The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-09-04
The Privateer jeff Davis.

regret, on Saturday, that the privateer Jeff
Davis, in trying to make the port of st.
Angus tine, Fla, had struck on the bar and
was lost. II was matter Of congratulatiOn,
however, that every man Of her gallant
crew was saved. Mr.. Felix G. Dutrieux,
one of the wrecked privateersmen, arrived
in Charleston yesterday, and from him our
reporter has obtained The following inleres
! ting nsrrative Of the cruise of the left
Davis:
On Friday night, June %, after the crew
had participated in the celebration cf that
day ever to be remembered by South Caro-
lima in connection with the memorable bat
tie and history of Fort Moullrie, the J,ff
Davis, fully equipped for long sea voyage,
and manned by as spirited and gallant a
crew AS ever bruved the dangers of fire and
water, set sail from the harbor Of Charles
ton =; and ithsiauding the very etficier.
blockade Of Abraham !, was by daylight Of
the 29,h out at sea, though the jeff Davis
passed sufficiently near TO see the block
aiding squadron erchad dging sigosIs.
Ga the following day, the lookout al the
mast head discovered two sails ahead. but
owing TO some disarragem eut Of the fore
toPmast gearing, they were no, pursued -
On the evening of The same day, IL large
vessel, OF doubtful nationality, Was seen,
but supposing her TO be French, no demon
straton was made 10 arrest her.
On the 4th Of July, salute, in honor of
the Confederate flag, was fired, after which
all hands, by order of Capt Coxclter,
"spiiced the Iunin brace" In the evening,
n sail was discovered on the lee how. Oa
approaching this vessel n guu VAS hired,
which caused her TO heave 10. On exami.
nation Of her papers she was found To be
the brig Grace Worlhington. sailing under
Eng'ish coIors. She was let pass brig
trou Baltimore Was ALLOW ed TO pass on The
ssme day.
On Saturday, July 6, a Vessel was dcs-
cried. The jeff Davis hoi,lvd French
colors, which brought the sail towards her
The Captain of the unknown vessel, think
ing the jeff Davis wanted the longitude,
came close by, and was in the act Of giving
the longitude, when Long Tou.," from
Capt. Coxeiter, changed the appearance OF
matters, and brought the John Welsh 10 -
(Ihe John Welsh, with her carg" of sugar,
has since safely nrrivedl The John Wrlsh
was bound from Trinidad 10 Falmouth for
orders.
The next vessel captured was the En-
chautress, which was subsequently re cap
tured by the bockaders.
On Sunday, after Divine service, u sail
was within rnnge Of Long Tom," winch
caused her 10 heuve TO. This vessel proved
to toe the 5. J. Wnring, Capt. Smith, from
New York to Monteviedo. Cribs vessel, It
will be recollected, Was recaptured.) On
the following Tuesday, at 3 a. m, u sail
was discovered, which proved to be "a blue.
nose Yankee not worth powder. lie was
let pass. The same morning, another YES.
sci Was discovered. The jeff Davis gave
chase unu! noon, when she WAS OvrThauled.
This Vessel proved TO be the ship Mary
Goodwill bat, as the Captain lad his wife
on board, the gallant Capt. Coxctler at
once determined that the Mary GooIwcll,
in consideration of her fair passenger,
should go scot free, and this decision met
with hearty response from the crew. As
the jeff. Davis, however, had more prison.
ers on board than was desirable, II transfer
of The prisoners 10 the Mary GoOdwelI was
decided upon, and portion of the pris.
oners Were transferred 10 her. Another
sail hove in sight. Chase was imme diately
given. This vessel was the - Thomp.
son, from Searsport, Me-, bound to Antigua,
with lumber. Not being worth the capture,
the balance of Capt. Coxetter's prisoners
were placed on board her, on condition that
she would pursue her voyage to Antigua.
After this, several French vessels were
seen but the next capture was the Alvarado,
which was subsequently lost in getting
into port a California bark, from ST.
Thomas, bound for Cork, having on board
the cargo Of British vessel which was
cast away, was next hailed ond allowed to
pass.
The jeff Davis put into Porto Rico on
July 25, and sailed again on the a6th, after
receiving supply Of water and provisions.
After leaving the port Of Porto Rico, the
jeff Davis boarded the schr. Wind ward,
with sail from Turks Island 10 Holmes
Hole. While thinking what disposition
should be made If the Windward, her fate
was decided by the appearance Of another
sail in the horizon. The schooner was re-
luclantly allowed TO depart, while chase
was immediately made for the distant wee.
sci. This vessel was brought to when
wi.hin the range Of Long rom," aud
proved 10 be the Santa Clara, the arrival oil