The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-20
SOME UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
TALES OF THE CONFEDERATE
NAVY TOLD ny {. LUCIEN JONES.

lion for the Relief Ot the tOntci-
crate Prisoners az Point Lookout,
Described. and the Reasons for Its
Abandonment Gtven-The Plot HAD
Been Discovcred-Thc Cruise of
the TaIIahassee-The Commerce
Destroyer That Effected Thirty
three Captures In five Days.
Barlow Camp OF sons Of Confederate
Veterans inaugurated last night the Sc
Fies OK special meetings % Vii hold dur
Ing the winter and spring. Tho camp
was addressed By Mr.. e.. Lucien Jones,
who told Of some OF the exploits OF the
Confederate States Navy. subject OF
which very little is generally known.
Mr. Jones was introduced 20 the camp
By Commandaui McLaws. az the conclu-
sion Of the business session. lie began
bis remarks by saying that he had bean
impressed BY what Gen. Evans had said
on the occasion Of the last reunion OF the
state division Of Confederate veterans az
Augusta. upon the necessity OF Che vet-
Grams transmitting 10 the younger gem
Grafton such unwrtten history OF the war
between the States as was In their pos
session. Therefore. Il was that DO bad
accepted with so mulh pleasure the invi-
tation, extended him by Commandant Nc
Laws. to address the camp.
Two principal subjects were embraced
within the scope Of his remarks. one the
unsuccessful expedition shat starred from
Wilmington to release tho Confederate
soldiers confined at Point Lookout and
.
Of che Confederate steamship Tallahassee
AR. Jones was a member Of The nrst cx-
petition and an officer Of the Tallahassee
Tie was specially detailed as pay
master Of the expedition and attended 20
| the preliminary work OF providing cloth
! ing, raiions and arms for 300 men for six
weeks. This was IN the summer % 1864
and at thss time &c was FAR easier 10 give
| orders 20 provide what was necessary
| for an expedition Of this size and char
aeter than IL was TO carry these orders
into execution. Mr.. Jones said that he
/ remembered very well that on this occa-
/ sion he pressed into service two barrels
/ 81 apple brandy. for which he paid s7o0o
/ This o. course. WAS Confederate money.
al that time az small discount
/ The expedition was commanded by
| Commander John Taylor WOOD the naval
I aide OF President Davis Two block ida
.
/ were pressed into service aud We're proyis-
/ Toned and armed under the direction u
I Mr.. Jones Commander Wood was Ia
/ command OF the FlOrie and Licat ". "a
+ ward OF the Letter B.. Mr. Jones being
attached 20 the former vessel The ves-
sells were Differed and manned by 1e.ach-
/ ments from the James River Squadron VI
/ the Confederate Navy. The crews We're
/ especially drilled ia boarding vessels
/ Before the vessels were ready to sail
/ there Joined the expedition q number q
/ Confederate Army officers 81 high rank
/ among them being Gen. Gusts Lee Tho
object OF the expedition was known only
/ to the higher officers, none Of bower rank
/ being entrusted with the secret. Possibly
/ some correct conjecturcs Of the purpose
/ for which the vessels had been fitted out
( and manned were made. when 200 stands
o. arms were transferred from tnc hold
I OF a vessel that had successfully run the
1 blockade 20 the holds OF the Florie and
/ the Letter i.
Ia order 70 get beyond the squad
ron OF blockaders that guarded the
approaches to enc harbor OF Wilmington,
ID was necessary 90 select q dark night,
when there was 10 moon-the darker ths
better ON such a night the TWO vessels
{ started out OF the harbor. but the tale
| was too low and one OF them stuck 3n
shoal. They had 20 drop back - the
mouth OF the river and await a more
favorable occasion.
1.-The next might" said Mr.. Jones. eve
started again and the vessels got over
the Rip aud nearly over the bar. We
thought We were on. when "a signal was
flashed 90 as from Fort Fisher, ordering
4 the vessels 20 return to their anchorage
much 20 the chagrln and disgust Of al on
/ board. The next morning the vessels
| returned 60 Wilmington and the officers
and crews 20 their stations. except about
hundred officers aud men, who later
on became part OF the crew OF the ITALIA
hassce.
1t was some time after the Point Look
out expedition was abandoned before We
| knew is destination and object. In the
| Naval War Records. Nol. 10. page ~. Is
contained the only historical mention OF
the expedition with which ] am acquaint-
ed. There Il a telegram from Col. Wool
10 the President, dated July ?. lisa. saying,
/ VIII try 20 get out tonight ami on the
same page. dated July TO- telegram from
the President to Col WOOD stating the
object and destination OF the expedition
Rad been found out by the enemy and sug-
| costing calm consideration and compari-
son Of views with Gen. Lee"
Mr.. Jones said tho telegram 10 Col
| Wood and another TO Gen. Lee, on the
same subject. which had been sent by the
/ after the vessels had left their anchorage
| Had they arrived but short while later
| the vessels would have been beyond re-
| cal and with the plans OF the expedition
/ IN the possession OF the enemy the cap
turc or destruction OF the entire little
1 force would have been certainty aud
nothing would have been accomplished ~
| the sacrifice.
AT the time this expedition was got
/ up said hir. Jones' there were some
/ N.o0 OF our soldiers prisoners at Point
Lookout. on the Potomac river guarded
/ only by two small gunboats and some ar
ullery. Our cruise was 10 go there and
/ board and capture che gunboats, land the
arms and place them In the hands OF the
prisoners. Then Gen. Lee and the other
/ officers OF the army were 10 take com
mand OF the prisoners. thus released and
march them through Maryland to Wash
/ iugton and Cooperate wsh Gen Early
/ who already was threatening Washington
1 on the other side of the river The
/ cause Of the abandonment Of the expcdi-
| ton was that the enemy had found out
/ ks object and destination. the two small
/ gunboats were removed and replaced with
/ larger vessels and the prisoners moved
/ from Point Lookout and sent farther
/ North. where their friends and comrades
could not help them"
From some of the members Of this ex-
petition. the nucleus OF the crew OF the
/ Tallahassee was formed. This vessel was
| commanded fahn TavInr UTe.H ,w4