The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner

The Narrative of a
Blockade-Runner, by John

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John Wilkinson
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Title: The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner
Author: John Wilkinson

Release Date: June 30, 2007 [eBook #21977]
Language: English
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Transcriber's note:
Some obvious typographical errors have been corrected. The use of
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author's failure to close some quotations.

THE NARRATIVE OF A BLOCKADE-RUNNER.
by
J. WILKINSON, Captain in the Late Confederate States Navy.

New York: Sheldon & Company, 8 Murray Street. 1877 Copyright,
Sheldon & Company, 1877.

PREFACE.
In deference to the judgment of two or three literary friends, I have
entitled this, my first attempt at authorship, "The Narrative of a
Blockade-runner." They do not agree with Shakspeare that "a rose by
any other name would smell as sweet," to the reading public; nor that it
is always advisable to call a thing by its proper name. It will be seen,
however, by any reader who has the patience to peruse the work, that it
embraces a wider scope than its title would imply. I have endeavored to
give a full account of the passage by the U. S. fleet of the forts below
New Orleans; and to contribute some facts that will probably settle the
controversy, in the judgment of the reader, as to the real captors of that
city. "Honor to whom honor is due."
It will be seen that I have been favored with access to Commodore
Mitchell's official report of that conflict, a document never published.
The information derived from it, added to facts and circumstances
coming under my personal observation, furnishes the means of laying

before the public an account of that action from a new point of view.
In bearing testimony to the kind and humane treatment of the prisoners
of war at Fort Warren, I perform a most grateful duty. It was my good
fortune to be captured and held a prisoner, before the "retaliatory"
measures were adopted by the United States Government.
I have contributed some new, and, I hope, interesting facts about the
manner in which blockade running was conducted.
I cannot do better than furnish the following extract from a literary
friend's letter to me in reference to this effort of mine. "I am
particularly glad, believing as I do, that such a volume will help to the
production of that state of mind, North and South, which every good
man wishes to see grow. It is only necessary that we shall all fall into
the habit of talking and writing about war matters without feeling; that
we shall forget the bitterness of the conflict in our interest in its history;
and if you or I can amuse Northern readers, or entertain them with our
recollections, we shall certainly leave them in a pleasanter and better
state of mind than we found them in."
I should be happy to believe that I had contributed, in ever so small a
degree, to this consummation so devoutly to be wished for. But I would
make no sacrifice of principle nor of interest to achieve this end.
While accepting the situation consequent upon the unsuccessful appeal
to arms, the Southern people do not stultify themselves by professing to
renounce their conviction of their right and duty in having responded to
the call to defend their respective States from invasion.
But they believe that the war was conducted by the Confederate
Government in a spirit of humanity. Conceiving it to be the duty of
every southern man to submit any testimony in his possession relating
to this subject, and especially to the treatment of prisoners of war, I
have quoted some passages from a "Vindication of the Confederacy
against the charge of Cruelty to Prisoners." This work was recently
published by the Southern Historical Society, and was compiled by the
Rev. J. Wm. Jones, D.D., author of "Personal Reminiscences of Gen. R.

E. Lee." The candid and dispassionate student of History, in seeking
after the truth, should read this work before forming a judgment upon
this point, which has, perhaps, caused more bitter resentments among
the Northern people than all the other deplorable events of our civil
strife combined.
WOODSIDE, AMELIA CO., VA., Oct. 15th, 1876.