke,
visible for
many
a dense
column of
miles in clear weather.
cordon of fast steamers stationed ten or
miles apart,
inside
the Gulf Stream,
and
A
fifteen
in
the
Bermuda to Wilmington
and Charleston, would have been more effectual in
course from Nassau and
stopping blockade running than the whole United
States
Navy
concentrated
unaccountable to us
why
off
those ports; and
it
was
such a plan did not occur
225
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
to
good Mr. Welles; but
suggest
was not our place
to
fraI have no doubt, however, that the
it.
which
ternity to
it
then belonged would have unani-
I
mously voted thanks and
a service of plate to the
Honorable Secretary of the United
this oversight.
I
States
Navy
for
say inside the Gulf Stream, because
every experienced captain of a blockade runner
made
in the
a point to cross the stream early enough
afternoon,
possible, to establish the ship's posi-
if
of
tion by chronometer, so as to escape the influence
that current
upon
The
dead reckoning.
his
lead
always gave indication of our distance from the
land, but not, of course, of our position;
numerous
salt
and the
works along the coast, where evapo-
was produced by fire, and which were at work
night and day, were visible long before the low
coast could be seen. Occasionally the whole inward
ration
voyage would be made under adverse conditions.
Cloudy, thick weather and heavy gales would prevail so as to prevent
tions,
and
work.
reduce the
any solar or lunar observa-
dead reckoning
In these cases the nautical
to
mere
guess-
knowledge and
judgment of the captain would be taxed to the
utmost. The current of the Gulf Stream varies in
velocity
and (within certain
and the stream
itself,
limits)
in
direction;
almost as well defined as a
226
DERELICTS
river within
is
its
banks under ordinary circumstances,
impelled by a strong gale toward the direction in
which the wind
as
were.
it
Gulf Stream,
winds.
is
The
is
blowing, overflowing
banks,
its
countercurrent, too, inside of the
much
Upon one
influenced by the prevailing
occasion while in
command
of
the R. E. Lee, formerly the Clyde-built Iron steamer
Giraffe,
we had experienced very heavy and
thick
weather, and had crossed the stream and struck
The weather
soundings about midday.
ing, so that
ian,
we
we found
then clear-
could obtain an altitude near meridourselves at least forty miles north
of our supposed position, and near the shoals which
extend
It
in
a southerly direction off
would be more perilous
Cape Lookout.
to run out to sea than to
continue on our course, for
we had passed through
the offshore line of blockaders, and the sky
come
perfectly clear.
I
had
be-
determined to personate a
transport bound to Beaufort, which was in the possession of the
United States forces and the coaling
station of the fleet blockading
risk of detection
was not very
The
many of
Wilmington.
great, for
the captured blockade runners were used as trans-
ports and dispatch vessels.
Shaping our course for
Beaufort and slowing down as
haste to get there,
we passed
if
we were
in
no
several vessels, show-
227
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
ing United States colors to
them
all.
we
Just as
were crossing through the ripple of shallow water
off
the
'tail'
of the shoals,
we dipped our
colors to
a sloop of war which passed three or four miles
the south of
sponded
me
to,
The
us.
but
a lubberly
I
have no doubt her captain thought
and careless seaman to shave the
We
shoals so closely.
no vessel was
to
courtesy was promptly re-
in
sight,
stopped the engines when
and
I
was relieved of
a
heavy burden of anxiety as the sun sank below the
horizon, and the course was shaped at
full
speed
Masonboro Inlet.
"The staid old town of Wilmington was turned
Here resorted the
'topsy turvey' during the war.
for
speculators
from
parts of the South to attend
all
the weekly auctions of imported cargoes; and the
town was infested with rogues and desperadoes, who
made
a livelihood
by robbery and murder.
It
was
unsafe to venture into the suburbs at night, and
even
in daylight there
were frequent
conflicts in the
public streets between the crews of the steamers in
port and the soldiers stationed in the town, in which
knives and pistols would be freely used; and not unfrequently a dead body would rise to the surface of
the water in one of the docks with
upon
it.
The
civil
authorities
marks of violence
were powerless
to
1
228
DERELICTS
prevent crime.
arma
'Inter
The
leges!'
silent
agents and employees of different blockade-running
companies lived
ransom
in magnificent style,
Confederate money)
(in
paying a king's
for their house-
hold expenses, and nearly monopolizing the supcountry market.
plies in the
Toward
the end of
the war, indeed, fresh provisions were almost be-
yond the reach of everyone.
Our
newly arrived from the country
family servant,
would
in Virginia,
sometimes return from market with an empty basket,
having
flatly
refused to pay what he called 'such
nonsense prices' for a bit of fresh beef, or a handful
A
of vegetables.
which
I
now
for $500.
1
quarter of lamb at the time of
Confederate money which
86 1, was nearly equal to specie
clined in
month,
in
pound of
write, sold for $ioo, a
September,
1862,
1863, to 400,
to
in
in value,
225;
in
tea
September,
had
the
de-
same
and before September,
1864, to 2,000
"Many
of the permanent residents of the town
had gone
into the country, letting their houses at
enormous
prices; those
who were compelled
main kept themselves much secluded, the
rarely being
seen upon
the
more
public
to re-
ladies
streets.
Many of the fast young officers belonging to the
Army would get an occasional leave to come to Wil-
229
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
mington, and would
live at free quarters
on board
the blockade runners or at one of the numerous
bachelor halls ashore.
*'The convalescent soldiers from the Virginia hospitals
to
were sent by the route through Wilmington
their
homes
in
The
the South.
ladies of the
town were organized by Mrs. deRosset
into a so-
ciety for the purpose of ministering to the wants of
these poor sufferers, the trains which carried
them
stopping an hour or two at the depot, that their
wounds might be dressed and food and medicine
supplied
women
to
These
them.
patiently
and
self-sacrificing,
performed the
faithfully
heroic
offices
of hospital nurses.
made by companies
"Liberal contributions were
and individuals
at the depot
to be
to this society,
were spread with
found nowhere
and the long
tables
delicacies for the sick
else in the
Confederacy.
The
remains of the meals were carried by the ladies to
a
camp of mere boys
Some of these
town.
—home guards
outside of the
children were scarcely able to
carry a musket and were altogether unable to en-
dure the exposure and fatigue of
field service;
and
they suffered fearfully from measles and typhoid
fever.
General Grant used a strong figure of speech
when he
asserted that 'the cradle and the grave were
230
DERELICTS
The
robbed to recruit the Confederate armies.'
fact of
a
upon
fearful drain
was
the population
scarcely exaggerated, but with this difference in the
metaphor, that those
who were
verging upon both
the cradle and the grave shared the hardships and
dangers of war with equal self-devotion to
cause.
of heartless specula-
who
profited by the scarc-
tors infested the country,
of
ity
all
sacrifice
sorts of supplies, but
contributions
better soldiers than
"On
makes the
it
of the mass of the Southern people
conspicuous, and no State
untary
the
It is true that a class
made more
armies
the
to
self-
more
liberal vol-
or
furnished
North Carolina.
the opposite
side
of the river from Wil-
mington, on a low marshy
flat,
were erected the
steam cotton presses, and there the blockade runners took in their cargoes.
Sentries
were posted on
the wharves day and night to prevent deserters
getting aboard
the
additional precaution of
bound
in spite
from
and stowing themselves away; and
steamers
at
of this vigilance,
In getting a free
fumigating outward-
Smithville
many
passage aboard.
or 'stowaways,' were
in
was adopted,
but
persons succeeded
These
deserters,
most instances sheltered by
one or more of the crew,
in
which event they kept
their places of concealment until the steamer
had
231
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
arrived at her port of destination,
profit
by the
undiscovered.
first
A
when they would
opportunity to leave the vessel
small bribe would tempt the aver-
age blockade-running sailor to connive at
of escape.
The impecunious
this
deserter fared
means
more
hardly and would usually be forced by hunger or
thirst to
emerge from
his hiding place
steamer was on the outward voyage.
vice
employed by one of the captains
A
while the
cruel de-
effectually put
a stop, I believe, certainly a check, to the escape of
this class
He
of 'stowaways.'
turned three or four
of them adrift in the Gulf Stream in an open boat
with a pair of oars
and
a
few days' allowance of
bread and water."
Colonel Scharf, writing of the Confederate States
Navy, mentions the shore
lights:
"At the
ning of the war," he says, "nearly
all
begin-
the lights
along the Southern coast had been discontinued, the
apparatus being removed to places of safety.
1864
light
it
was deemed expedient
to
In
re-establish the
on Smith's Island, which had been discontinued
ever since the beginning of
hostilities,
and
to erect a
The 'Mound'
by Colonel Lamb, who
structure for a light on the 'Mound.'
was an
artificial
one, erected
commanded Fort Fisher." Captain Wilkinson says
of the "Mound" and the range lights: "Two heavy
232
DERELICTS
guns were mounted upon
a site for a light,
it,
and
it
eventually became
and very serviceable for blockade
runners; but even at this period
it
was an
excellent
Joined by a long, low isthmus of sand
landmark.
with the higher mainland,
its
regular conical shape
enabled the blockade runners easily to identify
from the
and
plain
offing;
and
men used
colonel for undertaking
and whatever
its
result
showed the
it
con-
may have
value as a military posi-
there can be but one as to
blockade runners, for
be-
I
to laugh slyly at the
difference of opinion
existed with regard to
tion,
it
showed
erection, predicting that
its
would not stand; but the
trary;
it
distinct against the sky at night.
lieve the military
it
clear weather,
in
its
utility to
was not a landmark
the
alone,
along this monotonous coast, but one of the range
lights for crossing
Seamen
New
Inlet
Bar was placed on
will appreciate at its full value this
tage; but
it
may
it.
advan-
be stated for the benefit of the
unprofessional reader, that while the compass bearing of an object does not enable a pilot to steer a
vessel
with
sufficient
accuracy through
a
narrow
channel, range lights answer the purpose completely.
These
lights
were only
set after signals
had been
exchanged between the blockade runner and the
shore station, and were removed immediately after
CAPTAIN JOHN WILKINSON
the vessel
had entered the
were changed
New
Inlet
as
river.
233
The range
lights
circumstances required; for the
Channel
itself
was and
is
constantly
changing, being materially affected both in depth of
water and
in its course
a severe freshet in
by a heavy gale of wind or
Cape Fear River."
A NORMAL BLOCKADING EXPERIENCE.
Probably one of the quickest and most uneventful
voyages made during the war
In
running the block-
ade was that made by Capt. C. G. Smith, of South-
The
port.
following story on the blockade was told
by Captain Smith, and
had
to
show
published to
is
the con-
between what some of the blockade runners
trast
undergo and how easy
to
make
venture
"On
1863,
it
was
at other times
the round trip without hindrance or ad-
:
a delightful day,
I left
Nassau
about the
as pilot
on the
of
first
fine
May,
side-wheel
steamer Margaret and Jessie, Captain Wilson in
command.
"The Margaret and
garded as one of the
800
tons, this
fifteen miles
Jessie
was
at that time re-
Of
about
could
make
fastest steamers.
steamer when
in ballast
an hour, but of course she was usually
loaded down, therefore seldom doing better than
ten knots while running the blockade.
"Passing out from Nassau with a general cargo
of goods, bound for Wilmington, N.
23s
C,
the
first
236
DERELICTS
twenty-four hours were passed without incident, the
steamer making a good passage,
met
the northeast
us,
from
until a gale
which lasted
till
noon of the
third day out.
"When
the
Wilson came
wanted
to
wind had lessened somewhat, Captain
me and asked what
to
make,
to run in at the
Finding
it
to
which
point of land I
I replied that I
intended
Western Bar of the Cape Fear.
an impossibility on account of the weather
make the Western Bar before daylight, I made
for Masonboro and came in at New Inlet, anchoring abreast of the mound battery which guarded this
to
approach
light,
at about ii o'clock at night,
with a fair
"Nothing
our voyage.
tide,
in the
and
shape of a blockader disturbed
At one time
a steamer
was seen
southeast of us, but paid no attention to us.
at
at day-
ran up to Wilmington.
east-
When
Masonboro, one of the blockading squadron went
to the southeastward of us, but being under the lee
of the land she could not
"After laying up
in
make
us out.
Wilmington about ten days,
discharging our cargo and taking on a load of cotton,
we
ing, and,
night,
quietly
dropped down the
anchoring
in
when we passed out of
Nassau.
river one
morn-
five-fathom hole, waited until
New
Inlet,
bound for
A NORMAL BLOCKADING EXPERIENCE
"The
return trip
was made without
any kind, the weather was
description
incident of
not a vessel of any
could be seen on the voyage; and in
fifty-two hours
Fear,
fine,
237
we were
from the time of leaving the Cape
safe at the
dock at Nassau,
dis-
charging our cargo, making one of the quickest and
safest passages ever
runners."
made by any of
the blockade
CAPTAIN JOSEPH FRY.
In the year 1841, a winsome, honest lad
Navy
determined to join the
who had
of his country, and
who had been thwarted in his purpose by friends
at home, made his way alone from Florida to Washington and
demanded
his right to
Mr. Tyler was
so pleased by the youthful
liness of the little chap,
old, that
observed of
all
The young
observers;
their wives,
of the
who was
man-
only eight years
he invited him to dine at the White House
on the following day.
and
speak to the Presi-
which was not denied him.
dent,
Floridian was the
members of
the Cabinet
members of Congress and
Navy had heard
of the
little
officers
lad's story,
and
united in espousing his patriotic cause.
all
The
his
President,
won by
his
ardor as well as by
gentlemanly and modest behavior, granted the
boy's request and immediately signed his warrant
as a
midshipman
The
in the
United States Navy.
subsequent record of Capt. Joseph Fry, the
humane
known to
Christian gentleman, the gallant sailor, the
commander, the chivalrous
239
soldier,
is
240
DERELICTS
readers of American history.
Of
"A combination and a form indeed,
Where every god did seem to set his
To
When
the
give the w^orld assurance of a
War
the Civil
came,
most beloved and honored
The
trial
mould and
heroic
was
dignified address, he
it
seal
man."
found him among
officers in the service.
He
of his faith was bitter but brief.
not fight against his
home and loved
ones,
could
much
as
he honored the flag which he had so long and faith-
He
fully cherished.
many pangs of
was
a Southerner,
and with
went with
his native
sincere regret he
State for weal or woe.
His personal bravery during the war was wonderful;
he never performed deeds of valor under tem-
porary excitement, but acted with such coolness and
daring as to
and inferiors
the battle of
was ordered,
command
alike.
the admiration of superiors
He
was severely wounded
White River, and while on
at his
own
request, to
at
sick leave
command
the
Confederate blockade runner Eugenie, upon which
the writer
On
made
a voyage.
one occasion the Eugenie grounded outside
of Fort Fisher while trying to run through the
in daylight.
the Federal
The
fleet
ship
was
fleet
was loaded with gunpowder,
firing
upon
her, the risk of im-
241
CAPTAIN JOSEPH FRY
mediate death and destruction to crew and ship was
Fry was ordered by Colonel Lamb
overwhelming.
to
abandon the
vessel
He
by explosion.
go
to
do
to
so,
and save
his
crew from death
accordingly told
who wished
all
but as for himself, he would stand
by the ship and try to save the powder, which was
by the Confederate Government.
greatly needed
Several boatloads of his
a
men
retreated to the fort;
few remained with Fry, the enemy's
thick
and
around them.
fast
shells flying
In the face of this
great danger, Fry lightened his ship, and upon the
swelling tide brought vessel and cargo safely
in.
Later on he commanded the steamer Agnes E.
named in honor of his devoted wife. In this
made three successful voyages, after which
Fry,
ship he
she
was unfortunately run ashore by her
lies
not far distant from the Virginius.
was then placed
der of the war
boat
in active service
in
command
Morgan and was
general,
pilot
and
Captain Fry
during the remain-
of the Confederate gun-
highly complimented by his
Dabney H. Maury,
for conspicuous bravery
in action.
After
changes.
the
war
success or failure.
in July,
his
fortunes
underwent many
Several undertakings met with varying
At
last,
he went to
New York
1873, where he hoped to secure employ-
242
DERELICTS
ment
command
in
was introduced
There he
of an ocean steamer.
to
General Quesada, agent of the
Cuban Republic, who
offered
him the command of
the steamer Virginiiis, then lying in the harbor of
He
Kingston, Jamaica.
accepted the offer, and re-
ceived a month's pay in advance, $150, two-thirds
of which he sent to his needy family, and reserved
the remainder for his personal
ginius, originally
land
in
named
1864 and was
Virgin,
The
outfit.
was
Vir-
built in Scot-
specially designed for a block-
She made
Havana and Mo-
ade runner in the Confederate service.
several successful trips between
Being shut up
bile.
in the latter port, she
was used
by the Confederates as a dispatch and transport
steamer.
For
a time after the
by the Federal Government
Revenue
war
in the
she
was used
United States
Service, but proving unsatisfactory,
to her great consumption of coal,
was sold
owing
at public
auction by the United States Treasury Department
to an
American
for Venezuela.
carrying
The owners
firm.
out American papers
in legal
From
volunteers
in
that time she
and
1870
took,
form and cleared her
supplies
to
was used
Cuba;
in
and
while engaged in this business under the American
flag,
recognized by American consuls as an Ameri-
can vessel, she was overhauled at sea on the 31st of
243
CAPTAIN JOSEPH FRY
October, 1873, by the Spanish man-of-war Tornado
and declared a prize to the Spanish Government.
Fry never dreamed of greater danger; he occupied
the
same position he had assumed while running the
Federal blockade and the same as
of the
Commodore and
the
in the recent cases
Bermuda.
He
was
merchantman, carried no guns, made no armed
sistance,
ing
and flew the American
all this,
flag.
a
re-
Notwithstand-
drumhead court martial was held on
a
board the Tornado and on the second day afterwards
condemned
the unfortunate victims were
and sentenced
as pirates
immediate execution at Santiago
to
de Cuba, where the Spanish warship had arrived.
Even then Captain Fry and
nearly
all
his
crew,
who were
Americans, expected a release through
the intervention of the United States authorities.
Vain hope!
The American
vice-consul did
consul
what he could
Government was
was absent; the
in vain;
the
Home
silent; the British consul protested,
but without avail, and the butchery of these brave
men
began.
We
read from the newspaper accounts
of the dreadful scene as the victims were ranged
facing a wall.
Captain Fry asked for a glass of
water, which was given him by the friendly hand
of one of his
own
race.
He
then walked with firm,
unfaltering steps to the place
assigned him,
and
244
DERELICTS
calmly awaited the volley which ended his noble
A
life.
touching Incident occurred on the march to
execution.
When
the brave
man
passed the Ameri-
can Consulate, he gravely saluted the bare pole
which should have borne the
flag,
so dear to his heart, but which
once and again
had
failed
him
In
his extremity.
Although the
firing
party was only ten feet away,
says the published account,
killed
Fry was the only one
Then ensued
outright.
a
horrible
scene.
"The Spanish butchers advanced to where the
wounded men lay, writhing and moaning In agony,
and placing the muzzles of their guns
in the
mouths
of their victims, shattered their heads into fragments.
Others were stabbed to death with knives
and swords."
Fifty-three
three
victims
had suffered death,
more were made ready
ninety-
for execution; the
bloody work was to be resumed, when an unlookedfor
intervention
Jamaica, and
it
came.
found
of-war Niobe under
The news had reached
in the
harbor the British man-
command
of Capt. Sir
Lamb-
ton Lorraine, who, true to his Anglo-Saxon Instincts,
needed no orders to speed to the rescue.
in such haste that
many of
his
men were
Leaving
left behind,
he steamed with forced draft to Santiago.
Before
245
CAPTAIN JOSEPH FRY
the anchor reached the bottom of the harbor the
Niobe's drums had beat to quarters and the welltrained gunners were at their stations.
Commander Lorraine
moments were
ance;
eral
ignored the customary for-
were trembling
malities; precious lives
vital.
was made aware of
in
the bal-
Before the Spanish genLorraine stood
his arrival,
before him and demanded that the execution be
stayed.
To
response
unsatisfactory
Burriel's
brave commander returned answer that
sence of an
American man-of-war he would protect
the interest of the Americans.
hesitated; he
was not
Still
by
a threat that
town, as he had
in
the Anglo-Saxon.
his thirst
Again the gallant Britisher
manded an unequivocal answer,
it
the Spaniard
had tasted human blood, but
satisfied.
confirmed
the
in the ab-
he would bombard the
Honduras for
His
de-
and, report says,
the protection of
prompt, decisive action ar-
rested the bloody work, and eventually saved the
lives
of the remainder of the crew of the Virginius.
On
his return to
England some months
Lambton was detained some days
The
animated by
city authorities,
duct, tendered
him
modestly declined.
a
in
later, Sir
New
York.
his gallant con-
public reception,
which was
Virginia City, Nev., desiring to
testify its appreciation of his noble
humanity, for-
246
DERELICTS
warded
silver,
to
him
a
fourteen-pound brick of solid
upon which was inscribed
name and
his
with the legend "Blood
incident,
is
thicker
the
than
water," signifying also in Western eulogy "You're
a brick."
A
tardy recognition of the rights of American
possession was
made
later
by the Spanish Govern-
ment, and the Virginius was delivered to an Ameri-
can
man-of-war.
craft off
While towing the unfortunate
Cape Fear and bound for
the Virginius sprang a leak, or,
tled,
and found her grave
neath us.
a
Northern
some
in the
say,
was
port,
scut-
ocean depths be-
RECAPTURE OF THE "EMILY ST. PIERRE."
The
me many
following strange story was told to
years ago, and, although some of the details have
been forgotten, the incident, which was declared to
be quite true, led to one of the most extraordinary
exploits of the
War between
famous
the States in the
recapture of the Emily St. Pierre.
While Great Britain was
at
war with France
in the
year 1813, a small Scotch brig was approaching the
British
the
Channel on the
West
last leg of
her voyage from
Indies for Greenock on the river Clyde.
She had successfully eluded strange
sails
and the
captain was quite hopeful of reaching his destination without encountering a
alas,
when
the brig
French privateer, but
was within
a
few days'
sail
the "land o'cakes," a smarter vessel, bearing the
of
tri-
color at her peak, overhauled the Scotsman, and,
with a round shot across her bows, compelled her
surrender.
A
French prize crew was placed on
board with orders
to sail the brig to the nearest
French port for adjudication.
and
his cabin
The
Scotch captain
boy were retained on board
247
as prison-
248
DERELICTS
former
ers, the
and the
to assist in the
latter to wait
working of the brig
upon the prize crew.
enemy's flag apeak, the
little
the enemy's country and
brig
With
the
was headed for
was soon alone upon
the
With the accustomed discipline of the manof-war somewhat relaxed, the Frenchmen, wishing
to make merry over their good fortune, sought
among the brig stores the red wine to which they
sea.
were accustomed, instead of which they broached
a
cask of Jamaica rum, under whose masterful potency
they
became
as
dead men.
The Scotsman was
quick to seize his opportunity, and with the lone
boy he dragged every man
assistance of his cabin
Jack into
his
forecastle
and securely
tied
them
were likewise secured
their bunks; the officers
to
in the
cabin and the course of the brig laid straight and
On
true again for bonnie Scotland.
the following
morning while the brig was slowly proceeding under
light canvas,
which the master himself had
the boy steered, another
set
while
Frenchman gave chase and
the hopes of the Scotsman gave
way
to despair as
the swift cruiser overhauled
him hand over hand.
Turning
whom
to the
to find
to the
French
officer
poop deck for the fresh
him
in a state
air,
he had secured
he was astonished
of terror instead of
at the prospect of his release.
in
triumph
Quickly the French-
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
man
explained In his
Scotch
plight
was
captain
and that of
his
own
ST.
249
PIERRE
language, with which the
that
familiar,
crew would
disgraceful
his
result In his
speedy
courtmartlal and execution at the yard arm; that
the Scotch captain
to
him
his
would accept
uniform and sword, assume with
boy the uniforms of two of
If
his parole, restore
his
his cabin
Frenchmen, hoist
the French ensign and leave the rest to him, he
would
and cast
his lot
resume
extricate the brig,
in Scotland, for
his bonds,
own country
he could never see his
This was quickly done, for the alternative
again.
On came the armed
but assured the brig's recapture.
Frenchman, Boom! went one of her guns. The brig
rounded
the
and
to,
quondam
pet that he
response to his countryman's
In
was of the French
privateer. In charge of
a prize ship, taking her to a French port.
mander of
sailed
away
the brig
reached
the
armed
vessel
was resumed,
status
The comsalute
a
and
quo ante of
as arranged, the
Clyde was
and the descendants of the French
prize crew can account for
French names
waved
The
quite satisfied.
In safety,
to this day.
hail,
prize master shouted through his trum-
still
heard
some of the mysterious
in the Scottish
And, mirahUe
Highlands
dictu, the cabin
boy of
the brig became the hero of the following true story
and was subsequently well known
as the captain of
250
DERELICTS
a Confederate blockade-running steamer into Wil-
mington.
It
was during the fourth year of
that this very extraordinary
Wilson, appeared
in
the
war
man, Capt. William
Cape Fear waters
in
command
of a steamer which ran the blockade at Wilmington
perhaps three or four times; but there was nothing
unusual about this incident, and perhaps for that
reason
I
have forgotten her name.
There was, how-
ever, something very unusual about Wilson,
unequalled bravery
St. Pierre,
in
whose
recapturing his ship the Emily
of Charleston,
S.
C,
in 1861, was, of all
the stirring incidents of the blockade, the
most ad-
mirable example of personal pluck and endurance.
I
have been told by
Pierre, for
whom
a
kinsman of Miss Emily
was named, that she
the ship
lives in Charleston,
and
I
am
repeating this story
of Wilson's wonderful exploits at his request.
though not
strictly a story
of the Cape Fear,
it
be none the less interesting to our readers, and
produce the account published
biirg
Journal entitled
"On
"A
St.
still
in
Alwill
I re-
Chambers's Edin-
Matter-of-Fact Story."
the morning of the i8th of March, 1862,
the Liverpool ship Emily St. Pierre (William Wilson, captain)
arrived within about twelve miles of
Charleston and signaled for a
a long
pilot.
She had made
and tedious voyage of four months from
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
Calcutta,
bound for
St.
John,
ing at Charleston for orders
If the Southern port
John,
,St.
New
Brunswick,
call-
Charleston was open.
was blockaded, Captain Wil-
were to proceed
son's orders
port of
if
251
PIERRE
ST.
New
direct to the British
The
Brunswick.
ship
had
formerly belonged to Charleston, but since the out-
break of the American Civil
Messrs. Fraser,
War
she
had
sailed
Her nominal owners were
Trenholm & Co., of lo Rumford
under the English
flag.
Place, Liverpool, a firm doing an extensive business,
who had very
close relations with the
whom
or Southern States, for
and agents
Confederate
they acted as bankers
in this country.
"Upon approaching
was hailed by
the Charleston Bar, the ship
a vessel which
proved
to be the
North-
ern cruiser James Adger, and in response Captain
Wilson hauled up
and lay
score
to.
of
papers.
his courses,
An American
backed
his
main yard,
naval lieutenant and a
men came on board and demanded his
The manifest showed an innocent cargo,
2,000 bales of gunny bags, and the registration of
the ship as English
was
in
due order.
Charleston
being blockaded, the captain demanded permission
to proceed to his destination, the British port of St.
John.
The
lieutenant
matter to his superior
refused,
in
and referred the
command; and
the
two
252
DERELICTS
vessels proceeded Into Charleston roadstead,
they arrived at half past two
where
afternoon.
in the
"Captain Wilson was ordered on board the
ship of the blockading squadron, the Florida,
he was kept for two hours
in solitude
flag-
where
and suspense.
At last a flag officer. Captain Goldsboro, came to
him and said they had decided to seize the Emily
St.
Pierre on several grounds.
carried contraband of
He
asserted that she
—namely,
war
saltpeter; that
her English registration was not bona
many
name
articles
fide;
that
on board had been found bearing the
Charleston; that the same
word had been
scraped out on her stern and the name Liverpool
substituted; that Captain
all
his
James Adger
Wilson had not disclosed
but had been observed from
papers,
to
parcel, probably of incriminating documents.
tain
the
throw overboard and sink a small
Wilson protested and appealed
time law of nations, but
He
in vain.
that the law courts of Philadelphia
the matter; and finally Captain
to
Cap-
the mari-
was informed
would adjudicate
Wilson was invited
to take passage in his vessel to Philadelphia
and
to
place at the disposal of the navigator his charts and
The
instruments.
command.
his
He
crew had
invitation in
form was
in fact a
returned to his vessel to find that
all
been removed, with the excep-
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
253
PIERRE
ST.
—
of two who were not sailors
the steward,
named Matthew Montgomery, and the cook, named
tion
Louis .SchevHn, haiUng from Frankfort-on-the-Main.
These were merely passengers and with them was
an American engineer who had obtained permission
to take passage to Philadelphia.
"The
prize crew
who took charge
of the vessel
consisted of Lieutenant Stone, of the United States
Navy,
in
command;
fourteen in
all;
a master's
mate and twelve men,
with the American passenger,
fif-
The moment that Captain Wilson again
stepped aboard his own vessel, he formed the resoteen.
lution to recapture her
He
and take her home.
bold enough to think that
it
recapture the ship even against such odds.
armed man, aided by
a
was
might be possible to
An
un-
the questionable support of
steward and a cook, was practically powerless
against the fifteen of the crew.
On
the other hand,
Captain Wilson was a brawny, big-framed Scotsman
(a native of Dumfriesshire), a thorough seaman,
determined
He
In
resolve, cool
called the steward
and prompt
and the cook
to
In action.
him
In his
stateroom and disclosed the wild project he had
formed.
chief.
of the
Both manfully promised
to stand
by their
This was at half past four on the morning
2ist
of March,
the third
day out from
254
DERELICTS
Captain Wilson had already formed
Charleston.
and had prepared
his plan of operations,
tain extent for carrying
out.
it
With
to a cer-
the promise
of the cook and the steward secured, he lost no time,
gave them no chance for their courage to evaporate,
but proceeded at once in the darkness and silence of
He
the night to carry out his desperate undertaking.
was prepared
that
to lose his life or to
was the simple
have
his ship;
alternative.
was Lieutenant Stone's watch on deck, and
"It
The
the prize master's mate was asleep in his berth.
Scotch captain went into the berth, handed out the
mate's sword and revolvers, clapped a gag
a piece of
wood and some
Then
still
of
teeth,
Montgomery, the steward
seized his hands, which
quickly ironed, and so left
tenant
made
marline between his
him
The
secure.
paced the deck, undisturbed by
across to another stateroom,
can engineer lay asleep.
He
also
a
lieU'
sound
where the Ameri
was gagged and
ironed silently and without disturbance.
His
revol-
vers and those already secured were given to the
steward and the cook,
cabin.
who remained below
in
the
Captain Wilson went on deck.
"Lieutenant Stone was pacing the deck, and the
watch consisted of one
man
lookout, on the forecastle,
at the helm,
one at the
and three others who
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
ST.
PIERRE
255
ten minutes Captain Wilwere about the ship. For
remarking on the fair
son walked up and down,
that he had just turned
wind, and making believe
midway ot
The ship was off Cape Hatteras,
out
Charleston and Philadelphia,
their journey between
of the land on that
projection
the most easterly
the
navigation thereabouts, with
the
affording
tendency to fogs,
It is difficult
coast
cross currents
and
a
captains subject for talk.
two
"
'Let her go free a
bit.
too close to the cape. I
"
'We have plenty of
Captain Stone; you are
tell
you and
I
offing,' replied
know.'
the lieuten-
her head?'
helmsman: 'How's
ant; and then to the
" 'Northeast and by east, sir,' came the reply.
"
you it is right,' said the
'Keep her
I tell
so.
lieutenant.
" 'Well, of course I
I
I
am
not responsible now, but
Captain Stone, and
an older sailor than you,
another
to clear Hatteras,
tell you if you want
look at
but
Do
points east will do no harm.
am
two
And
open on the cabin table.
Wilson
Captain
now,' and
the coffee will be ready
to the cabin, followed by
poop
the
from
way
led the
my
chart; I left
the
commander.
"There was
ing
it
yards long leada passage about five
at either end.
door
to the cabin, a
from the deck
256
The
DERELICTS
captain stopped at the
picking from behind
it
first
door, closing
and
it,
an iron belaying pin which
he had placed there. The younger man went forward to the cabin where the chart lay upon the table.
*'
The
'Stone!'
lieutenant turned at the sudden
peremptory exclamation of
heavy iron bolt
raised, the
hard, eager, quick words,
in his
'My
young
in the
hand and
foot,
There was
still
low, but
He
did not strike.
thrust the
mouth; he was bound
lieutenant's
bundled into a berth, and the door
Three out of
locked.
in
Montgomery had
was unnecessary.
gag
hand,
ship shall never go to
Philadelphia!' said the captain.
It
His arm up-
name.
his
were thus disposed
fifteen
of.
the watch on deck and the watch
below.
"The
construction of the Emily St. Pierre
a kind not unusual, but
still
was of
The
not very common.
quarters of the crew were not in the forecastle, but
in a
roundhouse amidships.
scribe
its
shape.
It
The name
with windows and one door.
upper deck,
rooms and
a
does not de-
was an oblong house on deck
From
the poop, or
at the stern, over the cabins
and
state-
the passage before mentioned, there
companion
stair
on the port
was
side leading to the
deck at the waist; whilst a similar companionway at
the stern led
down
to the level of the deck,
which
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
ST.
257
PIERRE
could also be approached direct from the cabins
In this space, behind the poop,
through the passage.
was
the wheel, slightly raised, for the steersman to
poop; and there was
see clear of the
a
hatchway
leading to the lazaret hold, a small supplementary
hold usually devoted to stores, extra gear,
on
this part
of the deck could be seen, therefore,
from the waist of the ship;
steersman,
of
coils
Nothing that might be done
spare rope, and so on.
who was
vice versa, except by the
elevated by a step or two above
the level.
"Coming on
of the deck from the cabin.
this part
Captain Wilson called to the three
men who were
about, and pointing to a heavy coil of rope in the
lazaret, ordered
them
tenant Stone's orders.
to get
It
up
at once
—
Lieu-
They jumped down without
demur, suspecting nothing, as soon as the captain
shoved the hatch aside.
They were no sooner
in
than he quickly replaced and fastened the hatch.
The
three were securely trapped In full view of the
helmsman, whose
sailor's instinct
kept him in his
place at the wheel.
"
'If
captain,
you utter a sound or make a move,' said the
showing
a revolver,
'I'll
blow your brains
out!' and then he called aft the lookout man, the
last
of the watch on deck.
The man came
aft.
258
DERELICTS
Would he help to
No; he would not.
navigate the ship to England?
would he
call the
He
was an American.
He
watch?
would do
Then
And
that.
moment he was
laid
low on the deck, and bundled unceremoniously
into
eagerly he did
but the next
it;
the lazaret with his three companions, the hatchway
replaced and secured. Captain Wilson standing on
guard near
by.
"Meanwhile
were
the watch below
When
astir.
had been
do so gradually and by twos and
two that came
at a time,
The
at the steward,
severely in the shoulder.
was
fired.
tain
were
and
threes.
The
first
were quickly overpowered, one
aft
and bound.
and dashed
called
tumble out they generally
sailors
third
who
It
man drew
fired,
his knife
wounding him
was the only shot that
Finding that cook and steward and capall
armed, the
quietly surrendered,
rest of the
and submitted
watch below
to be locked in
the roundhouse, prisoners of the bold and resolute
man who
in the course of
an hour had thus regained
possession of his ship against overwhelming odds.
"For England!
Yes,
homeward bound
seaworthy ship; for a ship that
unseaworthy to the
overloading.
miles from
And
home
last degree.
here
is
is
in
an un-
undermanned
It is
is
worse than
our brave captain 3,000
calmly altering her course the few
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
points eastward he
had recommended
homeward bound
tenant,
to the lieu-
for England, his crew a
Neither could
steward and a cook!
nor
259
PIERRE
ST.
steer,
nor hand,
Brave-hearted Matthew Montgomery,
reef.
honest Louis Schevlin,
now
is
the time to
show what
savor of seamanship you have picked up amongst
your pots and pans of the galley and the pantry.
"The first thing was to wash and bandage
wounded shoulder of the man who was shot,
the
the
all
the prisoners in the roundhouse under
lock and key.
Four of them out of twelve volun-
next to put
teered to assist in working the ship rather than sub-
The
mit to the tedium of imprisonment.
fate.
But one of the four could
perfectly.
And
the courses are
steer,
set,
irony of
and he im-
and the
topsails,
lower and upper, are drawing and the topgallant
sails,
too
—pray Heaven
this
wind may
last
and no
stronger.
"The
lieutenant
table under
was admitted
to
guard and on parole.
the
captain's
The meal
over,
he was ushered into his stateroom and locked
Once
crew
—
combined—bread
a
day only
for the captain
passed to the prisoners
is
in.
captain and
and beef and water were
in the
roundhouse; no more
attention than absolutely necessary could be spared
to them.
260
DERELICTS
"Homeward bound!
come
The
Captain Wilson had over-
his captors; could
glass
was
falling, the
The
ening a gale.
he overcome the elements?
wind was
rising, threat-
reef tackles were passed to the
capstan, so that one man's strength could haul them.
Then the wheel was resigned to the Irish steward
and German cook, whilst the captain had to lie
aloft
and
tie
the reef points, ever
and signaling
a look behind
to
move
all
made snug
is
of the coming storm.
the captain,
"Yes,
if
if.
men how
Hours of hard work,
the wheel.
anxiety before
and anon casting
to his faithful
All
fearful
meet the fury
to
right at last, thought
is
everything holds.
Everything did not hold.
was carried away
in the
The
tiller
midst of the gale, and Cap-
tain Wilson, brave heart as he was, felt the sadness
of despair.
He
had been keeping watch day and
night without intermission for
many
an hour's sleep at intervals,
wearied with work.
of the heart.
at
the
was but
ship rolled
mercy of the
wrought
up
The
It
sea.
with
anxiety,
a passing faintness
and tossed, helmless,
For twelve hours he
to rig up a jury rudder,
his heart in gratitude,
days, snatching
torn
and
at last, lifting
for the second time he
snatched his ship out of the hands of destruction;
for the second time he could inform Lieutenant
RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY
Stone that he was
In
command
ST.
of his
261
PIERRE
own
No
ship.
longer was the ship buffetted at the mercy of the
wild wind and the cruel Atlantic rollers, but her
course was laid true and her head straight
—
for
England.
"For
thirty days they sailed with westerly gales
They made
behind them.
the code signal
the land In safety,
was hoisted
English Channel.
On
April, exactly one
month
the
as they passed
and
up the
morning of the 21st of
since her course
on Cape Hatteras, the Emily
St.
was altered
Pierre threaded the
devious channels which led Into the broad estuary
of the Mersey, the anchor
an eager
rattle
fell
with a plunge and
of the leaping cable, and the ship
rode stately on the rushing
"Much was made
next few weeks.
tide.
of Captain Wilson during the
All England rang with applause
of his brave exploit.
Meetings were convened, pres-
entations were made, speeches were delivered to the
extent that might have turned the head of a less
Large sums of money
simple and true-hearted man.
were subscribed, of which plucky Matthew Mont-
gomery and honest Louis
their share.
est
moment
Schevlln,
the cook, got
But probably the happiest and proudof his
life
was when the captain stood
on deck on the day of the
arrival, his wife
by his
262
DERELICTS
side,
near her the owner of the ship, Charles K.
Prioleau,
of Fraser, Trenholm
&
Co., whilst he
narrated in simple words the story of his exploit.
His big beard was torn and ragged,
his eyes blood-
shot with weariness and loss of sleep, his face haggard, weather-beaten, and drawn; but he was a
of
whom
all
Britain
was proud,
a
man
man
to inspire
her with the faith that the race of heroes does not
die."
THE
The
"LILIAN'S" LAST SUCCESSFUL RUN.
four years of blockade running, from 1861
1865, were so crowded with incidents and ad-
to
ventures of an extraordinary and startling nature
that each day brought a
I
recall
knees,
my
the
shells, the
first
new and novel
day under
scream of the approaching
terrifying
dread of instant death.
Again, the no-
table storm at sea in which our ship
and lashed by the waves
plates cut the rivets
experience.
the trembling
fire,
until
was
buffetted
the straining steel
and the fireroom was flooded
and the engines stopped, while the tempest tossed
us helpless upon the mountainous waves
hope of our
fully cast
lives
was gone,
five persons,
cast
away
and
we were
upon a reef which extends about
miles from Bermuda.
in a small
until
all
mercithirty
Again, when our party of
endeavoring to reach the Confederacy
launch after the
the second day
fall
of Fort Fisher, was
upon Green Turtle Cay,
an obscure island of the Bahamas, where we dwelt
in a negro's
hut for three weeks, and then foolishly
risked our lives again for two weeks at sea in a
263
264
DERELICTS
small boat which landed us In the surf
man-eating sharks
off
Cape Canaveral,
among
In the narration of these reminiscences of
times on the
Cape Fear,
when
supported,
written
under
by
in doubt,
following story of
my
have adhered to
I
official
my
incidents
war
facts,
In the
records.
personal adventures,
some extraordinary
the
Florida.
in
I
have
which came
observation, although not in the sequence
described; and the romantic features are based on
a true incident of the war, the hero of which.
tain
M
,
uniformity,
in the
I
still
lives in
an honored old age.
have changed the text as
Charlotte Observer
many
it
Cap-
For
appeared
years ago, by the
substitution of real names.
Abstract Log of U.
"Shenandoah."
S.
S.
At meridian,
"Saturday, July 30, 1864.
latitude
(D. R.) 33 50 N.; longitude (D. R.) 76 16 W.,
latitude (observed) 34 01 N., longitude (by chro-
nometer)
76
10
W. At
3.45
p.
m.
sighted
a
steamer burning black smoke to the eastward; made
all sail in
chase.
At 4.30
p.
m. made stranger out
to be a double smokestack, side-wheel steamer, ap-
parently a blockade runner, standing to the north-
ward and westward.
colors.
Called the
first
At
5.45
division
he
showed
rebel
and powder division
THE
to quarters
and began
150 pounder
ters
and
RUN
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
rifle
to fire at her with the
At
Parrott.
265
30 and
6 p. m. boat to quar-
fired all the divisions.
fore-topgallant sail and foresail.
At 7 p. m. took
At 7.30 took
During the chase
in
in
70 rounds
from 30-pounder Parrott, 18 rounds from ii-inch
fore-topsail.
guns, and one round
m. stopped
8 p.
from 24-pounder howitzer.
firing,
At
gave up the chase, stopped
At 9.20 Cape Lookout Light bore N. E.
engines.
by N., 14 miles
water.
fired
First
distant.
Sounded
saw the steamer
12 fathoms of
in
in latitude
33 34, N.,
W.
At midnight Cape Lookout
Light bore N. E. by N. I/2 N., distant seventeen
longitude 76 33
miles.
"(Signed)
Acting Master, U.
This matter-of-fact entry, read
cause
I,
Navy."
random from
at
the official records of the war, stirs
S.
my
blood, be-
then seventeen years of age, was purser of
that blockade runner, and
it
was
I
who
"rebel" colors on that eventful day
ago; and thereby hangs a
The steamer
Lilian
hoisted those
fifty-five
years
tale.
was one of the most
successful
examples of a Clyde-built blockade runner of 1864
in design
and equipment.
Of 500
with two rakish funnels, the
tons net register,
finest
marine
oscillat-
DERELICTS
266
ing engines, a battery of boilers which drove her
an hour, and loaded to her marks, she
fifteen knots
presented to the
joy forever she was to
A
less,
mand
we
was,
thing of beauty and a
of us on board, and our
all
chief, the celebrated
beloved
no
eye the graceful appear-
critical
ance of a racing yacht.
thought, the
John Newland
Maffitt,
man
to
of
all
men
com-
Unluckily for us he was ordered to take
her.
charge of the ram Albemarle, which the intrepid
Gushing later destroyed
—
the
most conspicuous
ample of personal daring recorded
in the
ex-
history
of the war.
Another Southern man succeeded him, and, we
having received from the Confederate agent a cargo
of mysterious packages, which was most carefully
from
proceeded
handled,
St.
George,
Bermuda,
bound for the port of Wilmington, N. C. This
desired haven of these fugitives of the sea was preferred to the
ern Channel,
Inlet,
more
difficult
blockaded ports farther
Main Bar or Westcommanded by Fort Caswell, and New
There were two
south.
inlets,
guarded by that Malakoff of the South, Fort
Fisher.
Many
fine
fenses
when
and
was
it
ships
were
lost in sight of these de-
daylight overtook a belated landfall,
pitiful to
watch the desperate
efforts
of
RUN
267
greyhounds to run the gauntlet of the
fleet,
THE
the
little
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
whose concentrated
at close
fire
range sometimes
drove them among the breakers, where many wrecks
may still be
many more
There were
seen after
all
fortunate,
whose daring roused
these years.
to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm the brave fellows of the
Confederate garrison who manned the protecting
guns which kept the
As we passed
fleet at a
respectful distance.
the ships which lined the docks of
the friendly Islands of
Bermuda,
were
their crews
mustered and cheer after cheer greeted us from
lusty throats In unison.
upon
I
Beyond the bar we
a tranquil sea, without a sail In sight,
man
paid each
his
sailed
and then
bounty of $40 gold, an earnest
of the greater sum which he would get for a successful run.
Upon
our ship the discipline was rigorous and
To
unrelenting.
each was given
in
few words
orders for the run; sobriety, silence,
were
enforced.
and
his
civility
Our Chief Engineer Lockhart,
Chief Officer Vogel, Pilot Jim Billy Craig, our Signal Officer
Fred Gregory and
I
were served
captain's table; the other officers
at the
messed together.
Our crew numbered 48 men.
When
night
drew on the
finest
Welsh
coal
was
picked and piled upon the boiler-room plates, for
268
DERELICTS
use in an emergency, and the dexterous handling of
the
dampers prevented the
telltale
sparks from be-
traying our dangerous course across the line of the
ever-watchful cruisers, which formed their cordon
around the Bermudas, upon the edge of the Gulf
Stream, and across the most dangerous approaches
smoking was
inhibited,
we ran
darkness,
A
No
Cape Fear River.
to the
full
as,
lights
were permitted,
through impenetrable
speed for Dixie's land.
double watch was kept aloft, and upon the
turtleback well forward, and the keenest eyes were
fixed
upon the course
with
watchful
to
guard against a
collision
which also masked their
cruisers,
lights.
Next
in
importance to the Wilmington
Billy Craig,
who was
a
man
of great
pilot,
ability,
Jim
was
a
long thin fellow, a landsman, a nondescript known
as "the
watchman," who held himself
day and night for service
in
readiness
as a special lookout.
This
person's vision was wonderfully clear and far-reaching.
He
could see an object on the darkest night
quite invisible to the rest of us,
cient service
was
in the
and
his
most
effi-
hour before daylight, when
proximity to Uncle Sam's gunboats was most undesirable.
the
first
Several easy captures had been
streak of
dawn by
made
in
the accidental meeting
THE
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCESSFUL
RUN
of a casual cruiser and his unhappy quarry,
escape by speed was simply impossible.
this
reason that our
Long
Tom
260
when
was for
It
was retained
at high
wages, which he squandered with other prodigals
in playing
was
a
crackaloo with double gold eagles.
simple game; two or
threw up a gold
or crack
in the
between the
piece, the
one falling upon a joint
deck winning the others which
This was forbidden at
lines.
It
more persons each
fell
sea, but
such discipline was relaxed in port.
Our
first
night at sea
was
clear
and
beautiful, the
air,
cool and grateful, contrasted with the severe
and
at times almost suffocating
stone islands.
I,
snugly ensconced
on deck,
upon the
warmth of
the lime-
After the ev^ening meal, Gregory and
in
the lee of the cabin, which
sat far Into the night
was
gazing with wonder
tranquil glory of the stars, which shone
with exceeding splendor, and talking with sad hearts
of the waning light of the star of the Confederacy,
which had reached
Its
zenith at Chancellorsville and
which sank so disastrously at the later battle of
Gettysburg.
the staunch
The wind was
little
light,
but the rush of
ship at full speed brought to our
listening ears the faint
sound of a
bell,
not that of
a ship striking the change of the watch, but a con-
tinuous peal of irregular strokes.
In a few
moments
DERELICTS
270
it
ceased,
and
I
was
have often wondered what
for no
sail
for
repetition,
its
was increased by
It
meant,
Alert and eager
visible that night.
which came not, our wonderment
the cry of a
human
voice In the
darkness ahead, which was also observed by the
lookouts aloft and alow, and, while
Long
Tom
was
rapidly climbing the ratlines of the foremast to the
appeared on the bridge and
crosstrees, our captain
brought the ship to a
all
In painful silence
full stop.
eyes and ears were strained to catch a sight or
Again
sound from the mysterious object ahead.
and again the long-drawn, wailing
cry.
Could
it
be
The sailor's instinct and sympathy Is
never so much aroused as by such an Incident.
Shifting our course a point or two, we proceeded
a castaway?
slowly ahead; the cry grew clearer, with despairful
lamentations; again our course was changed, the
paddles slowly turning.
tion of silence
dered the
on board
officer
Ignoring the usual precauat night, the captain or-
of the deck to answer with a hail.
Immediately the voice responded, and
ments Long
Tom
the
"A
bridge,
reported to the
nigger
in
a
in a
few mo-
commander on
ship's
boat,
sir."
"What," said the captain, "can he be doing out
here
if I
In a
boat i6o miles from land?"
know,
sir,
"I'm blessed
but I'm telling you the truth."
"Cast-
THE
away,
was
close aboard,"
sir,
The
commander.
"Heave him
The
occupant, hoisted to the deck.
I
was
its
would
knocked at
before, "for," said
which he refuses to make known to me."
forward
I
found a negro
of age, apparently
feet
and embraced
of about
his plight
On
going
fifty
years
deep distress; mutual recog-
in
was instantaneous;
nition
man
man
see the
something mysterious about
is
lonesome
next morning,
dressing, the chief steward
my door and gravely asked if I
whom we had rescued the night
he, "there
a line,"
of the davits were
falls
soon hooked on and the boat, with
when
271
the second officer's re-
port a few moments later.
said the
RUN
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
my
the
poor fellow
fell at
my
knees, with broken sobs of
"Oh, Marse Jeems, Marse Jeems, Marse Jeems!"
His story was soon told
in the
homely and pathetic
vernacular of the old-time Southern darkey.
had long been
the butler
and body servant of
friend at Orton plantation,
had given her heart
fore he went
away
to a
to the
many Southern homes.
aster
whose lovely daughter
manly young neighbor
his
The
fearful
in
news of
field,
dis-
which her lover
company on Gulp's
had been shot through the lungs and was
on the
be-
war which had desolated
had come from Gettysburg,
was engaged with
He
my
Hill.
left
He
dying
which was later occupied by the enemy.
272
DERELICTS
Then
a veil
was drawn, for
as to his death
The poor
unavailing.
all
subsequent inquiries
and the disposal of
his
body were
Orton, grief stricken,
girl at
haunted by fears of the worst, and mocked by her
efforts to seek
a
him beyond the
shadow of her former
friend returned
living
from
slowly faded to
lines,
self.
Again and again
my
among
the
a hopeless search
and the dead, when,
began
he, too,
away, for the war had robbed him of
whom
child
he adored, and
away from him.
nobleman
she
news of
his
go through the
young master
How
own
life.
dear mistress
In vain
overcome?
At
last
all
this
my
his influence,
he gave the de-
sired pass to proceed to the missing boy's
upon
and
body dead, or
could he, a slave, overcome
obstacles which the master, with
failed to
slipping
lines in Virginia
living, to the
he loved more than his
friend refused.
had
was
was then that this Nature's
never return until he brought the
whom
but the
black skin came forward and desired
in a
his liberty to
It
now
to pine
all
command
mission of mercy, which was counter-
signed by the proper authority, and the faithful
low proceeded on foot toward
his destination.
fel-
What
followed, "in weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in
hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in
and nakedness," would
fill
a volume.
He
cold
reached
THE
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
the regiment at
last,
and carried
to
RUN
273
many hungry
hearts the news of their loved ones at home, but he
was
was
told that his quest
dead, a Federal surgeon
the field
had found
from him
wounds mortal, had received
his
his sword, to be sent
mistress, with fond
words of
home
his
Army; he was
the Federal
and sentenced
young
But no, he
through the
slip
to the
devotion to the
he had better return home.
last;
tempted that night to
was
vain; the captain
in
who approached him on
at-
toward
lines
caught, brought back,
to be shot at sunrise.
How
he was
saved, as by a miracle, through the recognition of
the officer of the firing squad,
mington need not be
He
and sent back
to Wil-
told.
had formed another desperate resolve
would go
to
Orton
in the night,
and
in a frail
—he
bateau
attempt to pass the picket boats at Fort Anderson
and Fort Fisher, and reach the blockading
yond the
bar.
Perhaps when they heard
they would take pity and send him North,
might resume
his search.
He had
fleet be-
his story
when he
crossed the river
by the Market Street ferry and was passing through
the
where several blockade runners
cotton yard,
were loading their outward cargoes, when
idea
came
to
him why could he not go
;
on a steamer, and, with
his
a
new
as a steward
wages, reach the North
274
DERELICTS
by way of the West Indies?
which
He
shall be nameless.
was he
neither
With
deferential hu-
approached the captain of
he
mility
a
man
work of God; he was
embodiment of
man
devil; he laughed the old
a personal
to scorn; he
away on previous voyages runaway
ried
who, he
said,
steamer,
the sense of the noblest
in
the
a
was not an American,
had
car-
niggers,
had stowed away, and he had been
obliged to pay for them on his return; the next one
he caught at sea on board his ship would wish he
had never been born; he
didn't need a steward,
and
he did not doubt his tale of the young master was
a
As
lie.
the poor
man
turned away he was drawn
who had overheard
much discussion and
aside by a kindly steward
the
conversation,
ap-
and,
after
prehension, he agreed to arrange a secret passage
to
Bermuda.
where
it
That night he was stowed away,
was hoped that
the cruel process of fumi-
gation for the discovery of fugitive slaves and deserters
ing,
from the army, then
would not reach him.
in
vogue before
Cramped by
the
sail-
narrow
space which forbade lying down, and deathly seasick,
air,
on the second night he crawled out for fresh
was detected and seized by
reported to the captain.
nition of the
a passing sailor
and
Infuriated by his recog-
stowaway, he actually stopped the ship
THE
and
RUN
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
set the
poor wretch adrift
out oars or food or water.
leaky boat, with-
in a
It
275
was on the second
night after that he heard the mysterious bell and
slwieked aloud for deliverance.
Although these
session,
this
qualities
were not
a
common
pos-
remarkable instance of a slave's de-
There
votion to his owner was not exceptional.
were hundreds and perhaps thousands of such
ex-
amples, especially on the part of those whose duties
were of
a domestic nature.
was not the evolu-
It
for this man's
tion of gentle traits of character,
grandfather had lived and died a savage
wilds of Africa.
It
was
with refined and kindly people
whom
whose
characteristic urbanity
tated,
and whose consideration for
constitutes
true
politeness,
servitor's devotion.
who
is
I
in
the
the result of daily contact
he served,
was unconsciously
was
reflected
imi-
which
others,
in
their
have a pensioner at Orton
ninety-four years of age.
He
was the
per-
sonal servant in his youth of Doctor Porcher, of
Charleston.
He
man might
be, but
at times
is
as polite as a cultivated French-
he
is
sincere in speech.
French phrases.
He
can
tell
He
you
uses
in pol-
ished language, and with becoming deference, of the
grand people of the exclusive
set
of Charleston of
long ago, and his solicitude for your health and for
276
DERELICTS
that of everyone connected with you
never heard of
gentility,
is
shown
whom
he has
expressions of old-time
in
but he belongs to a class that
is
passing
away.
I
have up to
the fact that
this
time refrained from mentioning
we had on board,
as passengers, three
important personages of the old Navy, whose duty,
as they
saw
it,
impelled them to resign their com-
missions in a service which was dear to them, and
to cast in their lot for weal or
woe with
the fortunes
of their native State, which had seceded from the
Union.
They had served with
around the world upon
vessel,
a
and they were under orders
At
retary Mallory at Richmond.
I
write there were in
tain spies said to
eral
distinction afloat
and
noted Confederate war
Nassau and
have been
to report to Sec-
the time of which
in the
in
Bermuda
cer-
pay of the Fed-
Government, and they sometimes succeeded
in
passing themselves, disguised and under assumed
names, as sailors and firemen, but more frequently
as stewards
on the blockade runners that were not
careful enough in the selection of their crew.
By
means much valuable information was communicated to the authorities at Washington, and the
this
mysterious loss of several
fine
blockade runners was
attributed to the seditious influence of such persons
THE
In
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
There were
time of peril.
RUN
277
also In each of our
foreign ports of refuge a few f?natlcs, who, contrary to the usages of war,
and
initiative
responsibility,
and upon
their
own
attempted the destruc-
tion of Confederate steamers at sea by secretly hid-
ing in their bunkers imitation lumps of coal, containing explosives of sufficient
sel
when
under the
boilers.
power
was shoveled
this object
Several such attempts had been
frustrated because the deception
easily detected In time
remember
to sink a ves-
Into the furnaces
was clumsy and
by the coal passers, and
I
that these nefarious undertakings were
frequently discussed by the engineers of our ship.
Meanwhile,
we were
off
I
observed with some curiosity that
our regular course, and
also,
with
feel-
we were approaching a long,
war vessel, barque-rigged and
ings of dismay, that
low, rakish-looking
under steam, which was evidently lying
ing us, but
my
der and amazement as
I
shall
a
and await-
beheld flying apeak the
white flag of the Confederacy.
by
to
apprehension was changed to won-
It
was
new
a sight I
never forget; alone upon the wide sea, hunted
hundred adversaries, the corvette Florida,
under the gallant Maffitt, had circumnavigated the
globe and spread consternation
among
the merchant
marine of the Stars and Stripes without the
loss of
278
a
DERELICTS
She was a beautiful vessel and had been
man.
handled with consummate
was something
ing,
skill
There
and daring.
pathetic in the object of our meet-
which had been secretly prearranged, for a
boat was immediately lowered,
into
which were
placed sundry parcels of opium for the hospital
service of the Southern
Army, probably from
hold of one of her prizes; and
fering
this
the
sympathetic of-
from these homeless fellows on the high sea
and wounded comrades
in the field
hos-
for the mitigation of their sufferings,
ap-
to their sick
pitals,
pealed strongly to our hearts.
We
tarried briefly, dipping in a parting salute to
each other our respective ensigns, probably the
and the
last
first
time that the conquered banner was
used to exchange courtesies with the same flag at
sea.
The
and far
until she
neutral port she
M.
Morris, cruising near
reached Bahia, Brazil,
ing
was conveniently
place
of
in
which
was attacked while disarmed, and
captured at night by the Wachusett, and
said,
new com-
corvette proceeded under her
mander, Capt. Charles
her
cast
away near
famous
later,
it
is
the last rest-
commander,
Captain
Maffitt.
Our third and last day at sea began auspiciously,
we were drawing toward the coast much farther
but
THE
At about
north than our usual landfall.
three in the afternoon
out
"Whereaway?"
bad
half past
startled by the look-
"On
We
were
northward of Cape Look-
position, to the
had not
smoke was vomited from our
In
yet perceived us.
our eagerness for more steam, however, the
by a
ho!"
"Sail
heading toward us."
sir,
out, but the stranger
time
279
called the officer of the watch.
the port quarter,
in a
we were
crow's nest, with a lusty
the
in
RUN
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCESSFUL
funnels,
and
telltale
in a
short
was evident that we were being overhauled
faster vessel under crowded canvas and full
it
The
rising
wind favored him, because we
had but two
sails,
fore and aft, which served to
steam.
steady us in a seaway, but this added
As
speed.
toward
ing us
rifled
the stranger
a lee shore, she
cannon, and for the
heard the scream of
little
to our
drew rapidly nearer, pushopened
first
fire
time in
a hostile shell as
it
with her
my
life
I
passed be-
tween our funnels and plunged into the sea a half
mile beyond.
had we been
The
sensation
was most unpleasant;
able to return the
fire,
the excitement
of battle must have been exhilarating, but to be
hunted
like a rabbit
and ii-inch
backbone
and pelted with Parrott
projectiles
was enough
to such laxation that
refused to bear
it.
The
my
cruiser's
to
shells
reduce
my
trembling knees
aim was deadly,
280
DERELICTS
for the
1 1
came tumbling end over end
-Inch shells
with such fearful accuracy that
only a few feet from
my
many
of them passed
Others sent the
head.
spray flying into our faces; and yet there were,
salt
up to
six o'clock,
no
any importance-
casualties of
The admirable conduct of our naval
inspired me with courage
such is
veterans beside
as the
my
and, strangely enough,
despairful feelings gave
Our pursuer was now
and confidence.
and
passengers soon
the influence of
of single batteries was
firing
broadsides,
—
raw troops —
sailing the
same course.
Why
changed to
way
to
fairly
hope
abeam
she did not de-
stroy us utterly at such short range must have ap-
peared to them incomprehensible, because we easily
distinguished without glasses the
movements of
their
gunners and the working of their crew at quarters;
and our pursuer must have been surprised
audacity of our passengers,
who
tranquilly
at
the
measured
with their watches the intervals between the firing
of his projectiles and their passage overhead.
also
used their
chase,
and
it
sextants
continuously
was doubtless owing
They
during the
to their superior
knowledge and fortitude that our commander held
on
his course In the face of
for, be
it
imminent destruction,
remembered, we were loaded
to the hatch
combings with gunpowder for Lee's army.
As
the
THE
RUN
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
281
sun sank lower on the horizon, so sank our hopes
of escape, for every
us nearer to the end.
moment seemed to be drawing
Even our passengers became
disheartened and said at last that
risk to
all
the lives on board.
it
was
They
a useless
accordingly
proceeded to their cabins and destroyed their
offi-
some valuable
side
cial
papers, and threw overboard
arms and
the
rifles,
and
Confederate
I,
by the captain's orders, took
mail bag
and government
dis-
patches to the furnace and saw them go up in smoke.
Orders were now given
rail,
what purpose
for
strange thing happened.
sion in the
to
lower the boats to the
I
do not know, when a
There was
a loud explo-
forward fireroom, not made by the burst-
ing of a shell but accompanied by a cloud of steam.
Immediately the stokers and firemen swarmed up the
iron ladders to the deck, terror-stricken and bewil-
dered.
They had been kept
at the point of a pistol in the
at their
work for hours
hands of desperate and
determined men, but now, panic-stricken, they rushed
aft,
not knowing what they would do.
Our
chief
engineer quietly reported the collapse of one of our
boilers, cause
unknown, steam reduced nearly one-
half in consequence, but our slackened speed proved
to be the
means of our
salvation.
The
sun had gone
behind a cloud bank, a mist hung over the land to
282
DERELICTS
leeward, our ship, painted the dull grey color of the
sand dunes along the shore
was obscured from
line,
the view of the enemy, which
was
stopped and
Would
cruiser.
ent?
sails
Had
quite visible to us,
Our
forging ahead and firing wildly.
engines were
lowered, every eye was upon the
she discover our desperate expedi-
she done so,
I
believe our crew
would
have been ordered to the boats and the Lilian aban-
But
doned, with a lighted fuse for her destruction.
the cruiser
drew farther away,
firing his
broadsides
at
an invisible foe. Cautiously and slowly we limped
to
windward, crossing the wake of our discomfited
antagonist,
and laying our course straight and true
for Wilmington.
It
was now
eight o'clock in the
evening, a hundred miles between us and our dan-
gerous destination, and daylight comes early
summer months.
By
the
closest
in the
calculation
we
might, without accidents, reach the Cape Fear by
and then
sunrise,
we hope
It
was resolved
vored us
kind.
in
our disabled condition
how
could
to run the gauntlet of the blockading fleet?
in
We
to do
it
or die.
Fortune had
an extremity, perhaps she would
had an anxious night;
sleep,
still
fa-
be
even after
the excitement and exhaustion of the previous day,
was impossible.
day
off
We
saw the
first
faint streaks of
Masonboro Sound, where our watchful
THE
RUN
283
ashore
and
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
Gregory picked up the
signal
lights
passed the word along the beach for our protection
by the
fort.
we drove
It
the
was
little
a
cloudy morning; on and on
ship; she
seemed
to feel the crisis
while she labored like a sentient being to meet her
At
fate as speedily as possible.
last, in
the friendly
haze of dawn, we were among them; blockaders to
the right of us, blockaders to the left of us, block-
aders ahead of us loomed up like monsters of the
deep.
Craig coolly but anxiously peered ahead.
Long Tom,
well forward on the turtleback, whis-
pered the words which a
to the bridge.
line
of picked
men
passage of a picket barge or gunboat
ness ahead,
which
fusion.
who saw
us not,
and
voice, just over the side, shouted
sink you."
consud-
commanding
"Heave
to,
or
I'll
Quickly our bridge responded "Aye, aye,
stop the engines."
and stand by for
war.
in
close aboard, flashed
the fiery train of a rocket, and a deep,
we
lost
Once more we slowly proceeded, when
denly, out of the darkness
sir,
dark-
in the
and for the bearings,
our devious course we had
in
reported
Again and again we stopped for the
my
"Back your
engines,
sir,
boats," called the lusty man-of-
But our paddles were not reversed.
Lockhart
said he never heeded such an order with the bar at
hand; on the contrary our engines were evidently
284
DERELICTS
running away with the ship, and, while the confident
blockader, diverted from his guns, was engaged in
lowering his boats, the Lilian was ghding away
A
ward
the bar.
lights
and bombshells from the
lowed
in
from the
his
of rockets and
to-
Drummond
rest of the fleet fol-
our wake, but the friendly flash of signals
fort
masked
ress until
It
trail
encouraged
lights,
us,
while Gregory, with
revealed to them our steady prog-
we anchored under
the Confederate guns.
was now broad daylight and the blockading
fleet
We
pro-
had
withdrawn
sullenly
to a safe distance.
ceeded toward Fort Anderson and came to anchor
The
at quarantine.
clouds had passed away, reveal-
ing in the brightness of the morning light the stately
white columns of Orton
Accompanied by our
beyond the fort by
we proceeded
House
faithful
its
in silence
in
Scipio
the
distance.
and escorted
courteous Colonel Hedrick,
through
St. Philip's
church-
yard and the dead colonial town of Brunswick, past
Russellboro, where Governor
armed
colonists
(the cradle of
Tryon met
the
first
American independ-
ence), through the long avenue of oaks, where, looking ahead,
hearts;
my
we beheld
a
sight which
cheered our
friend and his daughter surrounded by
the yelping hounds returning
nard's brush
was
at
from
a chase, for rey-
her saddlebow.
With mutual
THE
LILIAN'S LAST SUCCCESSFUL
exclamations of astonishment and delight
that the
young captain had written by
RUN
285
we learned
a flag of truce
of his convalescence in a Northern hospital.
I will
not say the touching words that Scipio heard,
as,
with hands clasped by master and mistress, and with
bowed head, he
received their tearful benedictions.
My
friend has long since gone to his eternal rest
and
Scipio's white soul
soon followed him.
They
are buried at Orton in a grove where the mocking
bird builds
mur
its
nest
and
sings; where,
above the mur-
of the tree tops, which bend to the soft south
wind,
is
in their
heard the distant booming of the
death they were not divided.
sea,
and
INDEX
Abaco Light, Federal
Ada
ships stationed near, 144.
Iredale {Annie Johnson), derelict merchant ship, 5, 6.
Adair, Capt.
W,
F.,
blockade runner Antonica, 107.
Advance, blockade runner,
ix.
Agnes E. Fry, steamer, 241.
Alapaha, steamer, 45.
Albemarle, Confederate ram, Captain Maffitt ordered to take
charge
of,
Albert,
of,
266; paper by Captain Maffitt on building
202.
U.
S. S., 26.
Alexander, Captain, Confederate States Signal Corps, 191.
Allingham, William, quoted, 2-14.
Alma Cumming,
derelict
Alonzo, blockade runner,
Amalco, U.
U.
S. S.
S.
S.,
merchant
ship, 8.
ix.
log of gives last information concerning
Cyclops, 28, 29.
Antonica,* derelict blockade runner, 107-109.
Arabian, derelict blockade runner, 90.
Aries,
U.
S. S.
blockader, 98, 99, 104.
Arizona, steamship, damage
to,
35.
Atlantic, blockade runner, change of name, 61.
Badger, derelict blockade runner, 102, 109,
*Stranded blockade runners are indexed
derelict blockade runners.
287
1
10.
in
this
book
as
:
288
INDEX
Badham, Captain, Confederate
service, 59.
Bahnson, Captain, Confederate
service, 59.
Bald Head, wrecks near, 58.
Banshee, derelict blockade runner,
first steel vessel
to cross
Atlantic, 66, 83, 85, 160.
Banshee,
Number
2,
blockade runner, 127.
Bat, blockade runner, 102.
Beaufort,
N. C, held by
Federals, 93, 226.
Beery, Benjamin, 168.
Bendigo, derelict blockade runner, 105, 106.
Bergitte, derelict merchant ship, 7.
Bermuda, Federal
Bertholf,
spies in, 276.
Commodore
Bier, Capt.
E. P., letter by, 18-20.
George H., blockade runner Dee,
Blake, Capt. Eugene,
U.
jr.,
S.
S.
Seminole,
81.
official
report
by, 42-47.
Blockade, Federal, effectiveness
of, xii.
Blockaders, namesi of
Aries, 98, 99,
104; Boston, 203; Cambridge, 60, 81;
Cherokee, 133; Connecticut, 103, 104; Daylight, 98,
99, 106; Fahkee, 106; Florida, 54, 55, 56, 76, 252; Fort
Jackson, 103, 106; Gettysburg, 203; Glaucus, ix; Governor Buckingham, 98, 99, 107 Howquah, 79 Iron
Age, 87, 106; James Adger, 195; Keystone State, ix,
99, 134, 198, 203; Minnesota, 91; Montgomery, 104,
;
106; Nansemond, 62, 80, 85, 86;
;
New
Berne, 133, 139,
142; Niphon, 84, 86, 90, 91, 137, 138, 143; Penobscot,
119; Quaker City, 99, 102, 133; Sassacus, 82, 83;
Shenandoah, 94, 1 41 Shokokon, 91 Stars and Stripes,
,*
;
60; Tuscarora, 79, 99; stations of, 57, 224.
Blockade runners, advantages of Wilmington, N.
for, 94,
223; cargoes
C,
as port
of, 52, 53, 58, 59, 60, 61, 66, 80,
289
INDEX
8i, 82, 83, 87, 103, 108, 118, 133, 138, 141, 144, 148,
I70> I73> 219; Halifax,
N.
S.,
rendezvous of blockade
runners escaping from Federal prisons, 38
destruction of, 52
;
number
wrecks on Cape Fear coast
of
of,
;
losses
through
863 ) 88, 8g number of
51-152; type of construc-
( 1
,
;
tion of, 87, 105, 106, 107, 120, 130, 131, 265, 266.
Blockade running, advantages of North Carolina coast
for,
57; effect of Gulf Stream on, 225, 226; methods of, 57.
Bonneau, Capt. F. N., blockade runner Ella and Annie,
quoted, 142; rams
Boston, U.
U.
S. blockader,
Niphon, 137, 140, 143.
S. S.
203.
Braine, Lieut.-Commander
D.
L.,
U.
S. S.
Monticello,
official
report by, 167-170.
Breck, Acting Master J. B., U.
Niphon,
S. S,
official
reports
by, 140-143.
Brown, Governor Joseph (Georgia), part owner
of blockade
runner Florie, 109.
Brunswick, N. C. (colonial), 169, 284.
Bulldog, British gunboat, 218.
Burgoyne, Capt.
Hugh,
loses
life
on
British
man-of-war
Captain, runs the blockade, 160, 163, 165.
Burroughs, Captain, blockade runner' North Heath, 112-114;
Cornubia, 192, 193.
Butler's
powder
ship, 162.
Cambridge. U.
S. S.
Camp Brown,
fort, location of,
blockader, 60, 81.
169.
Cantwell, Edward, 63.
Cape Fear,
derelict blockade runner, 112.
Cape Fear blockade, accounts
Cape Fear River, approaches
of,
to,
57-59, 224, 225.
223, 266; forts on, 169.
Capper, Captain, blockade runner, 67, 70, 71.
Captain, man-of-war, capsizing
of, 33,
165.
INDEX
290
Carolina Beach, wrecks near, 79.
Caswell, Fort, 57, 61, 65, 72, 73, 102, 103, 116, 117, 118,
135. I74» 210, 266.
merchant
Celestina, derelict
ship, lO,
1
1.
C. E. Morrison, derelict merchant ship, 10.
Chambers's Edenburgh Journal, quoted, 2-14, 250-262.
Chameleon, blockade runner,
Cherokee, U.
xii.
blockader, 133.
S. S.
Chickamauga, Confederate warship, 38.
City of Boston, lost liner, 22, 24.
City of Glasgotv, lost liner, 24.
City of Paris, steamship, damage
to, 32,
33.
Clark, Chief Justice Walter, mentioned, ix; quoted,
Clitz,
Commander
official
J.
M.
U.
B.,
S.
xi, xii.
gunboat Penobscot,
S.
report by, 171.
Clover, Admiral Richardson, U. S. hydrographer, 4.
Coamo, steamer,
Coast Guard, U.
aid in rescue of steamer
S.,
Korona
by, 43.
coast service of in derelict destruction,
20; intended international service of
in derelict destruc-
tion, 19; rescue service of, 41-49.
Condor, British gunboat,
lost,
24.
Condor, derelict blockade runner, 127, 131, 152.
Confederacy, lack of navy by,
x, xi; several
times on eve of
success, xi.
Confederate
flag,
experiences of Captain
217; meeting of the Lilian
Whiting with, 216,
at sea with, 278.
Confederate Government, need of powder by, 241
of Virginia by,
chase of
seizure of
1
;
purchase
12; purchase of Cjrnubia by, 192; pur-
Douro by, 79; purchase
North Heath by, 114.
Confederate money, depreciation
of Giraffe by,
of, 174, 175,
228.
191;
:
291
INDEX
Navy Department,
no, iii, 212.
Confederate
;
N.
orders to Capt. John
Maffitt by,
Confederate States, commissariat of sustained by blockade
runners, 53.
Confederate States Signal Corps, work
of,
189-198.
Confederate steamers, attempts of fanatics to destroy, 277.
Connecticut, U. S.
S.,
blockader, 103.
Contrabands, intelligent, information secured from, 109, 167175.
Cornubia, derelict blockade runner, 112, 137, 191-195.
Lady Davis.
See also
Coxetter, Captain, blockade runner Antonica, 108
and Jennie, 54, 55.
Craig, Rev. James William, Cape Fear
pilot, 95,
Fannie
;
267, 268,
283.
Crosby, Capt. Peirce, U.
U.
S. S.
Cushing, Lieut.
Cyclops,
U.
S.
Florida,
S.
5-<.,
56,
76,
77
Keystone State, 203.
W.
B.,
U.
S. S.
S. S, collier, loss of,
Shokokon, 91.
25-29.
Dare, derelict blockade runner, 104, 105.
David G. Worth, lost freighter, 21.
Davis, Hon. George, Attorney-General
of the Confederacy,
quoted, 53.
Davis, President JelTerson, commissioners sent to England by,
xi
;
issue of
Daylight, U. S.
Dee,
thanksgiving proclamation by, 173.
S.
blockader, 98, 99, 106.
derelict blockade runner, 81, 82.
Delhi, steamship, stranding
of, 33.
Derelict blockade runners, accounts of, 51-153.
Derelict blockade runners, accounts of individual ships
Antonica, 107-109; Badger, 109, iio; Banshee, 83-85;
Bendigo, 105, 106; Cape Fear, 112; Cornubia, 191-195;
:
292
INDEX
Dare, 104, 105
;
Dee, 81, 82; Don, 81
Douro,
;
79,
80
Elizabeth, 61, 62; Ella, 57-59; £//fl and Annie, 136-
143; Emily of London, 55, 56; Fannie and Jennie, 53Florie, 109; General Beauregard, 78, 79; Georgiana
55
;
McCaw,
second,
62-66;
90-93;
//eZ'£',
114-118;
iCfl/^,
119; Lynx, escape
118,
Hawk, 119-130;
Greece, 59-61; Islight
A'fl/f,
Modern
95-97;
of,
Heath,
l>iorth
I12-114; Nutficld, 82, 83; Phantom, 103, 104; Pevensey, 131-136; Ranger, 97-100, 101-102; Spunkie, I02,
103
;
Venus, 85-88
;
Vesta, 97, 100, 101
Wild
;
Dayrell.
72-78.
Derelict destroyers,
7.
Derelict merchant ships, accounts of individual ships:
Ada
Alma Gumming,
Iredale {Annie Johnson), 6;
Birgitte,
7; Celestina,
Drisko, 14;
10,
Duncow, 6;
li; C. E. Morrison,
8;
lO;
Fo//^ 0/ Afton, 6; Fannie E.
JVolston, 16, 17; Glenalvon, 9; Korea, 9; L. £. Cann,
9,
10 Louise, 8
13,
;
;
Marie
Celeste,
1 1
;
White,
Derelicts,
H.
Resolute,
14; Savannah, 41; Siddartha, 7;
M.
S.,
lo; /^. L.
F//fl',
5.
accounts
of,
failure to destroy,
of, 4, 5, 6,
8;
1-17; drift of,
1,2;
number
fictitious
of, 3,
5,
7,
8,
accounts
13,
of,
1
16,
1-13
17;
;
life
4; United States destruction
of asked by international agreement, 18, 19.
DeRosset, Doctor, 62.
DeRosset, Mrs. A.
J.,
work
for convalescent soldiers by, 229.
Deserters, condition of, 175; treatment of, 230, 231.
Devens, Lieut. Edward F., U.
S. S. Aries, official report by,
100, lOI.
Diamond
Shoals, buoy at, 43.
Dispatch, blockade runner, 66.
Doggett, Lieutenant, Confederate States Signal Corps, 192.
INDEX
Don,
293
derelict blockade runner, 8i, 164, 177.
Douro,
derelict blockade runner, 62, 79, 80, 87, 90.
Doyle, Capt. Austin, British steamer Korona, 47.
Drisko, derelict merchant ship, 14.
Duncoiv,
derelict
merchant
ship, 6.
Ella, derelict blockade runner, 57-59.
Ella and Annie, blockade runner, capture
named changed,
of,
136, 137, 143;
137.
Elizabeth, derelict blockade runner, 61, 62, 106.
Emily of London, derelict blockade runner, 55, 56.
Emily St. Pierre, British ship, account of, 250-262.
Etruria, steamship, swept by tidal wave, 36.
Eugenie, blockade runner,
ix,
Everson, Acting Master, U.
240, 241.
S. S. Victoria, official
report by,
64-66.
Fahkee, U.
S. S.
blockader, 106.
Falcon, blockade runner, 131.
Falls of Afton, derelict merchant ship, 6.
Fannie and
Jessie, derelict
Fannie E. Wolston,
Fayetteville,
blockade runner, 53-55, 56.
derelict
merchant
ship, 16, 17.
N. C, making of arms and ammunition
at,
169.
Fisher, Fort, 54, 57, 60, 61, 68, 74, 78, 80, 83, 91, 92, 93»
95, 97,
114, 120,
112,
141,
161,
157,
162,
173,
174,
175, 192, 209, 224, 231, 263, 266.
Flamingo, blockade runner, 131.
Flora, blockade runner, 196.
Florida,
U.
S. S.,
blockader, 54, 55, 56, 76, 252.
Florida, Confederate ship, captured by
278
;
cruise of, 202,
277
;
U.
failure of
S. S.
Wachusetts,
Commander
Preble
205-208; formerly Oreto, 215; meets Lilian
on high seas, 277, 278; remarkable escape into Mobile
to capture,
Bay, 205-207.
;
294
INDEX
Florie, derelict blockade runner, 109.
Fo7t Jackson, U.
Forts, see
S. S.,
blockader, 103, 106.
Camp Brown,
Caswell, Fisher,
Mount
Tirza,
St.
Philip.
Foster, Capt. James,
Fraser,
Trenholm
&
U. S. S. James Adger 195.
Company, owners of Emily
St. Pierre,
251.
Fry,
Capt. Joseph,
in
command
of
Agnes E. Fry, 241
Eugenie, 240; Confederate gunboat Morgan, 241
ginius, 241
;
sketch of
Frying Pan Shoals, buoy
life
at,
and death
of,
;
Vir-
239-244.
46; wrecks near, 107, 108.
Gale, Captain, blockade runner Lady Davis, 194, 195.
General Beauregard, derelict blockade runner, 78, 79.
Georgiana McCaw, derelict blockade runner, 62-66.
Gettysburg, U.
Gift, Lieut.
S. S., blockader,
203.
George W., blockade runner Ranger, 97
report by, loi,
1
official
;
02.
Giraffe, blockade runner,
name changed, 226; purchased by
Confederate Government, 191.
Glenalvon, derelict merchant ship,
Governor Buckingham, U.
Greenhow, Mrs. Rose O'Neal,
148-153; death
of,
9.
S. S., blockader, 98, 99,
131,
107.
aid given Confederacy by,
153,
161; imprisoned
in
Old
Capitol Prison, 151.
Gregory, Frederick W., Confederate States Signal Corps,
character of,
190; mentioned,
187,
267,
269,
284;
quoted, 191-193, 194-200.
Grosvenor, Gilbert H., editor National Geographic
zine, quoted, 14-17.
Gulf Stream,
effect
on blockade running, 225, 226.
Guthrie, Captain, 112.
Maga-
INDEX
Halifax,
Nova
Scotia,
295
rendezvous of blockade runners escap-
ing from Federal prisons, 38.
Hamilton, Prof.
Harris, Lieut.
J.
T.
G. deRoulhac, v, 53.
U. S. S. New Berne,
A.,
official
report by,
132-135-
Hebe,
derelict blockade runner, 80, 87, 90-93.
Herring, Robert, Confederate States Signal Corps, 191.
Hewlett, Admiral, British Navy, runs the blockade, 127, 131,
160, 163, 165.
Hobart, Captain, blockade runner Don, 81, 160, 163, 164,
177, 178.
Hobart Pasha. See Hobart, Captain.
Holcombe, Professor, rescued from drowning, 161.
Hone, Major, 187.
Horner, Captain, blockade runner Flora, 196.
Horner, Joseph, quoted, 21-25, 30-37.
Hozuquah, U.
Huronian,
S. S.,
blockader, 79.
lost liner, 24.
Hydrographic
Office,
U.
S.,
work regarding
derelicts, 4,
7,
16, 17.
Index, blockade runner, account
of, 196,
197.
Integrity, finding of valuable derelict by, 9.
Intelligent contrabands.
Iron Age, U.
S. S.,
Ionian, steamer,
James Adger, U.
by, 251,
See Contrabands, intelligent.
blockader, 87, 106.
damaged by
S. S.,
collision
with
derelict, 9.
blockader, capture of Emily St. Pierre
252; capture of Lady Davis
James T. Petteway, Confederate
by, 195.
transport, 118.
Jordan, Adj. -Gen. Thomas, Confederate Army, 149.
Kate, derelict blockade runner, 114-118, I20, 170, 173, 213,
214, 219.
Kate, second, derelict blockade runner, 118, 119.
296
INDEX
Keystone State, U.
blockader, 99, 134, 198, 203.
S. S.,
Korea, derelict merchant
ship, 9.
Korona, British steamer, account of rescue by U. S. S.
Seminole, 41-49; aid of steamer Coanio in rescue of, 43
;
letter
of,
&
Alexander Sprunt
of
Son
relative
D. Roosevelt
47, 48; letter of Franklin
to
rescue
relative to
rescue of, 48, 49.
Lady Davis, blockade runner, capture of, 194-196; former
name of, 112, 137.
Lamar, Col. C. A. L., part owner of blockade runner Florie,
109.
Lamb, Col. William, commander
of Fort Fisher, 67, 69, 85,
93, 97, 157, 173, 193, 197, 231; quoted, 157-163.
Lamb, Mrs. William, story
Lamson, Lieutenant, U. S.
of devotion of, 157-163.
Nansemond,
S.
official
report by,
85-87.
Lancaster, finding of derelict by, 9.
Lawley, Francis
C,
correspondent of London Times, 160.
L. E. Cann, derelict merchant ship,
9, 10.
Lee, Gen. R. E., loss of gift sword for, 55.
Lee, Admiral S. P., U.
S.
Navy, commanding North Atlantic
Blockading Squadron, 74, 78,
106,
135,
143;
official
reports by, 98-100, 135, 136, 137-139.
Lights.
See Range Lights.
Lilian, blockade runner, account of last successful run of,
263-285
;
capture
of,
38, 203
279-284; mentioned,
ix,
39,
;
chase of, 94, 95, 264, 265,
177, 202; quarantine ex-
periences of, 181-188.
Loch Torridon, steamship, swept by
Lockwood, Capt. Thomas
J.,
tidal
wave, 36.
blockade runner Elizabeth, 61
Kate, 115, 116, 117, 213.
Lockwood 's
Folly, wrecks near, 52, 61, 106.
;
297
INDEX
London, sinking of, 22.
Long, Joseph Brown, 131, I34Lorraine, Sir Lambton, captain British man-of-war, Niobe,
rescue of part of crew of steamer Virginius by, 244, 245.
Lost Liners, accounts
ber
Lost
22
of,
;
of,
number
21-40; financial losses by, 23
num-
accounts of individual ships:
liners,
City of Boston, 22, 24
;
City of Glasgow 24
25-29; David G. Worth, 21
24, 25
;
of lives lost on, 23.
;
Pacific, 22, 24,
23, 24; Tempest, 24;
35
;
;
;
Cyclops,
Huronian, 24; Naronic,
Pericles, 35
;
President, 22,
Thanemore, 22.
Louise, derelict merchant ship, 8.
Lumina, N. C, wreck
Lynx,
near, 55.
derelict blockade runner, 95-97> ^02,
no.
McCaleb, Flora, 112.
McCrae, Lieut.-Col. John, quoted, vii.
McDonald, Captain, ship Storm King, 184, 185, 186, 188.
McDougal, George C, character of, 61; mentioned, 115,
116, 118; quoted, 213-219.
Macon,
Fort, 134.
Maffitt, Eugene, 188.
John Newland, account of activities in ConNavy, 201-212; attempts to enter forts taken
by Federals, 209, 210; character and ability of, 203, 204;
daring run of, 143-148; dispute with American consul
Maffitt, Capt.
federate
at
Nassau, 216; finding of
last port
closed,
199, 201,
command of Lilian, 39, 266; of Owl, xii, no;
mentioned,
last voyage in command of Owl, 208-212;
building
109, hi; orders to, no, 212, 266; paper on
202;
of
in
ram Albemarle, 202; regard
203, 204
;
of Federal officers for,
remarkable run into Mobile Bay on Florida by,
205-207; rescue of Spanish barque by, 145, 146; takes
.
298
INDEX
charge of ram Albemarle, 266; of Oreto
{Florida),
215, 278.
Malingerers, stories about, 177-179.
Mallory, Hon,
tioned,
Secretary of Confederate Navy, men-
S. R.,
276; order
by,
no,
11
1.
,
Malvern, U. S.
Maratanza, U.
Margaret and
S.,
blockader, 137.
blockader, 170, 171.
S. S.,
blockade runner, a normal experience
Jessie,
235-237.
of,
Margaret and
Jessie,
U.
S. S.,
former blockade runner, 137,
198.
Marie
Celeste, derelict
merchant
ship,
1 1
Mariner, tug, runs the blockade, 173, 174.
Marshall, Captain, blockade runner Index, 196, 197, 198.
Martin, Captain, blockade runner Susan Beirne, 199.
Martin, Alfred, 62.
Martin, E.
Mary
S.,
62, 63, 64, 210.
Celeste, blockade runner, 219.
Masonboro Inlet, wrecks near, 56, 80, 81, 87,
Masonboro Sound, wrecks near, go.
Maury, Gen. Dabney H., 241.
Merrimac, Confederate ironclad, x.
Meteorological Office, British, work regarding
Minnesota, U.
Modern
90,
derelicts, 4.
S. S., blockader, 91, 92, 102.
Greece, derelict blockade runner, 59-61, 173.
Montgomery, U. S. S., blockader, 104,
Morgan, Confederate gunboat, 241.
106.
Morrelle, Doctor, 63.
Morris, Capt. Charles M., Confederate ship Florida, 278.
"Mound," Colonel Lamb
erects,
231
233-
Mount
Tirza, Fort, location
of, 169.
;
range lights on, 231-
INDEX
Munn,
299
Captain, 91, 92.
Murray-Aynsley, Admiral, British Navy, 160, 164, 165, 166.
Nansemond, U.
Naronic,
S. S., blockader, 62, 80, 86, 87.
lost liner, 24, 25.
Narrative of a Blockade Runner, extracts from, 221-231.
Nassau, British port of blockade runners, 71, 79, 170, 237;
Federal spies in, 276; incidents in, 213-219.
Naval History
of the Civil
Navy, Federal, contribution
War,
extracts from, 203-207.
to success of
North
in Civil
War,
X, xii.
Near
derelict,
New
New
New
Berne, N.
C,
Berne, U.
S. S.,
account
of,
143-148.
93.
blockader, 133, 139, 142.
mentioned, 57, 60, 63, 80, 83, 90, 103, 119,
122, 138, 196; wrecks near, 59, 152, 170.
Inlet,
Night Hawk,
derelict blockade runner,
1
19-130, 152, 160.
Niobe, British man-of-war, rescue of part of crew of steamer
Virginius by, 244-245.
Niphon, U.
S. S., blockader, 84, 86, 90, 91,
137, 138, 139,
140, 142, 143.
Normania, steamship, swept by tidal wave, 36.
North American Blockading Squadron, 90.
North Carolina, Confederate gunboat, building
North Carolina
coast,
of, 168.
advantages for blockade running, 57,
223.
Northfleet, sinking of, 22.
North Heath,
derelict blockade runner, ix, 11 2- 1
1
4.
Nutfield, derelict blockade runner, 82, 83.
Nutt, Henry, 63.
Old
Old
Capitol Prison, Mrs.
Inlet,
Oreto.
Greenhow imprisoned
mentioned, 57.
See Florida, Confederate ship.
in,
151.
300
INDEX
Owl, blockade runner,
102, 199, 208-212.
Pacific, lost liner, 22, 24, 35.
Penobscot, U.
S. S.,
blockader, 119, 171.
Pericles, steamship, destruction of, 35.
W.
Peters,
H. C, Confederate Government agent
in
Wil-
mington, III.
Pevensey, derelict blockade runner,
Phantom,
1
31-136.
derelict blockade runner, 90, 102, 103, 104.
Porcher, Doctor, 275.
Admiral David D., U.
Porter,
S.
Navy, commander attacks
on Fort Fisher, 162, 209; quoted, 204-207.
Commander, U.
Preble,
S.
Navy,
failure to capture
Con-
federate ship Florida, 205-208.
President, lost liner, 22, 23, 24.
Prioleau, Charles K., 262.
Ptarmigan, blockade runner, 131.
Quaker
City,
U.
S. S.,
blockader, 99, 102, 133.
Quarantine experiences of blockade runner Lilian,
Range
lights,
along Southern coast, 231
;
1
81-188.
on the "Mound,"
231-233-
Ranger, derelict blockade runner, 97-100, lOi, 102.
Reed, Captain, blockade runner Lynx, 95-97.
R. E. Lee, blockade runner, successful deception
by, 226, 227.
Resolute (British), derelict merchant ship, 13, 14.
Ridgely, Captain, U.
Roberts, Captain.
S. S.
Shenandoah, 78.
See Hobart.
Roberts, Lieutenant, captain of the President and the Sirius,
23-
Roe, Lieut.-Commander F. A., U.
S. S.
Sassacus, official re-
port by, 75-78.
Roosevelt,
Hon. Franklin D.,
letter
steamer Korona from, 48, 49
lost signed by, 29.
;
relative
to
rescue
of
order declaring Cyclops
^^^
INDEX
wave, 36.
Rosario, steamship, swept by tidal
Rouen, blockade runner, capture of, 198.
Royal Charter, sinking of, 22.
Russellboro, N. C. (colonial), 284.
of,
St. Philip, Fort, location
169.
derelict by, 14-
San Francisco, destruction of a
Sassacus,
U.
Savannah,
blockader, 74-77, 82, 83.
S. S.,
derelict
merchant
ship, 41-
quoted, 231.
Scharf, Colonel, mentioned, 202;
285.
family servant, story of, 271-275,
Scipio,
247-249Scotch brig, story of capture in 1813,
Confederate Secretary
A.,
James
Hon.
Seddon,
91, 93,
Seminole, U.
S. S., rescue
work
^
of,
abstract
S. S., blockader,
chases Lilian, 78, 94, 95
;
of,
Ships, causes of destruction
to, 36,
37
Shokokon, U.
;
log of, 264, 265;
mentioned, 14130-40; damage by tidal waves
malicious destruction of, 9, 10, 37-40-
S. S.,
blockader, 91-
Sid dart ha, derelict barque,
Sirius, first
War.
41-49-
204.
Semmes, Captain, mentioned, 203,
Shenandoah, U.
of
7-
English-owned steamer
to cross Atlantic, 23.
Smith, Capt. C. G., quoted, 235-237Smith's Island, 223.
Smithville,
N. C.
See Southport,
N. C.
157-163.
from,
Southern Historical Papers, extracts
wrecks near, II5230;
223,
mentioned,
Southport, N. C,
Maf!itt
Spanish barque, rescue by Captain
Spanish
Government,
recognition
of
of,
steamer Virginius by, 246.
Spies, Federal, in
Bermuda and Nassau,
Sprunt, Alexander, 63.
145, 146.
American
276.
rights
to
;
302
INDEX
&
Sprunt, Alexander
Korona from,
Son, letter relative to rescue of steamer
47, 48.
Spunkie, derelict blockade runner, 102, 103.
Stars and Stripes, U. S. S., blockader, 60.
Steele,
Captain,
blockade runner Banshee, 84; mentioned,
74, 163.
Storm King,
184, 185.
Stubbs, Captain, blockade runner Kate, second, 118.
Susan Beirne, blockade runner,
ix,
199.
Tallahassee, Confederate warship, 38.
Thomas E., escapes from Federal captors, 160, 161
mentioned, 153; quoted, 67-74, 83-85, 120-130, 163-166.
Tempest, lost liner, 24.
Taylor,
Terry, General, commands land attack on Fort Fisher, 209.
Thanemore,
lost liner, 22.
Three-funnel boats, account
Tidal waves, ships damaged
of, 130, 131.
by, 36, 37.
Titanic, iceberg causes sinking of, 15,
Topsail Inlet, wrecks near, 52, 75.
Tornado, Spanish man-of-war, capture of steamer Virginius
by, 243.
Tuscarora, U.
S. S.,
blockader, 79, 99.
Umbria, steamship, swept by
tidal
wave, 36.
Usina, Capt. Michael, quoted, 108, 109.
Venus, derelict blockade runner, 85-88, 90, 166.
Vesta, derelict blockade runner, 97, 100, lOi.
Vila, derelict
merchant
Virgin, steamer.
ship, 10.
See Virginius.
Virginia, blockade runner,
name changed,
1
12.
Virginius, steamer, barbarous treatment of officers and
crew
by Spaniards, 243, 244; capture of, 243; recognition by
Spanish Government of American rights to, 246 rescue
;
of part of
crew
of,
244, 245
;
sale of,
242 sinking
;
of,
246.
INDEX
Vizetelly, Frank, correspondent of
1
303
London
Illustrated
News,
60, 163.
Vogel, Capt. Leo, 187.
Vulture, blockade runner,
131.
U. S. S., capture of C. S. Florida by, 278.
Walker, Maj. Norman S., Confederate agent, 131, 134.
Wartah, steamship, capsizing of, 33, 34.
PFachusett,
Welles, Hon. Gideon, Secretary U.
S.
Navy, 100, 136, 142,
225.
Western Bar
of
Cape Fear River, 223, 236.
Whiting, American consul
at
Nassau, dispute w^ith Captain
Maffitt, 216; experience with Confederate flag, 216, 217.
Whiting, Gen.
W.
H. C, commander Confederate
forces in
Wilmington, 91; mentioned, 67, 162, 191, 192;
official
report by, 91-93.
Whitworth guns, 54, 58, 83, 91, 92, 93,
Wild Dayrell, derelict blockade runner,
Wilkes, Commodore, 108, 109.
Wilkinson, Capt. John, account of
134, 170, 193, 197.
66, 72-78.
activities in
Confederate
Navy, 221-227 commander blockade runner Chameleon,
;
xii;
C.
S. steamer,
R. E. Lee, 221; quoted, 221-231,
231-233.
Will-o'-the-JVisp, blockade runner, 121.
Williams, Robert, 198.
Williams, Capt. Thomas, 21.
Wilmington, N.
C,
advantages as port for blockade runners,
57, 94, 223, 266; approaches to, 266; Confederate troops
stationed in and around, 92, 174; construction of
federate ships
Wilmington
at, 1 72,
1
74
;
effect of the
war
Con-
on, 227-229.
Historical and Literary Society, investigations
by, 62-64.
INDEX
304
Wilson, Captain, blockade runner Margaret and
Jessie, 235,
236.
Wilson, Rev. Doctor, father of the President, 62.
Wilson, Capt. William, account of exploits with ship Emily
St. Pierre,
250-262.
Wise, Captain, blockade runner Cape Fear, 112.
fV. L. JVhite, derelict merchant ship,
Wood,
5.
Doctor, 63.
Wrightsville Beach, wrecks near, 51, 56.
Yamacraiu, Coast Guard cutter, 45.
iESS
i