The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-10-11
A STORY OF THE BLOCKADE


In the early part of the war, there
were frequent accounts of dashing af-
fairs in which the " Harriet Lane" took
the lions share. The papers were all
the time giving spirited descriptions of
some of her brilliant adventures. Some
of these accounts were mere grapevine
stories, but then she had full share in
all the operations that were going on
up to the bombardment of the forts on
the Hatteras Cape-she was in the rev.
enue service up to that time, but in 60
ing in to receive the surrender of the
forts she got aground in the channels,
and received such damage that she was
turned over to the Navy Department
and was eventually captured by the
Confederates in Galveston Bay.
At the time, and before the lombard
ment of Sumter, was seaman in this
vessel. She was commanded by a well
known New Yorker, Capt. Faunce, who
had fancy of having none but old man.
of-wars-men make up his crew. The
crew were well treated, had abundant
food, regular leave of absence on shore,
and good wages. Their duties were
light, and the discipline of the navy car
ried out in every detail.
A few days before the attack on Fort
Sumter the steamer Baltic received
full load of troops from the different
fortresses in the bay, and the Harriet
Lane was detailed to convoy them South.
1t soon decame known that the destina-
ton of the troops was Carleston Harbor,
and by the time the Harriet Lane was
ready to trip her anchor the Battery
was crowded with people, who gave her
cheer after cheer as she swung around
and got under way.
The passage down to Charleston was
rather rough, but the two ships arrived
off that place in the early hours OF a
Friday morning, and the rebels opened
fire on Fort Sumter at daybreak. For
awhile the cannonading was fast and
furious, but in the course of few hours
it had settled down to regular hammer
ing. The fort replied rather deliber-
ately, and it never entered into the i'm
agination of the sailors in the harbor
that the banner that had floated so gal
lantly over it would be hauled down so
soon. During the day the Paw
nee and the Pocahontas, both new gun
boats, arrived, so that there was quite a
respectable little force to look on, and,
if required, to lend hand in any occa-
sion that might turn up. During the
day the flag on Fort Sumter was run up
and down for a considerable time, car
rying the impression to those on the
bar that Anderson, the Major command
ing, wanted to communicate. There was
no code of signals at the time fol
both arms of the service, and so those
on the bar could not make out the mean
ing of the signals beyond that he want
7 ed to attract attention. Towards NIGH
arrangements were made to communi
cate with the fort and agree on the bes
way to throw the reinforcements tina
,, were in the Baltic into it. Volunteer
offered themselves for the boat service
and the boats were prepared to slip il
after dark. The night, however, proved
very stormy, and the attempt was pu
: off until the next night, but before tn
next night came the fort had been sur
rendered, and the following Sunda..
. morning witnessed the evacuation of tn
/ fort, and the transfer of its garrison t
the Baltic. The ceremony of receivin:
: the garrison, and then the hosting o
the tattered flag to the foremost head G
the Baltic being ended, the little squad
! ron steamed North to tell the sad, sa
5 story.
Thus you see the Harriet Lane wa
present when the first gun of the "ne'
order of affairs Numbered defiance
the Government, and from that tim
until her desperate struggle with
{ "cutting-out party" in Galveston, sh
was a constant theme for the papers.
: There was one affair, however, tbs
o has never been told, and it will certain
: " be worth while to give it to you
readers, as it is true story of one
e the most exciting races that occurred o
y the blockade.
y After the surrender of Sumter, an
!, the call for troops, the Harriet Ian
u was rendered to the Government, an
!, her service was at once accepted, an
n she was detailed to proceed South an
d watch the shores of South Carolina, an
e capture all vessels entering into an
fl of the ports on that coast. She pr
d ceeded down to Charleston, and made
- a point to watch that place especial.
- At that time the blockade was me-
N paper one, and the Harriet Lane W;
10 the only vessel of war at that point.
II One morning, after rough and di
m agreeable night spent in beating abo
to the entrance to Charleston Bay, larg
~ full-rigged ship was seen to the south
rs ard, beating up, and clear IN shor
E. The Harriet Lane being hid in thiC
ID bank of fog, the ship did not see h
It, until the Lane had steamed out of Il
a. fog and was distant about three mile
y. and then she at once wore ship and b
os gan to pack on the muslin.
I'd 1t was beautiful to see how prompt
ye the fellow in command of the ship g
o. her before the wind and began
"crack on.'' The wind was blown
.; fresh from the nor'west-just enough
20 /" carry a main-to'- gallant sail; but, viii
we were looking, we saw his three roya
drop, and before they had time to flu
ter, they were sheeted home and hoiste
: "Hook her on,n shouted the cor
"A mander of the Harriet Lane; that fe
nj low is full of war material, and he mu
at be fast one that gets away from Ia
Il 4