The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-01

world IN itself. It's citizens represented ever.
| State in the Southern Confederady. Did ofh
cars Of the United States Army and Navy
brought with them the charms OF culture ant
I travel. Stateamen and Legislators. forSetful
sncen, political differences, talked together O
| the common good upon Q common platform
The planter dIscoarsed Of his crops and slaves
and the capitslist Of his last investment II
blockade supplies.
The wounds Of the first battles we're healing
| the fair nurses had abandoned the bedside fof
the promenade; the streets presented ever
changing views OF the polychromatie aniformi
Of the ConRederacy; dinner par ties by day, ano
receptions by night, gathered men together
whose names, already written iu poHtical and
professional annals, were destinel to gain yet
brighter lustre from achievements on the Held
the hotels were full Of genesis and privates,
and they % turn were fun Of argument, full Of
fight, and full Of ignorance as TO what day
passable drinking, fast living and abundapoe
OF money, and, amid all the earnestness OF the
pending strife, enough OF ge,ety to soften
down the rougher aspects OF the struggle. War
had not begun to show itself in the old clothes
and sharper angles which succeeded.
Il was from this lively scene OF social enjoy.
mcuts. that ives about to be subtracted and
set aside as an independent figure. However,
I pocketed the compliment, turned phloeo-
pher. packed my Yalise, concealed my dispatch
es, and in twelve hours more was en- route to
Charleston.
Railway travelling in those days was not cal
culsted to enhance the serenity OF Christian
contemplation. The rush Of careless SOL
diery was accompanied by ruin, and every
The car ceilings were epeokied with an er9p-
ton OF bayonet stabs; floors fairly initiated
well watered country irrigated by tobacco
Juice; windows presented an sgglomeratton o.
filth; the atmosphere, rank with smell and
smoke, was as sitting as an Egyptian cata-
comb, aud spaceitsef pandemonlum OF iess
in cir.
IArrized In ehfrleston: Fnade Inzsea p ana7n 9 q
nv fellow-voyagers. Besides Messrs. Mason
and Sidell, these consisted Of the two Secreta-
RES, .Messrs. Mcfarland and Eustis, Mrs.
SON. The "Nashvi1le" was ct her dosk, and
the next morning We visited the ship. She was
a side.vheel steamer q about twelve hundred
tons burthep, and during her career on the
line between Charleston and New York had
won the reputation Of being fast. At present,
however, she was the property OF the govern.
ment, and directly under the command OF
Navy, the executive officer being Lieutenant
Fauntleroy. Both we're Virginians. Tho steam
er being ready for sea. it was agreed that the
run should be attempted that night, provided
the weather continued favorabls. We accord
ipeIy prepared for departure, and, as evening
approached, held our final consultation with
the officers. Meanwhile the oreese OF ths
Wastef. and the drifting battlements Of clouds
and angry lsshiug waves within tie harDor
gave token Of discosaforts outside. An old
blockade runner standing Gear observed tnsS
the night could mt be more aCeplcfous, anu
offsred to pilot us through the fees; put tne
6ficers said no, there was too much sea upon
The bar-aud 80 stood the verdict. y.,,
T%s returned to the hotel diesrn,nsn'a'as'. .e''-
ing not merely the irksomeness, but the dan
ger Of delay; for every moment increased the
chances OF more vigorous blockade than ever.
we're not aware efits stthe time, thres OF the
finest stesmers in New York were even then
maxim, ready to cruise for ths Nashville.
No we'll regulated mind, however, draws its
iuferences 10 q hurry. While, therefore, we
duly respected this adverse opinion OF the naval
officers, We all took fresh courage from the
dissenting voice OF the sturdy pilot, VINO, lean
the pocket. Of his beaver coat, bad been an al
most quiet participant in our interview.
Captain Oakley, as he may bs known IN this
narrative, was an admirable type Of that hardy
class Of men, few in number and not half
enough appreciated, who, during the war, we're
chiefly instrumental IN keeping open commu,
nicalion between the Conlederacy and the rest
OF the world, whereby we received munitions
OF war aud domestic supplies. He was known
as one of the most daring and expert OF the
Southern pilots, and had already distinguish
ed himself on several occasions BY running the
blockade In the very teeth, as 1t were, OF the
Federal guns and gunboats.
He was about forty years ofage and straight
as an Indian. plumb-lne dropped from the
philoprogenitive projection on the back OF "a, ms
head would have touched the tendo AchsQls.
The forehead was high, the face stamped With
a tremendous amount of decislon and out Of
the bronze left thero by the sun and wind,
looked pair Of little black eyes, whose glance
FsWas keen, enough to spenetrate B. a9Wo-iuch
plank. You never say more than nm eighth
!. OF aninch OF eye, hoWeyer, in his face at any
one time, and whep ne laughed. even ,hls re-
tired precipltatoly behind Its eptrencAMents,
leaving on guard only line OF lashes andar
agitated crowd Uf aood-natured wrinkles. The
frame was muscu or; springy and eompacsly "
knit, aud the whole pose OF the man Was like
sight draft on your confidence which yor
were prepared 10 honor without question.
Evidently, he was not one o.dream. !apor o.
ed oil steel and tenuity. 1t WAS his religion
to be brave, and, by some peculiar anima
ma ynelisni, be communicated his spirit q
seif reliance to all around him.. Thus no I'M
pressed our party. and I'VE accordingly deter
mined upon an interview Tith sCeptaln oake!
tina next morning. We met at an carly hour
and, after the ipterchangeqt salutations' Mr. M
.SEdeil inquired: "Capta1n, wnat are tn
chances of our getting'out =
Good, Sir" Was the. prompt, reply, ~ col
put to Sc, in twenty -four hours"
forgot 10 observe that the Captain aearl.
| had the great failing OF reserved natures
| obstinacy but ne likewise possessed the greaa
merit-silence. Those few, prompt Nv w3ra 9r =
clme to us like good cheer, and We teIs ina
he pledge, il made, would be fulfilled. shl
anxious, however. or. Msson interpossd, "wh
cannot we start tonight ?"
my steamer has jnst gono into the drydocl
to be overhauled," was the answer. =" bnt
you will charter her will be ready for sea to
morrow aight."
| That was enough.
An hour later. the preliminary Arrangement
| were consummated (; that night tho vessel wa
once more sAoat; and on the following da
her machinery WIS replaced, coal bunker
| filed and accommodations provided tor tn
| Commissioners and their suite, We vent O.