The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-08

pIaved such conspicuous part in the naval
operations of the civil war were adapted
oniy for service on inland waters, being alb
solutely deficient in sea-gOing qualities.
The Stonewall was an exception, being
intended for sea service. She was, there
fore, q more formidable antagonist to deal
with. Capt James ID. Bulloch, Foreign
Agent for the COGfederacy, contracted Tor lis
consiruc ion with q leading ship-building
firm at Bordeaux, France in the Fall of 1863.
She was 172 feet long, SO feet beam, and
capable of steaming II knots. She was
armed with four guns of heavy caliher IN
two turreis, and plated amidshlps with AZ
inches of iron, tapering to 81 inches at the
exiremities.
While under construction, and when al
most finished, the American Minister resi-
dent at Paris, Mr.. Dayton, notified the
French Government that the ram was IN
tended for the Conlederates, and strongly
protested against its departure for piratical
purposes. The Emperor Napoleon, evil
IDENTIFY anxious 10 maintain friendly rela-
tions with the United States Government,
| notified the builders of the ram that she
must not be armed in French waters, and
| would not be permitted to sail In the inter
est of the Southern Confederacy. Capt. Bull
| Loeb, however, was accustomed to encounter
! such obstacles, and he always found way
| of getting over them.
The ram was nominally sold to the King
| of Denmark, July 8, 1864, and On her arrival
| at Copenhagen was duly transferred to an
agent Of the Confederacy sent there for that
| purpose.
The Stonewall went 10 sea Jan. 6, 1865,
and on the Oath of same month received her
battery and crew Of $50 men from the
/ blockrade runner steamer City OF Richmond
| off Quiberon. France, where she was duly
commissioned a Confederate vessel of war,
and differed as follows:
| Captain, T. J. Page; Lieutenants, r. r.
Carter, G. S. Shrock. G. A. Borchet, G. G..
Read, and Samuel Barron: Surgeons, b. w.
Green aud j. W. He,ty; Paymas,er, X. w.
Jackson, and J. C. Klosh Master, w. w.
Wilkinson; Boatswain, J. M. Dukehart
Gunner, j. B. King; Masters Mate, W. H.
Savage; Pay Clerk, VIM. Boynton.
On leaving Quiberon the Stonewall put
into Corunna for some needed repairs, but
the authorities objected TO her presence.
Capt Page then went to Ferrol, Spain, where
he was at first granted all the dock facili-
ties but was subsequently hurried off by
the Spanish an hOriiies, on account Of the
protest of the American Minister. The ram
was next heard from at the Port of Tene-
rife.
The authorities at Washington, on learn
ing of the movements of the Stonewall, sent
the frigate Niagara Capt L. T. Craven; the
Sacramento, Capt Harry Walk, and the
Kearsarse, Capt. A. ID. Harrell, with orders
to capture or destroy the ram. Its move
ments were given all possible publicity, and
it's fighting qualities were greatly exagger-
ated. The foreign friends of the Confed-
eracy openly boosted Of its formidable char
acter and its contemplated destruction OF
the blockade. 1t was rumored that the ram
would begin operations at Port Royal, S. c.,
and some monitors were dispatched to that
port to give it warm reception in case it
should put in an appearance.
II Is creditable to the zeal, intelligence
and courage of Capt. Page that he escaped
from the three cruisers sent to watch him
and he actually crossed the Atlantic, not in
time, however, to be of any service to the
COnfederacy. He reached Nassau, New PrOvi.
dence, May IL, 1865, where for the iirst time
he learned of the surrender of Gen. Lee.
What to do with the ram under such EN-.
barrassing circumstances was puzzline
question, not easily answered. The arrival
of the ram at Nassau was promptly reported
to the authorities at Washington, and the
following vessels were ordered out for serv
ice along the coast:
Roanoke. Dictator, Miantonomah Canoni
Gus. Agamenticns, Sassacus. Fab Kee, Merci
dita, Squando, Circasian, Mohican, Dacotab
TiOga, Monadnock, Monticello, Chippewa
and Emma Henry.
The Stonewall remained at Nassau thre,
days, and then sailed for Havana, Cuba 1t
arrival there was promptly reported to tn.
, authorities at Washington.
On reaching Havana Capt. Page surren
dered the Stonewall to the Captain-Genera
of Cuba on condition that he should advanc,
the sum of $4,000 10 pay wages due tn,
officers and crew. This sum was advanced
, and the ram was transferred to the Spanish
, authorities.
On May II, 1866. the U. S. S. Connecti
cut, Capt Charles Boggs. reached Havan,
, from A~pinwall, New Granada, and finding
: ] the ram Stonewall in that harbor demanded