Smyrna times., 1863-04-09
ESPOND nee.
Written for the Smyrna Times
Letter from the BlOCkading Squadron
u. S. S. WIssAmcKox,1
off Charleston, S. c.,
March 10th, 1868
Friend Times ::


Friend Times:
tits again my extreme pleasure
to write you news of gratifying nature.
Good fortune has once more attended the
untiring vigilance Of the officers and men OF
the IPM<ahicton, and the capture of the most
valuable prize that has attempted to run
Uncle Sans blockade during the whole war,
must now be accredited to our boat The
capture took place last night-or rather this
morning at two o'clock. The alarm was
given shortly after mdnight--all hands
called to quarters, and our cable immediate
ly slipped. Full speed was given our boat.
and we soon got into position to use our
battery upon the flying foe. After firing
several shell we were hailed by the steamer |
and told that boat would be sent along |
side. This Captain Davis admonished them
to do immediately, or would blow their boat
out Of the water, but thinking they had
thrown US off our guard, instead Of doing as |
expected, they suddenly changed Intercourse,
and endeavored by Il full head of steam to
escape us Another shot or two, however,
showed them escape impossible, so giving
their steamer her highest speed, they run
her aground OH Rattlesnake Shoals, hoisted
small boats to the shore. and from thence
to Charleston. Our boats We're Immediately
called away, and possession taken of the
would he blOckade-runner. She proved to
be an English steamer (irOrgidnad-a pro-
peller-fiftccn hundred tons burden, and
two hundred and fifty feet long; loaded
with an assorted cargo Of articles most need
ed in re6eldom consisting of shot, shell,
guns, muskets, iron plating, glass, shoes,
clothing, &c; the whole valued at from ten to
fifteen hundred thousand dollars. The steam
er was splendidy fitted up, and according
! to accounts published OF her some weeks
ago contained the most valuable cargo yet
. attempted to be run in Southern port.
; On taking possession it was found she was
leaking badly, and had been so damaged by
those on board before leaving her, as to
/ prevent her pumps being worked. She
had also been run hard aground and after
r valnly endeavOring for several hours to get
i her off, Capt. Davis ordered her to be des-
e troyed. Deep was the regret, indeed, of
! officers and crew that such a valuable prize
had to be given over to the devouring ele-
|" ments but there was no other alternative,
and we had to submit. Her loss to the
y rebels is immense, they badly needing just
such articles as she contained. Following
J, = so rapidly upon the heels Of the Princess
RCyat it will be blow to them not easily
!. repaired. Rockets were set off from Fort
Sumter during the chase, to show the steam
l. er its location, and to divert our attention.
;. Great praise is due Capt John S. Davis, OF
$. the IKiSSaiackOn, aud also the officers and
men under him forsthis capture, it being the
IS more creditable to them from the fact, that
3 the Georyiana had run by the remaining
e. boats of the blockade without being de.
tected, and would have succeeded in safely
We reaching Charleston had she not been dis
covered by the IVtssdHcEon, and subsequently
~ captured by her. Capt. Davis is especially
n deserving of honorable mention, not ONLY
'x for his untiring vigilance and watchtulnes
rs in the discharge of his duty, as exemphfed
nj in this case but for the entirely satisfIctory
manner i'll which it has been discharged
ry during the entire war. Had the govern
is, ment more officers of the same kind W
!, should not be so frequently mortified il
reading of violations of the blockade. In
ma. stead of leaving everything to the officer
red under him, his own personal supervisio
:, attends the workings Of his ship, and fire
es quently most of the night is passed by hir
Ind on the lookout for the enemy. Admir-;
DUPONT, sensible of the credit due him, al
lnd tributes the destruction of the N0shrt
On manly.to his exertions and now, unaide
and alone, having saved from the rebels til
,us. most magnificent prize OF the war, we eN
pect to see from his government propt
sno ano acknowled cement of his services. I'll
NV. station now held by US is very importal
one-it being the passage by which so man
my, steamers attempt to run into Charleston
and 1t is now vigilantly blockaded by this stean
nod er and the yacht america, and think ca
dit. safely say but few boats will reach Charlie
two ton, that attempt it by this passage. Bu
probably your readers may be curious
ney know how and when the WISSahickOn arrive
! an at Charleston--my last letter being date
Of on the way to Port Royal from the Oge
eVl; chez River In few words will endea
auH ann or to give you our changes since the Mas
:. 10 ritle was destroyed. Port Royal was reac
can ed, safely, of course, with that news, b
by we only had time to delive, it, being Sc
ano back to the Ogeechee after stay only
'A' two hours at that place. We resnained tV
more days in the Ogeechee---witnessed t
first days attack Of the three iron-clat
init Passaic, Hcltdlsco and Nihant,. on Fort N
lent Alister, left next morning for Port Roy
ish- again There we remained only thirty-s
: ofl hours. being sent by the Admiral to GeorG
iber town, about fifty miles abovesCharleston,
ere assist the C0pe,naugh already stationed the
cert in getting the machinery out OF steam
s ds1 that ran ashore in attempting to run
- blockade Through with our mission the
RS of wsleft for Charleston, where we arrived
nave the morning of the 18th nst.-taking {
ton station on the evening of the same d'
ican We had been here only a week when
aaar,t,sra. lannLen of In the frat part oil h