Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24
DIR CONFEDERATE COLUMN.

that you do not treat them when they
fall into your hands according 10 'he
hard names you call them.
GIVING CHASE.
Nothing Illustrates better the power ana
splendid resources Of the United States
Government at this time and the mag
nificent discipline Of the Navy Depart
ment than the fact that, notwithstanding
they were blockadlng with an iron cor
don a coast OF $500 miles. ana occupying ny.
the inland rivers 10 the extent OF 9,VoV
miles. and had twenty-five cruisers IN
searoh Of the Confederate steamers Ala
oama and Florida. in less than three
days from the reception OF the news
of the appearance OF the Clarence-Tacony
on the coast there were thirty-two armed
vessels out on the high seas in search
OF her. -Four left Hampton Roads on
tho eight of June 18th: five left New YORK
ON the morning OF the 18th, and the re-
mainiua twenty-tliree got out from Bos-
ton. New York, philadelphia. and Hsmp-
ton Roads on the 18th and 18TH, ana IN
the next ten days Ulll June 20th) there
were fifteen more vessels sent out after
her In obedience to the urgent Appeals
notltions. and clamors Of the owners.
OF the various seaboard cities along the
northern coast. whose commerce was be-
ing destroyed.
ALMOST A PANIC.
To understand fully the almost-panic
effect In these cities. II might be well
10 cav that they had been comparatively
free from such a visitation 20 close at
homo for about two years; not since the
prfvateer Jefferson Davis was on the
coast. But lately rumors had been
threatening an attack on the New Eng
land coast by the Alabama and Florida.
Moreover. this period was the climax
Of the Confederacy. IL was straining
every nerve In one grand enort. stone
wall Jackson had made his last, but spien-
did march around Rockers right flank
at Charlottesville. doubling him up. and
leaving him hors du combat. and Gene
raj Lee, with his victorious legions. was
marching triumphantly into pennsylvania
The ironclad Atlanta had been sent out
from Savannah, Ca, with view to
raising the blockade and making raid
on the northern cities, and demonstra-
lions were being made in various direc-
ions to tighten the tension and prevent
reinfOrcemcnts from being drawn on 10
oppose Lees advance.
No wonder. then. that affairs looked
dark and gloomy, and that the pulse OF
The northern cities beat uneasily.
Meantime, the Tacony played havoc
along the coast. On the 18th Of June. ~
latitude 81 degrees. 40 minutes north,
longitude 20 degrees, 81 minutes west she
captured and burned the brig Umpire.
from Cardenas to Boston, loaded with
sugar and m0lasses. On the lVth, In lau-
tude 40 degrees, 80 minutes west, and
longitude 6g degrees, 20 minutes west,
she captured the fine packet-ship Isaac
Webb, from Liverpool TO New York, with
$50 passengers and the iishing-schooner
Micawber. The latter was burned. but
Read being unable TO dispose OF the
large number OF passengers Of the Webb.
she was bonded for $4,000. and sent In
as a cartel to New York. On the 2lsL
in latitude Al degrees north, longitude C9
degrees 10 minutes west. the Tacony
captured and burned the clipper ship
Byzantium. loaded with coal. and the
bark Goodspeed, In ballast. On the 22d
the fishing schooners Marengo, Florence.
Ann, Rufus Choate, and Ripple
were captured and all burned, except the
Florence. which, being an old vessel.
was bonded and sent In as cartel with
twenty-five prisoners
ANOTHER WALL.
on the same day dune 22d) news of the
capture of the Isaac Webb reached New
York and another wall went up along the
line for protection. Senator Morgan, OF
New York. ON the 23d Of June, at the
instance Of the New York Harbor and
Frontier-Defence Commission, wrote to
the Secretary OF the Navy. requesting
that "ironclads might be spared for de-
Tending the harbor OF New York. "Our
In
holiness OF the pirates, and they will
not rest much longer without efforts for
more adequate protection for this harbor.
On the 22d instant j wrote you in re-
lation TO the frigate Roanoke, and hope
TO hear that she can now be spared for
the defence or the port OF New York"
The president of the Chamber Of Com
merce of New York, in writing to the
Secretary OF the Navy OH the same sub
iect said: ut may not be amiss TO state
that the war premium alone on Ameri-
can vessels carrying valuable cargocs ex-
ceeds the whole freight In neutral bot
toms" Governor Andrew. OF Massachu-
sets, wrote: II am receiving represen-
tations daily, both oral and written, from
towns and cities along the Massachusetts
coast. setting forth their derenceless con-
dition" The wealthy and patriotic citi-
zens of Boston offered to send out private
vessels at their own expense in search Of
the pirate" II they could obtain guns
from the navy-yard. Mayor Cranston. OF
Newport, r. l., telegraphed on June 18th:
"a rebel pirate, supposed TO be the Ia
cony, DESTROYED several fishing vessels
outside our harbor yesterday. VIII you
not give us an armed steamer? Our
harbor IL ore OF the most important OF
the coast" TO all these and other press
ing calls for help the Navy Department
responded with willing hand: Offering
to the merchants arms and officers for
any vessel which they might wish &c
send out, and ordering the commandments
OF the yards TO charter more steamers
and send them after the Tacony,'
until by the 26th OF June there were
forty-seven armed vessels securing the
seas in every direction for this bold little
rover. Even the practice-ships from the
Naval Academy, with the midshipmen
aboard. were sent out. Many OF these
vessels crossed and recrossed her track.
and some are said to have passed close
to her i'm the night, while others were
several times only separated from her
by a fog. but none were fortunate enough
TO find her.
STILL PURSUED HER CAREER.
still the Tacony pursued her career
unframed With almost every new cap
ture Read learned through the news
papers on board Of the great number OF
vessels that we're after him. but this did
no. seem TO annoy him, for he appears
TO have fairly revelled In his career OF
destruction. On the ed OF June be de-
etroyed two fishing schooners. On the
oath the ship Shatemuc, from Liverpool
10 Boston with large number OF emil
grants, was captured and bonded for
$1,000 The same night the schooner
Archer was captured. AS by this time
he knew that the enemy had full de-
scriptlon OF the Tacony. Read now
thought that it was about time to change
the rig and appearance of his vessel. in
order to avoid suspicion and detection.