The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-03-04

The writer commanded the United
States steamer Connecticut on the block
ade OF Wilmington, N. c., for fourteen
months, and during that period cap
tured and sent in four steamers-Juno,
Scotia. Minnie and Greyhound, all with
valuable cargoes; vessels and cargoes
adjudged worth 81 ,063, 352. The Con-
necticut run ashore and destroyed four
other blockade runners - Phantom,
Herald, Ceres, and Diamond.
The blockade runners would ALWAYS
select dark nights to run in and out and
certain stages of the moon (between
the last and first quarters of the moon),
when it set early and rose late. This
moon arrangement was always mat
ter of great concern to them; then a
tolerably high tide also entered into the
calculations.
The first blockade-runner captured
by the Connecticut was the Juno. 1t
was a bright, pleasant morning. off
shore, and out about seventy miles from
Wilmington, when, at bay-break, she
was discovered. Chase. was immedi-
ateiy given, and in three hours she was
aprize. When the Captain was brought
on board he was greeted with the usual
good morning. with the additional
remark: "Glad to see you," to which
he replied, with an oath, I'm not glad
to see you.'' A week before the Juno
had safely run in. had discharged her
English cargo taken on board the
usual onfederate-Ameri cargo of
cotton, tobacco and turpentine, and was
now bound to Nassau.
Among other letters found on board
was one open and unfinished, begun at
Wilmington and addressed to the own
ers in England. In it the Captain
described the successful running past
the sleepy-headed Yankees at night,
and expected to be lucky in running
out OF this he would inform them
upon his arrival at Nassau, where he
would close and send his letter. The
said letter never reached England, nor
even Nassau.
These blockade-runners were all En-
glish steamers, and were painted lead
or stone color to prevent their being
discovered at night when running close
an along the land. The fire and steam
arrangements were for burning the
soft English coal, which always made
much black smoke. Thus they could
5e discovered long distance off in the
ylay time. The smoke could of course
be seen before the vessel was visible.
We have heard and we have read OF
the excitement on board whale-ship,
produced by the cry of the lookout at
The masthead, Spout, o." "a whale
n sight! Boats are gotten ready for
lowering, with harpoons, lines and
lances.
On board of the Connecticut, when
Inc iookout-man at the masthead sang
out, "Black smoker' all was likewise
eemmotion. Every one was upon his
,cet, and all eyes, as well as the ships
mead, were turned in the direction re-
ported. All steam was raised, and the
chase commeHeed.
+ A chase of this kind once lasted fif-
teen hours. Black smoke was discov-
cred at sunrise, and pursuit was COM
menced and continued until after dark,
wnen the blockade-runner was lost
SIGHT OF. The Connecticut, however,
got within two miles of her. making a
gam OF ten miles, as it was estimated.
70 enable her to escape she. had to
tnrow overheard nearly all her cargo,
winch comprised English goods, as she
was bound in. We passed through and
ny lnnnmerable bales and boxes during
tae day, some of which we perceived
contained shoes. This caused wae-
slsl sailor to remark: Perhaps if we
could get and put ON some of those
.aoes, we could run faster, and catch
that fellow
We will continue with the further
movements of this steamer, which will
oe found quite interesting Subse-
Saentiy she proved to be the Tristan
anandy. As has been stated, she threw
overheard nearly all her cargo went
nlto Nassau, filled up hurriedly with
saoIner cargo and steamed once more
., W limlngton, ran the blockade, and
Sot ~ In order to have the dark Of
.ne moon, she unloaded with great dis
pa.en' loaded with the usual Confederate
sa.go and sailed for Nassau. When she
sOs = rev miles outside, she was discov-
a ny the United States steamer
ao4uot, which gave chase. 1t soon be-
aa a',ae very dark, and the Pequot lost
s.snt oi her, but continued on the same
oufse as when the blockade-runner was
Sss a. seen. In a few minutes tremen-
sos sas voi1me OF black smoke from the
81. s' ss uoal came into the faces Of the peo-
m;n. ~ g board of the Pequot, and in a
hla.a.se h.e alterward she was up with the
n Shsa ShsAaue-runner, and the Tristan
Sc.s Say Was captured. She had broken
w. 1he Captain Of her had stated