The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-12
MISUNDERSTANDING.

BLOCkADE-RU
How Captain Mafit Ran the Gauntlet Off
Charleston.
From the Jefferson City Tribune
One of the most gallant officers of
the old navy was John Newland Maffit.
During his long and difficult service
in the United States Navy. and sub
sequently in the Confederate service,
he was always recognized, not only as
an officer of superior merit. but upon
one whose escutcheon there never ap.
peared the shadow of stain. Sans
peur ct sans reproche Capt. Mat1it
stands to-day II head and shoulders
above the pigmies who sport their
epaulets in the service lie so long
honored, and who scarcely knew the
ropes when he had won for himself by
long continued and faithful service a
rank second to none in the estimation
of the Nation. 4 brief resume of his
career may not be uninteresting.
In 1882, at the age of thirteen, he
entered the United States Navy. He
made numerous cruises, and for thir-
teen years was employed in the United
States Coast Survey, 4. D. Bache, SUI
perinteddent. Subsequently Capt. Maffit
gained much reputation in his surveys
of the Gulf Stream, Nantucket Shoals
Vineyard Sound, Delaware Bay. har-
bors and coast of North and South
Carolina, Georgia, etc. His charts are
used today by the maritime Nations
of the world. In 1858 he was ordered
RI of hr9o NJ
Capt Maffit captured the SLAYER Echo,
and, with her cargo of Africans, car
ried into Charleston, S. C. The Echo
was afterwards transformed into the
privateer jeff. Davis. In 1859 he was
ordered to command the sloop-of-war
Crusader, to cruise off the north coast
of Cuba, and captured, while in COM
mand, three slaves. On the lst of
May, 1861, Capt. Matfit resigned his
commission in the United States Navy,
and twelve days thereafter received a
commission from the Confederate Gov
eminent. For months he served on the
staff Of Gen. Lee.
The important part he played in the
Confederate navy is known to the
world. AS commander of the noted
cruiser, Florida. he earned for himself
reputation for chivalric daring
wherever fearless needs are appreciate
ed, second to no man who ever direct
ed vessels course on the ocean.
After the war he settled down on q
quiet farm near Wilmington. North
Carolina. and there he has lived ever
since. During his leisure hours he
gave to the public very interesting
little book called ''Nautilus being
"reminiscences Of the old navy, which
he served so long and served so we'll
When blockade running had grown to
be an institution, Of course all eyes
were turned to Capt. Matfit. His ex-
perience had placed him at the head of
of the list. Cool, daring, imperturba-
hle, ViSilant in the extreme, he was
looked to by all as the man above all
Others to circumvent the vandals of
the bar, and their confidence was not
misplaced. Ten or twelve fast steam
ers were purchased in England, and
to the very first that arrived Capt.
Matlit was placed in commend.
Shall briefly recite to you what led
to blockade running? The war had ex-
banded into giant proportions and the
domestic industry of the South proved
inadequate to meet the increased mill
tary demands. There was anxiety at
Richmond. and it could not be con-
cealed, but the great mercantile firm
OF Fraser, Trenholm & Co.. of Charles
ton. South Carolina, came to the res
cue and placed at the disposal of the
Confederate government q few fast
vessels. The relief was goisend, be-
cause at that time the Federal govern
ment had not inaugurated the strin-
gent blockade instituted at Il subse-
Iuent period, when the dauntless Naf-
tit was called to the command of the
very first steamer purchased, and,
with II valuable cargo on board, direct
cd to make his way from Il port which
Federal official had eXultingly an
nounced to his government as hermet-
really sealed. lie was the very man
tor the place. An energy that over
came all obstacles, an iron will. and Il
brave heart that never knew the
shadow OF Il fear, the very tread of
John NeWland Matlit on the quarter
deck was the prelude to successful
run. and infused confidence through
out the vessel. must be pardoned if
! praise my Captain in this manner,
b'it IN my long and checkered expe-
rlence he is one of the few men I have
met who attained, in my estimation,
the acme of a perfect, fearless man.
hood.