The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner | Page 2

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 re?stablished.--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 disbursing agent; and when these States withdrew from the Union, their citizens belonging to the two branches of the public service did not, and do not, consider themselves amenable to this charge for abandoning their official positions to cast their lot with their kindred and friends. But yielding as they did to necessity, it was nevertheless a painful act to separate themselves from