The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-11-29

Wltu tlC DCSU Vi 8 AooS0
day, but at night from two to four were
on duty, according to the weather. Dur
ing the first year the runners selected
dark or stormy nights for their trips,
but later on they could be looked on sort
of night. Every rumor going out halted
off Fort Sumter to get the report OF the
lookout who was maintained there.
Every evening before dark this lookout
having the best telescope gold could buy
in Europe, noted the position of every
bIockader. He saw whether they had
steam 10, took notice Of all signals, and
if n or more were to leave during the
night the lookout generally caught on
to something to give him the cue. Some
times the blockaders would change their
stations as soon as night fell, but the
lookout could often tell what positions
they would take, being guided by the
| tides, currents and look Of the weather.
The first aim Of the runners was to get
| safely in and out. When it was realized
that this was impossible, the object was
to prevent vessel or cargo from being OF
any benefit to the Federals. The run
ner would be headed forthe beach, three
or four fires kindled on board, and, in
the majority of instances, the crews es-
capped, and vessel and cargo We're con-
sumed. When the war closed, the bones
of at least thirty runners could be count
ed within ten miles of the mouth of
Charleston Harbor.
When a runner headed for the shore,
it was out boats and pull for her. Now
and then one was overhauied and the
flames subdued, but in many cases the
boats crew were driven off by the in
fantry sent to the spot from the nearest
fort.
In August, 1868, a negro padded OF
to the bIockader Stockholm, stationed
off Wilmington, and gave information
that a schooner was lying in Topsail In
let seven or eight miles from the sea. 1t
turned out that this was the blockade
runner Cooper, which had slipped in
and out three or four times, and would
have got to sea again within three or
four days had not her presence been be-
trayed. An expedition from the block
ader started out to advance up the inlet
from the sea, but was driven back by a
battery, the presence of which was en
tirely unsupported.
After taking a few days to survey the
: situation the commander OF the blocka-
der one night ran up the coast to a point
beyond the spot at which the schooner
was lying to load. Between the sea and
, the inlet was a neck Of land a mile wide.
Two boats crews were sent ashore, and
: while n boat was left on the beach,
the men carried the otheracross the neck
and launched it, and then seven meI
started down the inlet to capture the
+ schooner. The Confederates did no
: dream Of such a Yankee trick as this
and apprehended danger only from ths
opposite direction. The boats crew O
: seven approached without discovery,
: charged and carried the Confederate
. camp on shore, and in ten minutes hae
: possession of schooner and all, Withou1
#HM ss# rs
+ having a wounded a
It may be a bitter pill for certain PEG
: pie to swallow, but it is nevertheless
7 solemn fact, that this same schooner raj
at least three cargoes direct from New
: York and Philadelphia into blockadet
ports, each time being furnished a carg'
by men who were making themselve
hoarse by hurrahing for the glorious
Union and against traitors
! All sorts of ideas were worked to dray
the blockaders off the station or Civ.
them a scare, and many Of the putru]
i jobs were successful. One nightthe hui
= of a vessel was driven down with tn
! tide and produced the greatest constel
! nation for a time. 1t drifted down on
blockader, being almost a board befor
j it was discovered. All hands were Gale
up to repel boarders, the guns turne
loose, and as the dreaded monster
. drifted away the whole fleet took a han
q in and finally sent her to the bottom
with every soul ON board.n It was b
! lieved for many hours that a srebel Me-
. fimac" had been done for, but durin
q thenext forenoon q negro made his el
i cape to the fleet il q skif, and not on1
q revealed the true character of the "mor
1 ster,n y but stated that two runners &C
ont durinu fhn aynifnmnnt