Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-17
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. An Exciting Chase off Cape Fear River


 coast of Europe from Cape Trafalgar to Cape North, was an undertaking without precedent in history. During our last war with Great Britain, when that power had 800 naval ves- sells in commission, not single port of the United States was thoroughly blockaded. Port after port of the confederacy was closed until we either held possession or closed all ] their cities bordering on the ocean, save Will mington. From various causes Cape Fear river was more difficult to blockade than any port on the coast of the United States. The two main entrances are forty miles apart, and these two are subdivided into several others, any of which can be made available. The water shoals gradually and regularly to the shore line, and numerous detached batteries were planted along the coast, so that block | ade runner of light draught could run close under the land, protected by the rebels, and 1 pass in over the bar at leisure. When coming | out. steamer could select her own time, se- l curing every advantage, passing either up or l down the coast before making an offing, or if l thought preferable, could proceed straight to sea, trusting for her escape to the night and | mists, and with the additional advantage of carrying high pressure of steam, as we'll as knowing about where to look for her enemies, Almost every vessel employed in running the blockade was constructed in England with great skill, regardless of cost, and with sole 1 reference to the illicit trade, the profits of which were simply enormous. Many who | failed to make themselves acquainted with l the facts connected with the Wilmington blockade, especially newspaper correspondents, were very severe in their criticisms oi the manner in which it was conducted. The Off, fcers and men Of the navy labered with un tiring zeal and sleepless vigilance through months of winter and summer, and in all | fhnro cfip to1 hxyx l Of prize money, trying their utmost to break ust the traffic, but in the opinion of prominent naval men Wilmington is port that can never be effectually closed. Running the blockade at Cape Fear was made a matter of business by foreign capitalists as well as by l the rebels. Owing to the vigilance of the fleet, articles of commerce commanded fabu- | lous prices, and while successful trip resulted in large profits. the business was not prescott ed with immunity. Sixty-f1ve steamers, the aggregate value of which amounted to $14, GOO, GOO, were Captured or destroyed in en- deavoring to enter or escape from Whining ton. Some idea of the difficulty of closing the main entrances to Cape Fear river can be formed when it is stated that with fifty men of-war, some of them the fastest in the fed eral navy, commanded by naval officers es- pecially selected for their prowess and skill, cruising unceasingly to and fro. blockade runners, watching the opportunities of dark nights, and relying upon their extraordinary speed, succeeded in eludlng the feetheeled cruisers, entering as we'll as leaving that blockade-runner's paradise. Such was the l state of affairs when the writer received or ! ders to join the man-of-war Blue Blazes, sta toned off Cape Fear.
 One night towards the latter part of June found the Blue Blazes well in shore moving l yxifh tha lao1 sv,o eration. A dense fog prevailed-one of those thick, damp, overwhelming banks of vapor resting on the surface of the ocean, rendering it all but impossible to distinguish objects moving about the deck, while overhead all was clear l leaned idly over the taffrall, anon watching the bright bubbles and silvery gleams of phosphorescent light scintilliag about the steamers broad wake, then allow ing my thoughts to finger over scenes and as- sociates far removed from war. A grey-hair- ed mother, pale and anxious for her only son ; a broad -shouldered, noble hearted sire-a | true sailor as ever trod vessels deck since gone to his long home-God rest his soul the kindly features of two as kind, gen. erous and loving sisters as ever rowing broth CT was blessed with; the old home, filled with "reminiscences of youthful days, 6oated gently, aye, pleasantly, through my teeming brain, while the features of fair-haired maiden, fresh and rosy as June flower, watching, praying for her absent lover, brought the moisture to my eye. .- N
 ''l beg your pardon," growled Sailor Jack, the quartermaster, in my ear, 'but it strikes me, do yer see, sir, that there is something wrong over there to the eastward"
 With start shook off the lethargy, the dreamy influences by which 1 had been be- guiled, adjusted my belt, and ''Richard was himself again" I listened, peered through the fog, and listened again, but could dis tinguish nothing out of the common way
 ''What do you think there is in the wind, Jack ?"
 'It struck me, do yer see, sir, that heard the boom of a gun to seawsrd. Mebbe one of these 'erepight-fYers is skimmin through the feet" "
 Nonsense, you old. croker.. Had such been the case we would have seen a dozen rockets bursting aloft ere this as signal to be on the alert"
 "Mebbe yer right, sir; it doesn't become me to differ, do you see, sir. But l remember once, thirty seven years ago, I was on the coast of Africa as foretopman aboard the old RaGsn" ID .... ...'.........n -.-..,.- | Another onses snes a rocket, by the Lord Harry cession. There was tshree s9g guns in rapid sue. go down and call the captain. ' up suie- oo'
 In an instant every man of the watch was on the alert. The engineer of the watch wae oroereo to let ms steam run up, while the smokestack rolled forth goodiy volume hi smoke. Sharp-eyed topmen were sent aloft. With orders to report at once anything that re. sembled vessels spars. The head of the Blue Blazes was pointed in shore, at which stage of the proceedings the commander an. peared on deck. In few moments he was acquainted with the situation, the position of the vessel pointed out to him on the chart. as we'll as the report that the forward pivot had been cleared away, the crew assembled at quarters, ready to prescribe one l. of Uncle Sams pills should the patient heave in sight.
 ''Let her stand to the southland. sir. keen. | ing in six fathoms of water Perhaps we may run foul of her. But it will be more by chance than good management, in this infer nal fog ." ,,e-i ,.5sz ana 1f.ts, 9t Sl---
 For full half an hour we felt our way along, then stopped, lying motienless in the water. with our head to the nor.hward. Rockets were living in all directions, from the off, shore vessels. with an occasional report of a heavy gun reyerberating through the dense at mosphere Not light, not an object, could be dlscerned, while the fog with provoking o6stlnacy refused to lift in obedience to our l anxious prayers. ss..z iss9 .4s -rst :,r.f | "We must be very close to the land." nut l tered the commander, as I ranged up along side. ''Confound the fog, it will be the means of allowing another cargo to be run in for the benefit of the rebs. n E1ss5s& " | knew the worthy commander spoke from dlslnterested and patriotic motives. It was not prize money that he thought of for .a mo- ment. Far from it; but it was torture to his noble spirit to stand idly by while the enemies or hls country were receiving substantial aid and comfort. The fog was undulating. sway ing to and fro, moved by the influence of gentle breeze that had sprung up from the | westward. rTsa T sgo9sT
 By heavens, we must be close under ina guns of some of those batteries and should the fog lift suddenly we would be- in a nice mess The tide is setting us in shore all the time, take it: Ring her up, sir, and let her bear E.. N E. ]" "
 l was on the point of obeying the order, when, With convulsive grip, the fingers of. my silDeriOr tipb tpnp1 cp r,,y a..., MI