, 1862-08-23
Cruise Of thu PrfyaTeer Sur infer

G3u'se oA 1Htt FfaVareer Sumter.
Tic Co'1thM Magazine for August contains
the diary OF an officer Of the prirateer Sum
fer, giving complete narrative of her cruise
and exploits, iron which we make the follow
ing summary:
The Sumter, originally the Habana, went
into commission at New Orleans, June 5,
1861, propeller, bark-rigged, carrying four
thirty-t1o's, and one sizty-eight on Il pivot.
Complement Of men, III. Commanded BY
Captain Semmcs.
June 25ih-An officer reconnoi!ered the
position ofthe blockading fleet, and DESTROYED
the light houses ut Pass-a.T Tourre, and South
fonts, Under the very eyes Of the cnnn,y
Brooklyn and Pori.attau l}1ng not two miles
tff.
June 5o;h, ~ p. m.-The Sumter las run
the blockade at last She is now bounding
over the blue waters Of the Gulf Of Mexico
and If she does not soon slacken SPEED she
will, ere many days, be in the Carribean Sea.
Ever, thing vas managed admirably. At 2
O'Clock in The morning the steamer Empire
Parish dropped alongside, laden with coal, 200
barrels Of which were transferred to The Sum-
icr's bunkers. The Empire Parish then
steamed down the river, returning about IL
o'clock, just as all hands had been piped to
muster, with the welcome intelligence that
the blockadiDg squadron had disappeared.
The Sumter VAS got under way in double
Gui<k time. Directly after crossing the bar
tho Brooklyn Was seen in chase Of q sailing
VESSEL, which chase she soon abandon
I'd and shaped her course for the Sum
ttr. at this time the latter ship had no sail
On, but soon favorable breeze sprung up,
and the order Was given to unfarl. The
Brooklyn followed her example, spreading
every yard Of canvass that would draw. The
speed Of The two ships seemed to be about
equal, and for more than two hours it was
doubtful whether the little rebel would come
out victor or vanquished. She was sadly out
OF trim, being too much down by the
head, which caused her to plunge
5reatly, Keeping the forecastle continu-
ally covered with spray. To remedy
this the field howltzer and about 1900 gallons
Of water were thrown overheard. Cp to this
t me the Sumter carried only eighteen pounds
ofstean1; suddenly the hand Of the steam gu age
indicated that it had been increased totwenty-
fSA1t1s
the Sumter was gaining on the Yankee. tbs
Brooklyn's hull gradually sank beneath the
tcr;zon but she still continu cd the chase
until Lothing could be seen of her save her
white tails Of which she carried large guam
tity. After chase Of four hours her COM
mandcr saved the credit of his ship as fast
sailer by turning back
July 9th anchored at Cienfuegos, Cubs, with
eight pfizcs-takcn charge of by Cuhap All
tho1ities, subject to order Of commander o,
Sumter.
July 17If, arrived at st. AnEe, Island Of Gu
laeoa and made few repairs.
July :6: anchored outside haroor Of Porto
Cabel1o, Eenczucla. Authorities would not
allow her to enter.
July seth arrived ut Port Of Spain, Trinidad.
Fratcrl'ized with the British twelve gun steam
sr Csdmus. The diary remarks: 1.-The Eng
lsh here treat Us more like princes than plain
| Republican Americans"
August 10th arrived off Cayenne, French
Guinea well treated.
| Scp:- 5fh arrived st Maranham, Brazil.
| Nov. 9Th arrived at Port Royal, Martinique.
/ Tie French gunboat Acherou paid respects to
j Sumter.
! Nov. 18th arrived at S.. Pierre.
Nov. 11th the Z. s. steamer Irocuois ST.
; rirtd-camc In disguised, Danish tln. living,
! Took position front Of barber. Hoisted Stan
ard Stripes.
New 18th tie InoQueis hoyered about the
! Sumter all day. Authorities would not ALLOW
q capture in the ha1bor.
| Nov. 10th Iroquis dropped anchor. Com
mauder Of Acheron had conference with Capt
! P2lmer, result that 1roquis must cine to an
| chor CT go three miles outside of harbor.
| Nov. 18th 1roqueis went outside.
!, Nov. sd, Sumter By hugging the land raa
by the 1roquois in the night.
| Crossed the Atlantic, and arrived at Csdi7
| Jan. 4.
5th-Commander ordered to leave port il
p hours. Refused.
6th-Sumter permitted to remain.
1.tl-Steamed up to goyernms Mt navy yari
and went into dry dock for repairs,
17th-Sailed for Gibraltar.
lSth-Und.r the guns Of Gibraltar.
18th numerous visits from the British steam
ftigate Scyl1a-
| Feb. sth--U. 3. gunboat Tuscarors ar
rived.
Feb. l3th-Tuscarora steamed over to Span
ash SIDE BY which she would have the right te
leave at the same hour as Sumter.
March loth-U. S. gunboat Kearsarge, sever
guns, the Flambeau at Tangiere, and anothe
Northern Wsr vessel, reported cruising at th,
mo4tb Of the mediterranean.
| Aoril Bth-Eumuterss baf1ers vnrn ort an,
! Alfn 9th Sumter laid up until end Of ws1,