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

Our community heard, with the deepest
regret, on Saturday, that the privateer Jeff
Davis, in trying TO make the port of st.
Augustine, Fla, had struck on the bar and
was lost. 1t was matter Of congrutuation,
however, that every man Of her gallant
crew was saved. Mr. Felix &. Dutrieux,
one of the wrecked privateersmen, arrived
in Charleston yesterday, and from him our
reporter has obtained the following interes
ting nsrrative Of the cruise of the Jeff
, Davis:
On Friday night, June %, after the crew
had participated in the celebration of that
day ever to be remembered by South Caro-
lima in connection with the memorable bat.
tie and history of Fort Moultric, tho jeff
Davis, fully equipped for Il long sea voyage,
and manned by rs spirited and gallant
crew rs ever brnved the dangers of fire and
| water, set sail from the harbor Of Charles.
| ton and notwithstanding the very ethcer.
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 erchaii ging signals.
| On the following day, the lookout at the
mast head discovered two sails ahead, but
! owing 10 some disarragem ent of the fore
topmast gearing, they were not pursued -
On the evening Of the same day, large
vessel, OF doubtful nationality, was seen,
but supposing her to be French, no demon
| stra;ion was made 10 arrest her.
On the 4th Of July, a salute, in honor Of
| the Confederate flag, was fired, after which
all hands, by order Of Capt. Coxrti,r,
"spiiced the main brace" In the evening,
n sail WAS discovered on the lee bow. Oa
approaching this vessel guu VAS hired,
which caused her TO heave 10. On exami.
nation Of her papers she was found to be
the brig Grace Worthington. sailing uuder
| English coiors. She was let pass A brig
| trou' Baltimore Was allowed to pass on the
ssme day.
On SATURDAY, July 6, n Vessel was dcs-
cried. The jeff Davis hoi,ied French
colors, which brought the sul towards her
The Captain of the unknown vessel, think'
came close by, and was in the act Of giving
the longitude, when Long rou.," from
Capt. CoxeIter, changed The appearance Of
matters, aud brought the John Welsh 10 -
(The John Welsh, with her carg" of sugar,
has since safely nrrived} The John WrIsi.
was bound from Trinidad 10 Falmouth for
orders.
The next vessel captured was the En-
chautress, which WAS subsequently re cap
tured by the bIockaders.
Ga Sunday, after Divine service, u sail
was deserted nstern. AT noon, the vessel
was within rnnge Of Long Tum," winch
| caused her 10 heave TO. This vessel proved
to Toe the 5. J. Waring, Capt. Smith, from
will be recollected, Was recaptured.) On
the following Tuesday, at ) n m, u sniI
was discovered, which! proved 10 be ~ blue
nose Yankee" not worth powder. lie was
let pass. The same morning, another YES.
sel MAS discovered. The Jeff Davis gave
chase uhti! noon, when she was ovcrhauled.
This vessel proved TO be the ship Mary
GoodwelI but, as the Captain lad his wife
on board, the gallant Capt. Coxctter at
once determined that the Mary GooLwcll,
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, n transfer
Of The prisoners TO the Mary Goodwell was
| decided upon, and portion Of the pris.
oners were transferred 10 her. Another
sal! hove in sight. Chase Was Immediately
given. This vessel was the - Thomp.
son, from Searsport, Me-, bound 10 Antig ua,
with lumber. Not being worth the capture,
the balance of Capt Coxetters 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 81
Thom as, bound for Cork, having on board
the cargo of n British vessel which was
cast away, was next hailed pnd allowed to
pass.
The Jeff. Davis put into Porto Rico on
July rs, and sailed again on the 26tI, after
receiving II supply Of water and provisions.
After leaving the port Of Porto Rico, the
JEFF. Davis boarded the schr. Wind ~ard,
with sail from Turks Island 10 Holmes
Hole. While thinking what disposition
should be made of the Windward, her fate
was decided by the appearance Of another
sail ia the horizon. The schooner was re-
luclantly allowed to depart, while chase
was immediately made for the distanl YES.
within the range Of Long Tom," aud
proved 10 be Tie Santa Clara, the arrival oil
which we have already announced. The