The National tribune., 1891-09-17

plan Ol converting the ram lHt0 pTiyaiepr
and .nu. ont 10 sea. The Confederate
Governments OF course, approved the con-
tcmalai.d change, and every facility was
extended Capt Read Tor the success ot
the proposed undertaking, which seemed
somewhat hazardous n WOW ot the fact that
at leG+t q dozen Of oUr gunh0ais were at
New Oitaas and Others 40 different points
alone hc Mississippi River through which
the Webb must pass in order to get to sea.
Capt. lteaa selected iuH complement OF
C!iicsfa AMID q
VOLUNTEER Crew
from Kirby Smiths army. rough bull
walll Nas hait around the lor.c3stlc Of the
Webb TO pr1tee, her rs much as possible from
The sea, and sHc-ri hundred bales Of cotton
were piled un around her machinery ms a
protection from lhp lire Of The vessels she
expected 10 cnrauutCr On her pefi,ons ven
tune. OH, months supply of rations WAS
put or bold and pine knots substituted Tor
coal,
Information nf her contemplated move
meuts reached the naval "a Auriiics at New
Orleans aud tna guuhuats CEoctaw, Laiay-
cite aul Manhattan were dispatched 60 the
mouth 10 ,he Red l,ver to intercept her if
possible. Everything being in readiness The
Webb le.t Shreveport April Us, ls65, and
stopped ai tatcs Landing where she took
on board 253 cards of wood. April 23 found
her at The month Of the He'd River, where
she encountered the three gunb0ais waiting
lor her and they gave her a warm reception,
but ON iug q hcrsupcrior speed she managed
"a escape and proceeded rapidly down the
river, followed bv the Manhattan. On reach
ing D1na4-ouylle the Manhattan gave up
the chase, ana sent an officer on shore to
telegraph he iac, of the escape TO New
Orleans Capt. Resd, OF the Webb mtlci-
pa.ed such a course however, and sent a
boat crew un shore % cut the wines, SO the
dispatch from the commander Of The Man
haitian failed 10 reach New Orleans. The
naval authorities were therefore unaware OF
the iac. that hc Webb had escaped from the
Red River and hcr sudden and unexpected
appearance n front of New OIleans on the
afternoon OF April "a, 1865, was quite
surprise.
The following vessels We're anchored IN
front ol the city at the time the Webb APP
preached: Lackawanna, Portsmouth, Fear
Houglt lIoliyhock, Florida, and Quaker
City. Scyera. shots were fired at the Webb,
towhich she paid no attention. but continued
on her course down the river, flying the
Union 1ag so as to deceive our vessels.
Having successfully passed the city, the
three lasl-Iam-d a vessels started in pursuit
oil her.
About % miles below the city, and when
the chase had become quite exciting, the
Webb encountered the u. - 5. Richmond
coming ur the river. Being thus completely
hsmmea ID illn. and rear, Capt. Read deter
mined 10 destroy his vessel rather than sur
render ID. Ihc Webb was then set on fire
and headed ion the east bank 81 the river,
where she WAS run ashore in order to enable
the crew t8 escape The pursuing guuboats
came Up0n The scene in time I'd capture all
the officers and most OF the crew.
Thu El5d0ualy ended the exciting and
interesting career Of the Webb. The pris-
oncrs were sent North on board Of the Y.
d s. Florida, a4d confined in Fort Warren,
ln Boston Harb0T. where they remained
until Tie war closed and were then permit
led 10 Ie,grI % their homes.
TIE sTONEWAIL.
Among the numerous ir0uclad constructed
under He auspices 0 the Cm.cdc-acy, none
had sgch au interesting history as the ram
HtoneNaIi was perhaps also the most
formidable Ci Ibis peculiar class Of vessels,
and owing ID lae legal obstacles encountered
in its construction ID WAS not finished in time
70 render a.f service 10 The Coaiederacy.
Tire S'aatWal was built "a Bordeaux,
France, n ite yeaI l-64 by Amman a. Co.,
famous shipbalder6 She was 172 feet long,
50 ilct breadth Of beam, and was warranted
tO make 2 knots She was plated amid
ships Ni .A q inches 0l iron tapcrIng TO b
at the on.gaties She had two turrets
and carried Erce Armstrong Iilled guns Of
heavy cA.he.
In sul course of her construction she
~ 80
Ol her aai44l. appearance and when ID was
learned iJg ua0m she was intended, the
American Minister notified the authorities
and strlua'y protested against her departure
The Emperor Napoleon, desir0us OF MAIN
iainiI4 friendly relations with the American
Government. informed The baIidcrs that the
ram would not he permitted 20 sail in the
InteIest 0t DE C0atederates, and must not
under amy circumstances, be armed IN
France
Mlea Tie ram was finally completed she
Tas n.uiualy sold to The king oi Denmark
Hs q prc.,At i5 get o sen. On her arrival al
C0pghlt-Cu Sic was transferred TO The Com
4goergie ags8t, aud Capt. Th0mas j. Page
assumed command with g tul complement
Cf officers Capt Page was formerly an
Officer n Tie United States Navy, but was
di.m.-e tAc.e.rom April -, l-Gl.
The aGsu.i left Copenhagen Jan. g l5G5,
and l4l into .ueulEr0n, Oh ilc coast 81 France.
Here she nas lael by the steamer City Of Rich
m0HL which bad baoH dispatched from Lon
oolt VITA 1m4 ammunition, and q crew f0r
tale-0aeHAl
Tul CONFEDERATE FLAG
Waa rou h.i-.el and Capt Page left Qucbcrron
Jan. soon after leaving ppIt il was
found lHat owing % the Lasly construction Of
1l.a yee-.. aag was leaking badly, aud put into
lgrf.. Spain ~. repairs which, on being com
L-r.el the Captain was ordered 10 leave the
p0E- Gl .ai. tgr-oI March ID. l5GJ, aud WIS
bezt Board from "a C0TuHua.
IIr .agF Department meantime lad dis
patnl.c iLe I :. steamers Sacramento and Ni-
aeala lH IailsaIl VI Tie raui, and both vessels
glar..n4 lpr.u4a about tho same t.me as did
tha am Commodore y %. Craven, of the Nj
Hgar tUr some unexplained reason, refused 20
engage tHg laA.i and s4e was permitted 10 de-
part
Commodore Craven was thcu relieved from
command a.4 ordered home Tor trial by a
reuoIi.- -rsar- martial, 0f which Admiral d. q.
l4mElt uas President on Inc following
Charge rl.r.Tr3 hy thc Department: Failing
30 90 iIs hiu4U.t a. cyertal-e aud capture or
destroy }ls. which it was BIS duty 10 pli-
counter -aa sentence 0l the court was
g- IoD duty iur two years" This
t-r.rf.r net approved vs. tho Department
Oh a"gea.l q. ue.ng entirely too ulcnl"
JI. 500 .Hall oH leaving C0ruuha proceeded
lile.. o. ..aa9u and from there u Nassau,
whore -aa arrived May D. le85. lere Capt
laac r-mll q. tsa Surrender ol Lee aud ID,