The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-14

ured the bark-rigged screw steamer Ladona,
with cargo valued at $4,000, for which
sum she WAS sold in Philadelphia.
The LadOna was bought by the Govern
ment and converted into gHnboat. Acting
Lieut.. Edmund r. Co houn was selected to
command her. COlhoun was one of the
bravest volunteer officers in the naval serv-
ice during the war. He distinguished him.
self while in command of the gunboat
Hunchback in the expedition to Roanoke
Island and up the Blackwater River, n. c..
He commanded the Hunchback during the
year 1862.
In 1868 COlhoun was promoted to Lieu
tenant-Commander and placed in command
of the monitor Weehawken, which he COM
manded during the many engagements with
the Notifications III Charleston Harbor.
He was detached from the command of he
Weehawken ON the 5th of October, 1863,
the day before she foundered off Morris Is
land.
AS Commander Ito which rank he had
been promoted while in command of the
Weehawken) he was ordered to take COM
mand OF the monitor Saugus, attached to he
James River fleet, and took part in engage
ments al HOwletts Battery, near Dutch
Gap, Va, and later on In the bonn bardment
aud capture of Fort Fisher.
The reader will please excuse this slight
"sheering" from the true course of the main
object, but Commander Colhoun is deserving
of
ALL THE PRAISE
that can be bestowed upon him.
After the Ladona had been put in COM
mission she was ordered to the East Gulf
Squadron, on the west coast of Florida,
where she remained but short time, when
oh Il.
ruary sailed for Port Royal, S. c., with the
monitor Weehawken in tow, which, after a
tempesiuOus passage around the storm-rid-
den Cape Hattrras, she safely brought into
harbor ut her destination. The Ladona re-
mained attached TO the South Atlantic
Squadron nnder the command of Lieut.
Edgar BrOdhead.
Another valuable prize captured by the
gunbOat Unadll awas the iron screw-steamer
Princes Royal, which attempted TO run into
Charleston one night in the latter part of
January, 1863. She was loaded with war
material, and valued at S360000, for which
sum she was sold. She was also purchased
10y the Government, and converted into
gunboat, and, under the command of Com
mander NJ. B. WOolsey, rendered efficient
service on the Mississippi River and on the
COST Of Texas.
Another important capture was made off
Charleston 10y the sloop-of-war Canandagua
in the steamer Cherokee, which was sent
into Boston for adjudication, and was sold
for Sl52,5O0. She was also purchased by
the Government, and in turn captured the
steamer Emma Henry, with cargo valued
al 1926, ,000.
Tie slOop-of-war Lackawanna, one of the
fast new screw-sloops launched in the latter
part OF 1862 while stationed off Mobile capt
! ured the steamer Neptune, after an exciting
chase LASTING l6 hours. She was valued at
$4,000. While on the return trip with her
prize in tow, the Lackawanna sighted an
other steamer. The prize was Immediately
east loose and started in chase of her late
| co-partner in the blockade-running trade.
| After few hours the chase was oyerhauled
! She proved 10 be the paddle wheel steamer
| Planter, out OF Mobile, bound for Havana
| Cuba, with cargo of cotton. She was sent
I to Key West for adjudication, and sold for
| $l98000. The
/ CHASE OF A BLoCKADE-RUNNER
was the most exciting thing imaginable
+; Like hunted deer, the greyhound of the
ocean would speed through the water, its
| fierce pur,uer in chase, every beam from stem
to s. ern qulvering through The violent pulsa-
tlons OF the great iron heart and the dash Of
the paddles as in their iigh,ning-like revolu-
tions they would strike the wafer. Some
times not only was one-half the cargo thrown
overheard, but every combustible thing that
could be laid hold Of was crowded into the
furnaces to feed the flames and increase the
steam. While some of the block ade-runners
were very successful, (running the gantlet
| of Uncle Sans cruisers and bl0ckading
fleets from 20 TO 30 times, and consequently
proving mines of wealth to their owners
many met with disaster by being captured
IN their first venture, or driven ashore at
the very threshold Of "Secessia" by the