Middletown transcript., 1898-07-02
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.


ATE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HAD
SEVERAL MARROW ESCAPES FROM
CAPTURE - FEDERAL VESSELS
ALL AROUND.
Two articles on Confederate Com
merce-Destroyers" are printed in the
July Century. 1.-THE Tallahassee's
Dash into New York Waters" is writ
ten by John Taylor Wood, her COM
mander. Col. Wood says of the escape
of the vessel from Wilmington
Ten days sufficed to get things in
working order, and the crew into shape,
when we dropped down the river to
wait favorable time for running the
gantlet, which was only when there
was no moon and when the tide served.
I determined to try the eastern or new
inlet, aud on the night of August 4 the
outlook was favorable. Everything
was secured for sea. The lights were
all carefully housed, except the bin
nacle, which was shaded; fires were
cleaned and freshened, lookouts we're
stationed, and the men were at their
quarters. The range lights were
placed; these, in the absence of all
5uoys and lights, were necessary in
crossing the bar, and were shown only
when vessels were going in and out.
The Mound, a huge earth-work, loom
ed up ahead, looking in the darkness
like black cloud resting on the hori-
zon. We started ahead slowly, but
brought up on the "trip" or inner
shoal. Two hours of hard work with
the engines, and with kedge astern,
were lost before we got off, aud then it
was too late for the tide. He turned
up the river a short distance ard
anchored. The next night we had the
same experience, except that We
grounded so badly that it required three
steamers to tow US off.
Finding that with the state of the
tide and our thirteen and half feet
draft the eastern inlet was impracti-
cable, determined to try the western
one. Steaming down to Fort Caswell.
we waited for darkness. Only a few
fleeting clouds were in the sky. AS
the moon went down on the night of
August 6, at ten, We approached the
bar. fearful of repetition of our pre-
vious mishaps; and as the leadsman
called out the wa: er in a low tone, our
hearts rose in our throats as it shoals
'By the mark three-and a quarter
less three, e,-and half two,
half tWo,-and quarter two." She
touched, but did not bring Gp. Then
came the joyful words: "And half
two."
We had just grazsd the Lump"
bad shoal in mid-channel, and we're
over the bar. Chief Engineer lyman
was by my side on the bridge. 1 turn
ed to him and said "Open her cut,
sir, but let her go for all she is worth"
With a bound he was in the en- 1ine-
room, and in few moments l knew
from the tremor of the vessel that the
order was obeyed, and with full head
of steam we lea2ed on. "a sharp
lookout ahead ~ was the order passed
forward. We were hardly clear of the
bar when back came the words: "a
steamer on the starboard bow p "a
steamer ahead P' The two made US
out at the same time, and signalled. l
hailed the forecastle, and asked how
the steamer under our bows was head
ing. ITO the southwark was the
reply. The helm was accordingly
ported, and we passed between them,
so close under the stern of the one that
was ahead that biscuit could have
been tossed on board. As we dashed
by we heard the sharp, quick words of
command of the officer in charge of the
after pivot: "Run out ~ "Starboard
tackle handsomely T. "Elevate -
"Steadyp "Stand clear !" Tnen The
flash from the muzzle, like a CLEAN of
lightning, illumined the water for a
moment. and heavy shell flew singing
over our heads. leaving trail like a
comet. 1t was an excellent line shot.
That order, "Elevate!" had saved us.
The steamer on the stalboard side
opened, and our opponents. now on
our quarter, j)ined in; but their prac-
tice was wild, and in a few moments
they were out of sight. did rot re-
turn their fire, fer it would only have
shown our position, and l did not wish
our true character to be known, pre-
ferring that they should suppose US an
ordinary blockade-runner.
During the night we ran to the
southwark until clear of Frying Pan
Shoals, and then hauled up to the
eastward. More to be feared than the
inshore squadron were the vessels
cruising offshore from forty to fifty
miles, in position to sight at aylight
the vessels that might come out dur
ing the night, and these were the
fastest and most efficient blockaderi.
was not surprised when, at daylight
the next morning, cruiser was re-
ported in sight astern, bull up. As
we were outlined against the eastern
sky, she had seen us first, and from the
dense smoke Issuing from her funnel |