Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-09
AMATTER OF HISTORY.



Editor Morning Ne,eS With no desire
to detract from the we'll earned reputa-
ton of an honored son of Georgia, now
deceased, who has done much for his ma
tive city, still l am sure that in the San
day Telegram of January :, 1883, an error
has been committed in your notice of
Colonel Edward c. Anderson, which as
matter of history and in justice to another
son of Georgia, now resident of LIVER
pool, England, l think should be cor
rected, because it is the second, third
or fourth time | have noticed it repeated
in the Savannah papers. Perhaps
it may not be matter OF
much Importance; nevertheless if
it is of any consequence, / am in a pO-
sition to correct the statement, Let honor
be given where honor is due. II is said in
the issue of the paper referred to that "he
Colonel Z. G. AndersOn) as an agent of
the government went to Europe, where he
purchased a steamer and loaded her with
arms and other necesSarieS OF war, and
successfully ran the blockade of the Fed
eral fleet off Tybee. anchOring safely under
the guns of Fort Pulaski ''rhis vessel
was the Fingal. etc. Now, sir, | know
that Colonel L. c. Anderson had no
more to do with the purchase and
fitting out of the Fingal than
YOU or /. Captain James ID, Rulloch,
native born son of savannah, formerly
Lieutenant in the United states navy, and
at the time Captain, by commission,
i'm the Confederate navy, was sent by
President Davis to Europe to purchase
some. and TO superintend the building and
equipment of other war vessels for the
Confederate navy. He it was who pur-
chased the Fingal and loaded her with
arms and other warlike stores. This in-
formation l received from his own lips.
After the purchase of the Fingal he Cap
tain Bulloch1 secured the services of a
Scotchman by the name of Anderson,
British subject, to command the YES
sell as blind to screen himself
in the event of capture by the Federal
cruisers who were on the lookout for him,
The vessel sailed under English cOlOrs,
and in the ships papers this scotch Cap
tain's name appeared as the 0stensl6le
commanding officer, whereas Capt, j. ID,
BullOch was the real commander of the
shin. The ship stopped at the Bermuda
or the Bahama Islands, do not remember
which, and thence steamed for Savannah,
arriving dav or two after the capture OF
the forts at Port ROYAL, on the Carolina
coast. in 1862. Col. Z. c. Anderson was
only passenger by invitation ON board of
the Fingal. He was not at that time IN
the Confederate service; at all events, did
not 90 to Europe as agent for the Conted-
crate Government, but went as an agent
of the State of Georgia, sent out by GOV.
Brown to purchase arms for the state. III
| am mistaken in this part of my state
ment am willing to submit 10 correction:
Col. f. c. Anderson and Capt. j. ID.
BullOch were formerly brother officers ~
the United States navy, and being natives
of the same State and city. were intimate
Al, oh Col A M
latter's senior in age and grade of CONF
mission in the old navy. These gem
tlemen met together in Liverpool,
and Colonel Anderson, wanting to
return home. and knowing that Cap-
tain BullOch was fitting out the Fin
gal for savannah, asked his old friend to
allow him TO take passage IN the snip. L
came up the river on the Frugal from
Tybee, and learned these facts from Capt
BullOch.
The way the mistake in your account
originally occurred, and has been reiter-
ated since was son this wise:" In the is
sue of the Republican, on the next day at
ter the arrival of the Fingal, Mr.. Sneed,
then the editor, hearing that the vessel
was commanded by Capt. Anderson, and
knowing that Col. +. c. Anderson had ar
rived in her, at once, | presume, inferred
that Col. Andersen commanded the vessel,
and had brought her in, and so gave cur
rency to the report in his notice of her ar
rival Capt. BullOch did not correct the
mistake at the time. because he expected
shortly after to return to Europe to resume
his duties there as Naval Commissioner,
and did not wish the Federal authorities
or cruisers TO know of his whereabouts,
or that he was instrumental in bringing
into port vessel laden with warlike
stores. contraband of war.
Captain Bulloch encountered eXtraordl= I
nary difficulties in accomplishing the OBJ
ject of his mission to Europe, he was
watched and tracked by Federal spies (
wherever he went in Liverpool, and when (
ever he left his place of residence or Office I
to go to Mr.. Layard's ship yard, and at his I
office. Mr.. Robertson. formerly of Norfolk, /
Va. who was engaged in office duty with /
him. had TO use good deal of strategy to /
get rid of impertinent parties who persist /
entity called to find out his whereabouts /
and his transactions. For seven long /
wears after peace was declared he was de- /
MED the privilege of visiting this country. /
and threatened with Imprisonment il 4
caught on these shores by the Federal 1
Government.
Several of the ladies of savannah, among 4
them Mrs. Barlow, nee Miss Wade, Mrs. /
Bulloch. Mrs. William Wade, and Others 1
| could mention, can well remember I
dejeuner, or lunch, at which the noble, 4
good Bishop Elliott was present, given by 4
Captain Bulfoch on board the Fingal for 4
the entertainment of the patriotic ladies
of Savannah. and specially in compliment I
to Mrs, William Wade, then a bride, 4
which he could not have been at liberty .
to do ON board of a vessel over which he I
had no control. Respectfully,
w, G.. b.