The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-11-30
BLOCKADE RUNNING.
Adventures on tho Lillian -

PeihapS lhc most famous III history fol
rccklessness of life and property. Man,
exciting tales Of the chase and capture
OF these fugitive of the sea could be told
and many acts Of daring prove that moi
only on the battlh.telds Of Virginia were
the gallant Southc.ners serving home
and Dixie; for in the third year of the
i war II became necessary for the Confed
crate Government las well as for several
OF tho Southern States included) to make
more certain provision for army clothing
and retlons, ny we'll az for tha increasing
demand for military stores of every de-
scription. which the limited resources oi
the country could not supply. And
while StoncwaIl Jackson (that genius ol
the war; in his rapid and overwhelming
attacks upon the Federal Generals Banks
Milroy and Shields drew heavily upon
their commissariat, it was not reasonably
to be expected that Banks could feed the
entire Confederate army in the Valley,
although hc kept Jackson's forces sup.
Piled to such an extent az to earn the
soubriquct Of ! onewall Jackson's com.
missary.
The General Government having our.
chased several staunch ships Of from $50
to 800 tons, and of great speed, detailed
10 their command suaic Of ia most trus-
ted naval officera who had from motives
OF the purest patriotism relinquished
prominent positions in the old United
States navy, in the line Of active promo
ton, and joined their fortunes with those
of their native States in the struggling
Confederacy, although they we'll knew
that the changed life to shore batteries
aud detailed service in tho new Govern
ment (which was powcrlcss upon the
seas) would be so uncongenial to their
tastes and education.
Among these gifted and courtly gen.
tlemen was the famous Mailitt. who be.
came celebrated ut home and abroad as
the commander Of tho Confederate cruiser
Florida, which for three years eluded the
pursuit Of the combined Federal force q,
sea, but gave battle promptly to any of
Uncle SANS navy that approached him
unsupported, no that under such skilful
management the increasing numbers of
Federal ships of war OH blockade service
and cruising in the Gulf Stream were
successfully passed, albeit frequently
with loss Of life, aud bnttered spars end
tunnels, and at times with more portfolios
than were requisite for ventilation.
1t WAS in the Confederate steamer
Litidn, OF this class, that Joined my
fortunes as pursur, and many story of
this experience could be told now as Of
q dream, so rapidly; did events crowd aud
develop upon us. We had been closely
chased by two gunhonts all the way from
Bermuda to the Virginia capes, and
while laboring III heavy sea and against
n head wind Mt midday, almost in de.
spair Of reaching Wilmington bar before
daylight following, we had sighted a
largo United States war vessel, under
full sail and steam, bearing directly
down upon us.
Then followed one of the most exciting
chases of the war; Behind us were the
two gunbOats, OH our starboard bow the
breakers of Cape Lookout, and on our
port bow one of the heaviest ships OF
war in the Federal navy. Our peril was
shortly increased by the report of the
chief engineer that, if the strain upon
the machinery was not abated, he could
not answer for the consequences, as the
heat OF the boilers was so great it WAS
impossible for the men to remain in the
engine-room or stoke.hole. The answer
from our captain on the bridge came
to leave his post, or his life will be the
forfeit J! So heavy WAS the spray from
excessive speed against rolling sea that
the bridge deck was frequently under
water.
At 4 o'clock our pursuer opened fire
with two bow guns, and half an hour
later gave US broadside every Eve min.
utea. So near had he ranged toward us
tina. we saw distinctly every man at the
guns and heard the words of command.
a
favor, and only an occasional shell struck
the smaller only making havoc with our
rigging. AZ the evening drew on the
firing became more effective. and several
OF our men were disabled by fragments
of shells which exploded with such fear.
full rapidity and precision that our cap.
tain resolved to beach the ship among
the breakers.
Olders were quickly given TO prepare
for the worst; boats were lowered to the
bulwarks, and in q few minutes we were
skirting the beach, literally among the
breakers, and expecting every moment TO
strike hard and fast in shoal water.
This movement nonpluscd our pursuer,
who had seemed confident that we would
sooE fall au easy prey, and, as darkness
came Oh, ne hauled of so that we took
more sea room; but his firing was never
slackened for moment. Rocket after
rocket was sent up to attract other crui.
sers, who might head us of and share in
the prize money. But we were destined
TO escape altogether, and sciziug favor.
able time of darkness, we put our helm
hard up, doubled him aud passed on the
lee side, while he was pouring broad.
side towards our former position.
1t was hard race to make Whining.
ton bar before dawn, and the chances
were greatly against us, but, just as day.
light appeared, we sighted the feet of
New Inlet-no less than fourteen men. of.
war ready to gobble us up.
There was no help for it. We must
either run in among them and take the
chances of escape in cross. fire. or beach
the ship, which, after all our hardship OF
| the previous night, we resolved not to
do. The course was shaped straight for
the fleet, and, as we drew nearer, i. be.
came apparent Ito our great astonish.
ment) that either their watch was asleeu
or that our ship was supposed to be Q
dispatch boat which was then expected
In few minutes, however, when we had
approached within half mile Of the
flagship signals were run up, to whi.h
although unintelligible, we replied BY
running up about the half of Marryettis
Code, and 80 bewildered them that before
our ruse was discovered, we were racing
over the bar, with the new white ensign
of the Cohfederacy flying at our gaff, aud
few hours later were discharging at the
| WiImi nofnu wharf our m rr, <If .,,..