The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-19
MONDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 10, 1854.
THE CRUISE OF THE "TALLAHAssEE.

THE CRUISE OF THE "TALLAHAssEE.
During the month just past there have appeared
| from time to time, many items about the Confede
| rate Cruiser Tallahassee, and extracts from tn
Northern papers regarding the doings of the Pnat
tallahassee have been extensively copied. Perhap
the main facts have thus been made public but oni
one side of the story has been told, and that viii
all the exaggeraton and fasehood Of particular in
stances, is incomplete. In order to make known tn
true story, taking into consideration at the sam
| time the limited space allowed in Il daily paper,
cannot do better than transcrbe the narrative from
my diary, written from day to day during tho cruise
This do literally and without alteration which fac
| viii be sufficient apology for its faults.
Auausr 6TH.-Ths morning we were still aground
on the "trip" the draft OF water being too great t.
pass the eastern bar at these tidaa. The steamers
f2amiayo. Cape Fear and Yadkis, were made fast te
| US at high tide, and in a short time we were atioa
| steamng down towards Fort Caswel. preparatory
to a trial Of the other bar. AL day long We lay a.
anchor OF Smithvie, village somewhat visited IL
years gone by as summer watering-pla but nov
looking in the last stages OF chronic dllapidation
About o'clock came the toatswain's pipe to ''ul
anchor" Rounded the fort at nine and at ten were
on the bar.
clouds ioated in the sky, and the stars shone dny
through thin gauze-ke vapor that rose from the
water. fair night 10 run out After passing the
bar came upon two blockaders one on either bow
| much closer i'll than they had been during the day
Ran between them, and soon had both abeam but,
unfortunately, stream Of flame burst from the
smoke stacks and betrayed Us. The enemy immeii-
ately showed signal light, but answer being re-
ceived, gave US shot quickly followed By others.
This was repeated on the other side but every shot
went over Running alta speed Of nearly fifteen knots,
we soon left them in the dark and, although they
rred several rockets to discover position by their
glare soon got beyond reach of rockets or shell -
We saw three more bockaders but passed them un-
observed, and III a few hours We're out at sea-
SUNDAY, 7TH-At dnyL. eak tt Yankee cruiser was
In pursuit OF U.s. aud some four five miles asteTn.
Were then running southeast with little more than
half steam The dense black smoke rising from
the Yankees tunnels showed he was making every
exerten to overhaul US 1t Is an easy task to run
away from him, and in about two hours be ia hull
down, but still standing on. At O'Clock another
steamer came up ahead, and discovering US, gave
chase also Change our course to northeast by
north, thus bringing both cruisers our beam,
bearing downat an acute angle across cur bow An
hours run, both wore astern.
1t is calm, quiet Sabbath day-a smooth sea and
clear sky. Captain Wood read service on the quar-
terdeck to all hands See large school Of porpoises
rolling and tumbling in the water Three deserters
from the fleet were found slowed away this morning
They We're put Ia the coal bunkers to assist the fire.
men.
Iso oslock.-Both steamers chasing US in the
morning out Of sight, but another Ii aignalled
from the masthead Chased US until night bat it
required little exertion to keep away from him
Just as dark came on, nearly ran into the fourth
cruiser We have seen to-day, and before our
could be changed were close on him He showed
blue light, and immediately came down in our
wake. Another signal heat was shown forward !;
but as neither was answered, he opened fire. For
few moments his shell pass us, and them as we
increase our speed they gradually fall astern. AZ
ter the first half hour we saw him no more.
MospAY, srH.-A fair, pleasant day. Some swell,
as there nearly always is in the stream. Masses Of
beautiful gulf-weed f0at by continually, sea-guls
skim the surface Of the water, and the little
Mother Carey's chickens fit about restless wing
Spoke the Hamburg barque L0t,tse Wilhemi,se, and
being satisfied with the heavy, Dutchy appearance,
pass rapidly by under steam and canvas
TUESDAY, srH.--Spoke Bremen brig Santiago, and
schooner Fanny, Of Nova Scotia. In the evening,
overhauled brig H. +. Cafthiyst, Of Turks island,
evidently Yankee under British register Lieu
tenant Ward boarded her, but found the papers all
right under the consular seal. Towards night the
barometer fell, and the air grew thick and hazy.-
About O'Clock, saw largo steamer on our port
bow, but passed her unobseryed
WEDNESDAY, l0TH-Spoke British barque A,nae-
MA, and schooner EmMa, OF Nassau. From the
latter obtained New York papers of the 9Th instant
After dark gave chase to steamer with lights set,
and under steam and canvas, close hauled to the
wind. There IS an ugly look about her when seen
closely, but We stand Oh until nearly alongside
when it is found We have caught tartar in the
shape OF frigate Not careing to interfere with
such respectable craft, bear away with full head
OF steam, and permit her to go on unmolested.
THURSDAY, 1lTH.-Two vessels in sight at day
break: one an English barque, the other coasting
schooner While speaking the larger vessel the
schooner turned the wind and ran for life, know
ing very well what were. It was nearly an hour
before We oyerhauled her, but musket shot finally
brought her to, and We boarded our first priZethe
schooner sarah 4. Bo'es, OF Boston, bound to Phi
adelphia for coal. The vessel is new and valuable
There are few provisions on board, but these we're
removed, the captain and crew taken oil. and the
vessel scuttled.
and sixty miles from Barnegat Seven sail in sight.
Towards o'clock plotboat appeared and ran
down towards US, thinking We were in want Of a
pilot. When alongside, boat was lowered and sent
off in which was large well-dressed man. with q
heavy watch-guard, massive ring on his little fin
ger, and the air Of a genuine New York butcher
boy. He was prepared to take US into porthaving
his clean shirt in bundle under his arm and few
copies Of the Herald and Times We had the stars
and Stripes flying as he put OF from the schooner,
but just he came under the stern it was lowered
and our ensign raised.
sMy God,b said he, glancing up at it, "what is
.'what ship is THAI" he asked as he stepped upon
tho quarterback.
"fhe Confederate Cruiser Taliahassss." replied
tpon hearing this the fellow was frightened out
Of his wits His face turned dsathly pale, his kneeA
shook violently, and drops OF perspiration started
.ure Of abjsct misery than he presented when told
mis- boat would be barned. This was the James
Etenck or, Riot6odt "No. 49," Being q beautiful
and fastsailing schooner, Captain Wood put prize
md pilot Davis, keeping her as tender. We OBJ |
ained some Fulton market beef mutton on lea, |
fssh vegetables, and quantity Of stores nom this
boat. ~
At IL o'clock, came up with brig Carrie Etells, |
II Boston, with lumber for New York. The prison-
RS wore taken off, charts, ehronometers and nanu-
,al instruments removed. and the vessel burned.
Meanwhile, the Tender 's22" was sent after two /
ail, some Ave miles away; and In about two houn /
ent down to Us the barQus Bay State, nom Alexan-
lria, Virginia, to Boston, returning light asr hav-
ng taken out q cargo Of coal Tbs captain's wife,
wo children, and nurse, were on board aud ell i
,adly frightened It was somB tins befare they were
convinced they were not to be murdered.
Affer removing everything Of value to Us, Leuten-
mt Gardner poured turpentine over the cabin floor
md applied the match. In few minutes she Was /
n flames.
While this vessel WAS burning, the "2S" brought |
own the brig A. Richards. Of Boston, but mostly /
wned in the State Of Maine. Nothing Of value was
ound on her, and she was fired ~ soon a. the pri-
oners could b. COTTON Oh with their baggage
shQrt time efter, two more sail came In Gight--
W. ars eyidenkly In tbs truck Of coastsrs rom
early III the Atlantie ports, bonnA TO Nav Yosk.-
10Th proved 70 ~ schoouefs We brought one = I
tSh blank cartridge, and The Tender wns ~ eut
. bring " the other,