The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-01
THE BLOCKADE RUNNERS OF THE
CONFEDERACY.

INV Az 0As
The BLOCKADE RUNNERS OF TIE
CONFEDERACY.
From the XIX Century.]
Time has not so dulled the edge Of memory
| that can forget how, on certain October af
| ternoon q few years ago, turned leaf in one
Of the opening chapters of the war, and found
messe ST se
| tary Of one of the Confederate Departments. 1t
| was in 1861. "A part Of the summons ran thus
please make your arrangements to leave
the COnfederacy on important secret service
with the least possible delay"
An hour later, was nls a ois with one Of The
highest diRnitaries Of the overnment. men.
tally piunginR about in o cold bath OF baked
is necessary that you should return immediate.
| ~ to Liverpool. The Nashville sails from
Charlehton at the first opportunity, with Mason
and shdel, our Commissioners, and you can
patches will be ready tomorrow; conceal them
as best you can, and destroy them in the event
of capture" MY verbal instructions-- is
no harm in speaking of them nowhere to
munication with the Confederate agents at
those points; then 20 to England, deliver my
documents. and, finally, effect the purchase Of
certain arms. accoutrements, goods and chat.
tells not then regarded by several OF the United
States OF America as orthodox articles Of i'm
port south OF the Potomac.
lexploded my politest thanks to the chief
Tor having thus elected me to mission which
thousands would have rejoiced to undertake,
and signitied assent. Nevertheless, I was dis
appointed.
The truth is, had just run the blockade by
raj, and the twinges Of a wounded leg remind
ing me Of bullets and bandits, I needed rest
and recreation. Besides, cared not 80 soon
to exchange the hospitable shrines Of Rich
mn nn6 vuHnA
bravest and loveliest Of pilgrims, for the ad-
verses, inverHes and reverees Of treacherous
fortune. The Virginia capital was little
Worid IN itself Its citizens represented every
GERS Of the United States Army and Navy
brought with them the charms OF culture and
travel. Statesmen and Legislators. forgetful Of
ancient political differences, talked together Of
The planter dlscoursed of his crops and slaves,
and the capitalist Of his last investment ih
blockade supplies.
The wounds Of the first battles were healing;
the promepade; the streets presented ever
changing views OF the polyohromatic uniforms
OF the Confederacy; dinner parties by day, and
receptions by night gathered men together
professional annals. were destined to gain yet
brighter lustre from achievements on the field;
the hotels were full Of generals and privates.
and they in turn were full OF argument, full Of
ASAVs oAAu 1uu u 1kuOThuC0 2S 10 W08G g. OaY
might bring forth. There was good eating,
paasable drinking. fast living and abundance
OF money, and, amid all the earnestness OF the
pending strife, enough Of ga'ety to soften
had not begun to show itself in the old clothes
and sharper angles which succeeded.
It was from this lively scene of social enjoy
ments that wss about to be subtracted and
1 pocketed the compliment, turned philoso.
pher. packed my valise, concealed my dispatch
es. and in twelve hours more was en- route 70
Charleston.
culated to enhance the serenity Of Christian
contemplation. The rush of O careless SOL
diery was accompanied by ruin, aud every
WI where you saw the fnger-marks Of DETACHMENT.
ton Of bayonet stabs; floors fairly initiated q
well watered country irrigated by tobaouo
juice; windows presented an agglomeration Of
hlth; the atmosphere, rank with smell and
<sSGeb, and spacs itself a observation-disclosures OF legs
Arrived 10 Charleston, I made myself known
to the Commissioners, aud was introduced to
and Sidell. these ooneisted Of the two Secteta-
ries, Messrs. Mcfarland aud Eustis, Mrs.
Eustis, Mrs. Slidell her two daughters and q
son. The :Nashville" was at her dook. and
side. wheel steamer Of about twelve hundred
tons burthen, and during her career on the
line between Charleston and New York had
won the reputation Of being fast. At present,
ment, and directly under the command Of
Captain Pegram, Of the Confederate States
Navy, the executive officer being Lieutenant
Fanntleroy. Both we're Yirginians. The steam.
run should be attempted that night, provided
the weather continued favorabl,. We accord
1ngly prepared tor departure, and, as evening
approached, held our 6nal consultation with
Mann nvnhs kL~ I~1 - Il
morning had freshened into stiff north
wester, and the drifting battlements of clouds
and angry lashtng waves within the harbor
gave token OF discomforts outside. An old
the night could MT be more auspicious, and
offered to pilot us through the fleet; but the
officers said no, there was too much sea upon
the bar,-and 80 stood the verdict.
We returned to the hotel disappointed: feel
ing not merely the 'irksomeness, but the dan
ger OF delay; for every moment increased the
ohanceS OF more vigorous blockade than ever.
Spies abounded IN the city, and, although we
finest steamers in New York were even then
making ready to cruise for the Nashville.
No we'll regulated mind. however draws,its
inferences ia hurry. While. therefore, we
officers. we all took fresh courage from the
dissenting voice OF the sturdy pilot, who, lean
ing against mast, with hands deep buried in
the pockets OF his beaver coat, had been an al
Z, Captain Oakley, as he may be known in this
narrative, was an admirable type Of that hardy
class Of men. few in number and not halt
enough appreciated: who, during the war, were
nicati0n between the Contederacy and the rest
Of the world, whereby we received munitions
OF war and domestic supplies. He was known
as one OF the most daring and expert OF the
Southern pilots, and had already distinguish
Cd himself on several OCCASIONS by running the
blockade in the very teeth, ,as I'D were, OF the
Federal guns and gunboats.
He was about forty years Of age and straight
as an Indian. A plumb-llnt dropped from the
philoprogeniive projection on the back Of his
head would have touched the sendo .Achilis.
Q tremendous amount Of decision, and ont or
the bronze left there by the sun and wind,
looked pair Of little black eyes. whose glance
plank You never saw more than an eighth
OF an inch of eye. however, in his face at any
one time, and when he laughed, even this re.
nac1~