The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-10-30
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE
THE EVENTFUL HISTORY OF A
BLOCKADE RUNNER.

How He Managed to Evade the Yankee
! Biockading Fleet and Brought Supplies
To the Southern Army From Other
| Countries.
Speaking of Capt Robt. Lockwood.
who died at his home iu Charleston
the other day, the News and Courier
gives this interesting bit of history
concerning his life:
Capt. Lockwood was born in
HilIsboro, ILL.,, in 1885. He came
here first from his home near Smith
vile, N. c., where he began life as a
pilot and continued in that line of bu-
siness on his own account up to the
close of the port by the hlockadiny
Federal fleet. His long experience in
Charleston and elsewhere commended
him to the good will of the Confeder-
ate States Government, and especial
ly to Ethat of Gen. Beauregard, #
whom he was a great favorite.
"His adventurous spirit soon led
blockade runner, an occupation which
was made famous by him in Charles
ton, Wilmington and other cities.
He WAS one of the brave and bold
sailors who steamed often, late and
early, through the Gordon Of fire and
the rain of shot and she'll to safe
haven in Charleston. Among the he
roic blockade runners of that day were
DeForest, Trescott, Holgale, Wilson,
Bonneau, Hammer, Coxetter, Glacelle,
Reed, Caliin. Evans, .Adair. Swazey,
Tessler, Stone, Harris, Atkins and
others too numerous to mention.
Capt. Robert Lock wood first went
into the pilotage business for John
Frazer & CO., being recommended by
James L. Welsman. Subsequently
he became blockade runner and had
command of the Ella Marley, which
after several safe voyages WAS cap
tured and Capt. Lockwood was taken
to New York, sent to Ludlow Street
Jail and eventually to Fort Lafayette,
where he served out a term of impris-
onment, and making HE way back to
Charleston he again secured block
ade vessel, the Margaret aud Jessie, in
which he achieved his fame. His
brother, Thomas Lockwood. was at
the same time in charge of the Will
liam Lamb, which was Que Of the finest
steamers ever built for blockade run
ming.
"Cs,i. Robert Lnckwood's vessel,
tie Margaret and Jessie, was origin
ally tie Douglas, an English steamer
plying between the Isle of Man and
Liverpool 1t cost 100000 in gold,
had capacity Of 500 bales Of cotton,
and could make the trip between
Chart, ston and Nassau in ioIty four
hours.
Capt. Lock Wood made eighteen
successful breaks through the enemy's
lines. In enc Of these the Margaret
and Jessie ran straight into the Fed
era! feet. As soon as her character
squadron oi,ened fire. She was fired
at one hundred and fifty times, some
Of the vessels being not more distant
than two hundred feet, and yet she
came to anchor safely under the walls
of Fort Sumter This was one of the
most daring teats of the war on sea,
and has often been written up" in
the magazines.
The Margaret and Jessie was event
ually captured on November 10. 1868,
off the coast opposite Wilmington.
She was g.ing up the Cape Fear to
Wilmington when she was sighted by
the Keystone, which opened fire This
aroused the whole fleet, aud the Mar
garet and Jessie steamed back to sea,
closely pursued by the Keystone. the
Nipton and the Fulton The latter
gained on her, aud at daylight, under
fire from the three United States cruis
ers, she surrendered at the request of
the ladies or board. Capt. l. ,ckwood's
vessel was at that time shot through
both wheels. He was, however, undis-
mayed and put on Rebel front
when the first officer # the Fulton
came on board, by which time Capt.
Lsuckv ood had thrown his vessels pa
i,ers overheard.
Where are your papers?' asked
the Fulton's commander.
Haven't got any, replied Capt.
Lockwood.
You're devil of captain to
have 10 ships papers. Where are
they. sir?'
Its none of your business, sir |!
they're wSere you'll never get them. :"
Capt lockwood. by the way, when
asked during the above, how he liked
it, said: Well, | don't like it TOO
much. 1t looks like Fort Lafayette +"
''He was good prophet. He and
his crew were taken again to New
York, again placed in Ludlow Street
Jail and sent to T ort Lafayette where
among others he met Fitzhugt Lee,
Col. Frank Gardener and others
known to history. After being con
fined in Fort Lafayette for several
months he was let out on parole and
was subsequently released. He was,
however, about to be arrested on a
trumped up charge when he left New
York for Canada. He travelled three
hundred and eighty miles on sleigh
to ST. Johns, New Brunswick, whence
he reached Nassau on schooner.
When he reached Nassau the Confed-
crate Government was about over.
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