Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-15
A Renaissance OF THE GREAT WAR
The Destruction Of the IS Nashville

Written for The Evening stsr.l
The confederate privateer Nashville was one
OF the largest and finest ships in the service OF
the southern confederacy during the late war,
ana Dut Tor the unttmely end to which she was
ooomeo, would have rivaled her companions, the
celebrated Sumter and Alabama, In their deore.
cations upon the Yankee merchant marine. She
was, In fact, In every respect competent to have
lelt record In the archives of the ost cause as
brilliant as any adventure Of Capt Kidd or the
Plrates OF PenZance; but fate had decreed that
her career, so bright with future promise.
should be but brief flash Of conquest across
Ine troubled armament OF that unhappy gov
eminent.
After short but comparatively successful
rMo upon those unfortunate ships OF the United
coast OF England In the latter part OF the year
1867, the Nashville had crossed the ocean again.
ana had successfully passed through the block
OF Georgia At point some distance up this
river powerful fort had been erected by the
reDels, known as Fort McAlliSter and beyond
this fort the Nashville had taken refuge Here
she was lying in safety, loading with cotton.
and waiting a favorable opportunity to run the
blockade. This fact having become known to
the nlted States Navy department, a more ef-
receive blockade was at once placed at the
mouth OF the river. and no opportunity was left
LOT the escape OF the privateer If faithful vigil
ance was to have any reward. However the
ment as to the probability of her final success
ful escape, and had made all preparations for
that accomplishment.
The Nashville had now been several months
In useless inactivity, and her usefulness to the
cohfederacy was being greatly hindered by her
present position; and il was at last determined
TO make desperate effort at a release from her
captivity. With this end In view on the night
OF February 2Ith 1868, the steamer was moved
down the river, to point just above the fort
Her movements were observed by the bIockad
mr. VIC ato1 ~,
intense interest and excitement, when 1t was
suddenly discovered that she had come to
stop. vigorous efforts were made to again start
her. but they all proved futile, and it was de
clded by the officers in the Union aeet that she
was aground. Her position was such that she
could DE reached by the guns of the fleet in case
nearly dark when the discovery was made,
and the preparations for an attack could not be
maze before darkness would have oYertaken us.
we retired with the prayer in our hearts that
nothing might happen during the night to re-
move our friend from his perilous position, and
our hopes were realized, by finding him still
there at the dawn OF the following day. The
snip from which l viewed the coming action
was the L. S. gunboat WisSahickon, commanded
by 1t. Commander John L. Davis, and the fleet
which participated In the engagement included
Tue gunOoat mentioned, as well as the gunboat
Dawn, and the monitor Montauk. commanded
oy Capt. Worden. The latter vessel was to do
the principal work In the coming engagement,
aS se Was aoe TO APP nearer the
we all got under way, with the Montauk in The
lead, and proceeded to within reach OF the
Nashville, by firing across the neck of land
which separated us from her. The Montauk
stopped within twelve hundred yards of the
Nashville, and close under the guns of the fort
While the wooden ships were compelled to re-
main at a more remote point, but yet within
reaching distance of the Nashville. The fort
opened terrific fire upon US, but 1t was prin-
clpally directed against the MOntauk. This
vessel, however, utterly diSregarded the un-
welcome reception, and confined her attentions
strictly to the business in hand. We were all
the Montauk were landing plump in the hull of
The privateer, who was wholly at our mercy,
out which we were not disposed to grant under
the circumstances.
In few minutes 1t was seen that she was On
IRE from stem to stern and that but a short
time must elapSe before she would be among
the things that were. At 800 a large pivot gun
Inounted on her spar deck, exploded from the
eject OF the heat with a tremendous report
twenty minutes later, her smoke stack fell
overheard, and in about fifteen minutes from
tnat Time the closing scene In this grand and
tnrllllng act was reached, in the explosion OF
her magazine with fearful violence, and blow
Ing her into atoms. AS soon as this terrific
climax was reached, and before the smoke had
cleared away from the wreck, the crews
mounted the riggings and sparS, and gave such
loud and prolonged cheers as must have been
very torture to the garrison In Fort McAllister
ON the return down the river, the Montauk
ran upon torpedo, which exploded under her,
Out DID no serious damage. At the next ebb
tlde, great quantities OF loose and scorched cot
ton, came floating down the river, sticking to
fragments OF the wreck, and drifted out to sea-
Some OF the pieces were picked up by the fleet
AID mementOeS OF the Nashville were carved
out OF them. seventeen years have elapsed
since that event, and the old Montauk still
bears the scars she got that day, while the Wis
Sahlckon mas long since passed from the list of
naval vessels. /. E. VAIL