The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-06
4 BL0cKADE-RUNnER
How She Was Captured by a
Transport.

Editor National Tribune: Among the
many brave acts of the rank and file Of the
Union army during the civil war that are
seldom ii ever mentioned was the cap
ture OF the blockade runner Emma in
August, 1863.
The Emma was a new iron steamer,
built in Glasgow. She had made only three
trips between England and the Confed-
crate States when taken by Uncle Sam's
boys.
The capture was one OF the most unique
exploits on the Atlantic Ocean during the
war. 1t was accomplished through a big
bluff" resulting in prize OF $3.50, 900, and
the most interesting part of the important
transaction Is the fact that the men who
did the work never received even a
thank you" notwithstanding the danger
that attended the undertaking.
During the siege of Fort Sumter and Fort
Wagner, on Morris Island, many Union
men were killed and wounded, and as
soon as arrangements could be made some
OF the sick, discharged, wounded and dead
officers and men were sent north on the
steamship AragO.
This vessel reached a point opposite
Wilmington, N. c., about O'Clock on the
morning OF Aug. "a, when little cloud OF
black smoke appeared in the distance.
The attention of the Arago's Captain was
called to it, and after a close survey
through his glass, he pronounced il either
rebel or an English ship. He at once
gave chase.
The cargo of the Arago was i'll, disabled,
wounded, and dead men. The remains OF
Gen. Strong, killed in O charge on Fort
Wagner, were on board, and Col. John l..
Chatfield, OF Waterbury, Conn.,, mortally
wounded at the same time.
After an exciting chase OF about seven
hours, the blockade runner hove to. She
was loaded with turpentine and rosin be-
low and on deck with cotton. During
the chase every bale of cotton had been
thrown overheard, also a brass cannon
(25-pounder), and the. name on her stern
had been painted out to hide her identity.
The most unique feature of the adven-
ture was the method adopted by the cap
tors. The AragO was an unarmed trans
port, but one of the swifteSt vessels in
that branch OF the service. She carried a
two pound signal gun, and that was brought
into service and made TO do more than its
regular duty. In it's usual place, attached
to the deck, it was useless on this occasion,
so it was lifted to the rail- securely dashed
with ropes, and loaded and fired at the
fleeing Englishman.
Besides the little signal gun, about fifty
Sharps rifles had been left in the hold by
some troops that had been transported,
but there was not a cartridge for them.
However, they had the desired effect.
AS the AragO neared the Emma, the rifles
were distributed; the passengers, who
lined up along the rail, making formid-
able showing.
A shot from the little cannon happened
to pass directly over and dangerously close
to the deck OF the Emma and her COM
mander concluded that it was time to
stop and surrender. Then the Captain of
the Arago met with new trouble. He en-
deavored to persuade some of his crew to
board her, but they refused to a man.
Ifl,nry . I'll Il L
compelled to leave their ship for such a
purpose.
They didn't know what sort of recep-
ton they would meet with: besides, they
claimed they had been overworked-in
short every man positively refused. Thus
the Captain appealed to the soldiers, who
had brought the Emma to "standstilI,"
for volunteers, and in less than two min
utes 10 men went down the ships side,
entered a yawl-bOat, rowed to the prize,
climbed to her deck, and made prisoners of
the officers and crew.
Comrade l.. o. Lathrop was the second
man to make his way on board the ship
lie found the Captain, a red haired Scotch
man named Lewis, at the wheel, and in
formed him that he was a prisoner; to
which that dignitary replied that he sup
posed he was, adding that he was ashamed
at being captured by transport.
The crew OF the Emma were under the
influence of liquor, and the faucet of a
whisky barrel was turned and the deck
was being flooded with liquor. When the
Captain and crew had been transferred to
the AragO, the Emma was taken in tow
and brought to New York, and the ship
and its cargo were soon after condemned
and sold by the Government for the snug
sum of S450, 900; but the names of the real
captOrs never appeared on the roll at the
office OF the Secretary OF the Navy, al
though they were taken while on board
the Emma.
Lathrop was member of Co. B, 9Th
Conn.,, and had Just been discharged for a
temporary disability. Later, he entered
the Regular service in the 18th u. S., where
he remained until long after the close of
the war. The 18th was sent to Richmond
after Lees surrender to do police duty, and
while on the way Lathrop met with a
serious injury at the hands of Mosby's
yuerrllas. During the Summer of 1865 he
was at Gen. Terry's Headquarters, which
we're at the house deserted by jeff Davis
Jomrade LathrOp now resides in Man
chester, Conn, and is Senior Vice Com
nander of Drake Post, GAR, OF that