The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner | Page 2

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Secession of Virginia.--Service at Fort Powhatan.--Volunteers at the
Big Guns.--"Wide Awake" Clubs.--Want of preparation in
Virginia.--Fort Powhatan abandoned.--Service at Acquia Creek.--The
"Tigers."--Coal Mining on the Potomac. 15
CHAPTER II.
Ordered to New Orleans.--The Naval Fleet there.--The "River Defence"
Squadron.--The iron-clad "Louisiana."--Difficulty in managing the
Fleet.--Going down the River.--Want of concert.--Admiral
Farragut.--Our crew. 29
CHAPTER III.
The 24th April.--Passage of the United States Fleet.--After the
Storm.--The "River Defence" boats.--The Refuge in the
Bayou.--Surrender of the Forts.--Extracts from Commodore Mitchell's
official Report.--Council of War.--Destruction of the "Louisiana."--Our
Surrender.--General B. F. Butler.--Transferred to the United States
Frigate "Colorado." 44
CHAPTER IV.

Transferred to the "Rhode Island."--Meeting with an old
Friend.--Arrival at Fort Warren.--Treatment there.--Correspondence,
and its Result.--Prison Life.--Exchanged.--The Crew at
quarters.--Burial of the "Unknown." 60
CHAPTER V.
A Brief Stay at Home.--Report to the War Department.--Instructions to
go abroad.--The Blockade-runner "Kate."--Voyage to Nassau.--Yellow
Fever.--The Undertaker.--Our Skipper "Captain Dick."--The Major
sick.--A Story for the Marines.--Arrival at Cardenas.--The
Coolies.--Arrival at Havana.--The American Consul and I.--The Pirate
Marti.--The Spanish Steamer.--Pretty Harbors.--Captain Fry. 83
CHAPTER VI.
San Domingo.--The Island of Hayti and its Inhabitants.--St.
Thomas.--General Santa Anna.--The Mail Steamer Atrato.--Arrival at
Southampton.--English Scenery.--The Major Fails.--The Giraffe
purchased.--A Claim against the Confederate Government.--The Hon J.
M. Mason.--Credit of the Confederate Government abroad.--An
Improper Agent.--Captain Bullock.--The Giraffe ready for
Sea.--Glasgow.--Our Last Dinner.--Our Scotch Landlady and Head
Waiter.--We part with the Major.--Hot Punch and Scotch Babies.--A
Reminiscence. 100
CHAPTER VII.
Voyage to Madeira.--A Capital Sea-boat.--The Island Ponies.--Mr. B.
and his daughters.--Voyage to St. John's, Porto Rico.--Run across the
Bahama Banks.--Nassau during the War.--High Wages and Low
Characters.--Crew re-shipped.--Failure to enter Charleston.--The
"Lump."--A Narrow Escape.--The Scotch Lithographers and their
work.--Crossing the Bar.--Transfer of the Giraffe to the Confederate
Government.--She becomes the "R. E. Lee."--The Major fulfills his
promise, but fails in his object. 117

CHAPTER VIII.
Dyer and the Sailing Captain.--First Voyage to Nassau.--Major Ficklen
and the Two Young Lieutenants.--Our Old Skipper "Captain
Dick."--Bermuda.--The Races there and elsewhere.--Description of
Bermuda.--Moore, the Poet, and his Rival Mr. Tucker.--Tame
Fish.--The Naval Station.--Col. B.'s Accident. 136
CHAPTER IX.
We sail for Wilmington.--Thick Weather on the Coast.--Anchored
among the Blockading Fleet.--The "Mound."--Running the Blockade
by Moonlight.--A Device to mislead the Enemy.--The man Hester. 149
CHAPTER X.
The Confederate States Steamer "Florida."--Short Supply of Coal.--The
"Florida's" Decks.--Tea and Costly China.--Narrow Escape from
Capture.--Miss Lucy G.--Arrival at Bermuda.--Our uneventful Trip
inward.--The Johnson's Island Expedition.--Another Narrow
Escape.--"Pretty Shooting."--Arrival at Halifax, N.S. 159
CHAPTER XI.
The Lee Captured at Last.--Sandy Keith alias Thomassen.--Recruiting
in the British Provinces for the United States Army.--Failure of the
Expedition.--Return to Bermuda. 173
CHAPTER XII.
Take Command of the "Whisper."--High Rates of
Freight.--Confederate Money and Sterling Exchange.--An Investment
in Cotton.--The Ill-fated Ironclad.--The Point Lookout Expedition and
its Failure.--A Faithful Servant and a Narrow Escape.--Futile
Projects.--Wilmington during the War.--Light Houses
reëstablished.--Gloomy Prospects of the South. 189

CHAPTER XIII.
Cruise of the Chickamauga.--Mr. Mallory's inefficiency.--Troubles in
Bermuda.--The Three Wrecks.--End of the cruise. 209
CHAPTER XIV.
Last Summons to Richmond.--Demoralization.--The
Chameleon.--More trouble in Bermuda.--Another Narrow Escape.--Fall
of Fort Fisher.--Maffitt's Escape, and Captain S.'s Capture.--Another
Hard Chase.--Failure to enter Charleston.--Return to Nassau. 225
CHAPTER XV.
Sad News via New York.--Consternation among Speculators in
Nassau.--Departure from Nassau via Bermuda.--Arrival at
Liverpool.--The End. 244

NARRATIVE OF A BLOCKADE-RUNNER.
CHAPTER I.
Secession of Virginia.--Service at Fort Powhatan.--Volunteers at the
Big Guns.--"Wide Awake" Clubs.--Want of preparation in
Virginia.--Fort Powhatan abandoned.--Service at Acquia Creek.--The
"Tigers."--Coal Mining on the Potomac.

When the State of Virginia seceded from the Union, on the 17th day of
April, 1861, most of her citizens, belonging to the United States Navy,
resigned their commissions, and offered their services to the State of
their birth. Many of them had meddled so little with politics as never
even to have cast a vote; but having been educated in the belief that
their allegiance was due to their State, they did not hesitate to act as
honor and patriotism seemed to demand. They were compelled to

choose whether they would aid in subjugating their State, or in
defending it against invasion; for it was already evident that coercion
would be used by the General Government, and that war was inevitable.
In reply to the accusation of perjury in breaking their oath of allegiance,
since brought against the officers of the Army and Navy who resigned
their commissions to render aid to the South, it need only be stated that,
in their belief, the resignation of their commissions absolved them from
any special obligation. They then occupied the same position towards
the Government as other classes of citizens. But this charge was never
brought against them till the war was ended. The resignation of their
commissions was accepted when their purpose was well known. As to
the charge of ingratitude, they reply, their respective States had
contributed their full share towards the expenses of the General
Government, acting as their