New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-18
usv 10 Run the blockade.
4 The London Times;

way across the Potomac and passing rapidly through
Washington and New-York. stood upon British soil
ups the 9th Of FebrurythsI is 10 say upon the 10th
day after my departure from Secessa Upon the 10Th 0I
Msy left Queenstown. and. passing through HALIFAX
and Bermuda found the vessel which carried me rruu
Bermuda safely moored in Cape Fear River upon
which Wilmington stands on the night OF the tth OF
June-thst is again 20 say upon the 2ih Gay amer my
departure nom England But unq1esticnsbly as re
CARDS endurance Of fatigue and facility or conveying
luggage tie route IS infinitely prefrab!e 10 the
land and is attended with less personal Jeopardy al
though there Is quart Gaeure experienced al
the moment Of passing through the inside blocsadng
squadron which in intensity Of excitement can hardly
be surpassed.
Lillian and the Fiorie, Of the leetest and most
beautiful OF the bockadedefyiug vessels, started SIN
uaneously rom Bermuda upon the nrsi trip inward
which either had ever made. Both belong 10 the same
company, bat there is en- emulation between the TWO
ry vessels which is not satisao ory alayed by their
experiences hitherto but which waits the solution OF
further trial The weather lovely the sea like
milLdan. and favorable beyond expression 70 hghi
draught and gossamer craft such are these blockade
runners which lightly scratch the surface Instead OF
eutehine the ribs Of old ocean, and which IN summer
SECS Lave no u fear from heayy sea-eong craft
Ike the Rhode Island or The Vanderbilt THAI has the
Irish night express from tie numbering freight train
witch leaves Enston squsIe five minutes IL tie rear
Rarely have two more attractive prizes shpped through
the aeshes Of the blockade than The two vessels oil
which am Writing 80
Ills not alone tfat they would be invaluable With
view their conversion into Federal cruisers, or thar
two Of the most valuable oiTgoes which have ye.'l
reached Wilmington await AZ this instant the Disposal
Of TIE Confederate Government; but tIst on boar both
vessels Confederate " maignsnts' whose captre
would have been sweet moTsel 10 many cftFlng |
palate In Washington and Boston. To many an En-
reader the Of Cas. haili, lately IN command OF
the Confederate cruiser Fiorido, is well known %
Ia ding assisted Can't. Semmes and tie abame 70 de-
monstrate that two light, and, as regards equipment.
comparatively Insignificant vessels Of war would have
little difficulty IN driving from the ocean flag Wa
three years ago might have been upon very wave
OF every II may De remarked that tbs IS lesson
10 which, Of all nations, England least afford 20 be
blind.
M experience on board the Lillian leads me 70 antic
pate for Capt Matt and his yessei-a credit 70 her
builders, Messrs. Thompson II Glasgow-a long AID
prosperous An incident Which occurred 200
miles from Wilmington. in a portion OF the ocean which
Is constantly swept by Federal cruisers seems worthy
Of record. Upon our port bow was deserted ssu en-
fyelOpcd In dense canopy Of smoke line WGs inefla
bly, precious there Was every reason 10 suspec Yam
kee guile, which is said TO be nowhere uore feftey
exhibited than in their conduct Of the blockade; but IL
deemed possible. after careful scrutiny thet the
vessel might be fire. Briefly reparking TIE ship
which leaves companion at sea IN distress must Be
accused Capt Malt ordered our course TO be altered
and bore down upon tae stranger. 1t socn became ey
dent that she was Federal cruiser making d"lse
white smoke with her Cumberland coal, ard beating
rapidly eastward in apparent pursuit OF another den
quent
suIned Dark and inscrutable the noon defy
ing all possibility Of observation 1t believed
that ere the mOrrows dawn should break. might
reach Wilmington, and onward we pressed. The night
wore rapidly away o'clock. O'Clock u IN The morn
Ing came but eye peering through .he thick gloom
could the ookeoE light Fort Fisher be disecrned.
Then the morning dawDed prepared to lay 10 for
the day, between the outer and inner Gordon Of the
bockaders 1t hardly TO be expected that should
escape for i6 hours unObseryed bat II signal in.
stance If good u tia; frum in the morning ill II ?.
m we wee unmolested Then the tall masis Of a lar 90
Federal cruiser Der immense paddeW heels and lofty
hsck hull, visible, FOR the first time snta
onists approached from the direction of Wilmington
the airy fairy Lillian prepared 20 give Us assurance OF
that speed which all felt she possessed.
Some slight delay there was before steam could be
fully got up and for sOue 20 minutes our pursner
seemed 10 gain upon u.s. Rut a. the pressure OF steam
ascended from Is pounds 90 from ~ TO % from %
10 % and the revolutions Of the paddle mounted from
26 to o. from % to % per minute, the Lillian few ont
20 sea swift from n bow. In little than
hours the bull Of our pursner invisible and her
topgGllan sails speck upon ne distant horizon. But
es she sl lay between and Wilming tOn IL became
necessary run round her, This also the ght-heeed
Lillian had little difficulty IN accomplishing but the
sun dropped into the se, and our pursuer although dis
tant, still hung upon rear found that reckoning
little the speed OF our advance We had sighted the In
side blockade squadron before the close OF day There
was nothing for it but 10 psrseveTe. and fortunately
before We approached close ~ land darkness had
pletey set in Silently and with bated breath passed
cruiser after cruiser, distinctly visible 10 every eye
and suggesting the flashing our Of blue or Drummoud
yht and the rash Of grapesho and shrapnel through
our rigging and bulWarss
But it was rot destined that upon this occasion the
Lillian should receive her baptism Of fire. just as we
approach Fort Fisher dark spot is seen on the bar
Ii is a Federal launch seen by us too late FOR Capt
Mlf to indulge the anxious wish OF his heart and
expected yolley OF musketIy is wanting Another
and under the mound upon which stands the
fort and eagerly questioned for ncws. The news Ia
good all round Three times three for Gen. John
ston;" six times six for Gen. Lee;' and In mrth and
laughter and song the night away. Three hours
after US comes the Flore and Is heavily fred che
wears inward But morning finds both vessels and
their carrOcs safe at their wharf IN Wilmington
rash TO predict FOR them both the probability OF many
returns. Al least II may safely be augured that IT Will
take ordinary amount Of speed and courage 20 cir
cumyent so feai less and experienced ssor Cspt.
Miftit and that IN bis new bis skill and sue.
viii be not inferior TO those which he exhibited IN
his odd
l cannot leave the subject Of the blockade without
POINTING the moral which Is being Taught by H. and
which il Is inconceiya5le why England does not take
more pains % understand There Is no nation upon
earth which has tenth Of the interest which England
has in closely observing the working Of the only block
ade large asd imperial scale Which has been es
tabllshei the init reduction Of steam navigation.
Ii scarcely be pretended that Information IN regard
to the system Of showing lights 10 guide incoming yes
sells concerning the infinite nricaces Of detail hich
experience has taught 70 the blocksGcrunners Of Vii
lingon, Charleston and Mobile concerning the raost
favorable conditions Of SKY and tide for running
out or coming in can be obtained otherwise than upon
southern soil Yet IL Is not deemed By the British Ad
miralty to be matter Of Importance that they should
be represented at Wilmington and elsewhere by one o;
our most accomplished naval officers. II
II IS humlating to be told, rs have been again and
again, thst no such emsary viii be sent without the
consent OF Mr. Adams ard that this consent be will
give Bat great is the Of Opiron
among Eugishucn IN America upon the Importance OF
this subject there Is bet much 10 fear that
this blockade will re unsedei and its lessons unesrned
o. competent English officials IL idle for ne 70 pOiat
ont thai not only ! there opportunity for naval officer
gain invaluable Information bot that IN spite Of the
given three months ago By Lord lie Grey the
effect that il import send military officers
the South BY the inferoriy Of its resources
II is the opinion u every English officer WHO has been
the southern States tina; there is infinitely to
be learned here during month than IN the North dur
ing year. It's think pretty we'd admitted by this
tine that regards construction Of gus the areh