Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-04-03

President, L, l.. Burnett Vice President,
G. P. Byington; Corresponding Secretary
o. II. Austin; Treasurer, w, N. Phelps;
Recording Secretary, 4. w. Bartlett
TIE ESCAPE OF THE NASHVILLE
BY the following letter, published in the
New York Herald, it appears that the
escape of the Nashville from Beaufort
was owing TO deficiency of blockading
vessels, there being only one steamer and
one sailing vessel to watch three en-
frances at that station. The blame for
such Notifying state of things of course
rests with the Navy Department:
UNITED STATES BARoUE GEMsBoK,)
Blockading off Beaufort, N. c.
March Is, 1922
We think it but right to let the public
know the situation of this blockade, and
especially so since the rebel steamer Nash
vile has run the blockade of this harbor
in and out again. When the Nashville
ran in on the morning of the 28th of
February last, there was only the State
of Georgia on this blockade to protect
three entrances--which it is impossible
for one steamer to do. Three days after
the Nashville had run in, this vessel ar
rived here from Hampton Roads, and we
found to our modification such to be the
case. The State of Georgia being short
of coal could remain here but few days.
She dispatched at once the fact of the
case to the nearest blockading station
Wilmington. The Mount Vernon then
left there, and proceeded to Hampton
Roads with the intelligence. The Cam
bridge was ordered down in consequence
and reached here on the morning of the
18th of March, making three vessels in
this blockade.
The State of Georgia was compelled
to leave, for reasons already stated She
left on the 10Th. The Nashville had
steamed down from her former position in
the harbor, and on the day previous to
her running out was lying close under
the guns of Fort Macon. We kept a
sharp lookout for her, fore and aft, and
with good glasses, to watch her move
meHts. .ma
Between the hours of z and s p. NJ,
on the 18th of March, dark object was
noticed coming ont of the channel She
had chosen the darkest part of the night
to elude us, and it was only by the ut
most vigilance that enabled us to have
seen her as quick as we did.
| Capt. Cavendy of this vessel at once
got her ready for action, sent up signal
to the Cambridge, lying some distance
south of us, and hosting the foretopsail
and jib, swung the ship, by spring on
the cable, broadside to the channel, where
she must come out. We lay about one
mile from the entrance of the channels.
There being no wind at the time, it was
useless to think of getting under way to
chase one of the fastest steamers afloat
so we endeavored with all our will to do
the utmost with the guns.
Apparently, when first seen. she was
feeling her way along slowly, till reused
by the report of bow gun and the as
cent of rockets, telling him of his discov-
cry Then at full speed she flew toward
the offing amid our shells, which were de-
livered at him as fast as we could throw
them in the guns. We fired twenty guns
in twenty minutes. Whether we hit him
or not we don't know; but from indica
tons which he showed at one time, by
the lights flying around the ship, we think
he must have been damaged considerably.
The Cambridge fred three guns at her.
We continued firing as long as she was
within range. When the moon arose and
dispelled the darkness that had covered
the scene, the rebel steamer had escaped.
| 1t is our belief that had our Command
er been in charge of a steamer, instead Of
a sailing vessel, the course of the Nash.
| vile yvould have heau ,,n