The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-01
MORE ABOUT FORT FISHER.
How. Private Smith Came 3, .a-i Euetet of Butter. Captain
Usfna, The sIocIzd. 7u1 Fort Fisher Reser.
vatioH. Tine neunion "reminiscences.
Hawkinsville, Ga, August S, 1903

Hawkinsville, Ga, August S, 1903.
Editor Messenger:
Through the Savannah News l see
Wilmington is preparing for a big
time the 18th in a confederate reunion
at Fort Fisher. l take the liberty of
sending you a contribution that 1
think aptly fits the occasion and feel
sure man. of your readers will taxi
interest in the recital, as it bears strik-
ingly upon the occasion, and I trust
will be in your issue of the 18th.
Colonel W. ]. Woodward of your city
knew Captain Usina intimately and 1
CUB not many of the old residents
also recall the gallant young captain
Colonel Woodward and myself are old
chums. Vehy Respectfully,
CT. N. SAUSSY,
Lt.CoI. & Q.M.G. Florida Div. U.C.V.
CTPTAIN USINA.
Anent the celebration of Fort Fisher
there Will come up recollect1ons of the
days when that old structure stood
for shelter to blockade unners and
how it kept back the federal ocean
blood hounds hat were always on the
alert to chase and capture these free
lances of the sea.
There recently passed away in one
Of the New York hospitals one Of the
most daring and s-ocessful blockade
inner that ever I'D the quarter
deck, Captain Mike P. Usina, of Sa-
vannah.
Born in St. Augustine, Fla. he
moved to Savannah in his boyhood
and began service as an apprentice to
the harbOr pilots. When the war be-
tween the states began he went to
Virginia with the lamented Barlow,
who at Manassas. 21st July, 1861, sealed
his devotion to the ~confederacy with
his life. Young Usina was wounded
IN rHo- 49,
ferred from the army to the navy and
assigned to blockade running. Many
a narrow chance he ran in this dan
gerouS vocation, two of which are
worthy Of note and will bring to the
minds of Wlmington's older citizens
the exciting days of the early sixties.
In command of the good steamship
Atalanta he left Nassau with a valu-
able cargo and timed himself to reach
the proximity of the mouth of the
Cape Fear late in the afternoon ready
to attempt forcing tine Gordon of ships
that night.
When blockade running became an
established fact the United States for
eminent forbid the expectation of an
thracite coal, in order to prevent the
blockade runners from filling their
bunkers with this valuable fuel-val-
liable because of the absence of smoke
NIlcl DuIIllS. SoIISSl uSlllIN liz Dllu-
minous coa of Merry England" was
by the density of its smoke a constant
menace to these ocean tramDs.
On this particular OCCASION, before
the tOpmast or my part of the Alta
lanta became visible to the blOckading
fleet. the smoke from her funnel be-
trayed her presence above the horizon.
The federal fleet commander ~signalled
the small but swift steamer Nanse-
mond to make chase.
Pressing eastward. in a little while
the cause of the smoke above the hori-
ION became visible in the shape of
the blockade runner Atalanta. Full
head of steam was ordered. AS soon
as Captain Usina discovered his chase
he wore ship n stood we'll out. In q
little while he discovered he a the
speed on the federal cruiser and just
kept beyond the reach of her shells,
which the NansemOnd continued to
fire at him from her bow chaser.
While this part of the drama was
being enacted the Atalanta had been
flying the British ensign. Captain
Csina calculated he had been chased
about forty miles. He desired to at
tempt to enter the Cape Fear thai
night. SO concluded he had run far
enough from the coast n the chase
must stop Or change. Turning to his
speaking tube he directed the engi-
neer to crowd on steam and soon
widened the gap between the cruiser
and himself. He then hauled down
the British flag and in its stead hoisted
the confederate starry cross.
Wearing ship he pointed his bow
directly at the federal cruiser and
made for the blockader. Suspecting a
trap or some treachery, the federal
commander at once turned tail M
made all speed for the coast, with the
ATLANTA apparently in full chase. 1t
was late in the evening when the
Nansemond reached the protection of
the federal blockade line and gave an
exciting account of her adventure.
Captain Usina slackened speed and
waited the proper hour for the at
tempt to enter the river and succeeded
in putting his ship under the cover OF
old Fort Fisher, n later tying up "a
the wharf at Wilmington.
After 'the late unpleasantness"(?)
Captain Usina resumed his occupation
as a Savannah pilot. On n occasion