The Washington times., 1903-10-05
Interesting Chronicles in
Official Records of War
of Rebellion About to Be
Issued by Navy Depart
ment.
Report of Capture of Jeffer-
fon Davis, Alexander H.
Stephens, and Others.
Destruction of a Block
ade Runner.

Movements OF the South Atlantic
b1oclIading squadron from October I.
1864, to August s, 1855, and Of the Gulf
blockading squadron from June to De-
cember Is. 1861, are chronieled in the
volume of official records of the Union
and Confederate navies which Secretary
Moody is about TO issue.
Only official documents are included
In the volume. There is no comment
whatever, but many Of the records are
OF unusual interest The capture Of
jefferson Davis is described in the fol-
lowing report made by Commander Will
liam Reynolds, of the United States ship
New Hampshire, to Rear Admiral J. 4.
DahlEren:
u. S. Ship New Hampshire,
May 16. 1866
"Sir: 1 have just had this Informal
ton by signal from Hilton Head: Jet
Davis, wife. and three children: c. c.
Clay and wife: Reagan General
Wheeler, several colonies and captains
Stephens Qate Vice President), are now
at Hilton Head, having been brought
there from Savannah this afternoon
They were captured by thirty men. Fifth
Michigan Cavalry. 12O miles south If
Macon. Ca, at Irwinyille. They had no
escort, and made no resistance. JET.
looks much worn and troubled SO doos
Stephens. They go North in the CLYDE
as soon as she obtains rations Capt.
Jesse Merrill. Chief Signal oficer' .
Orders are also printed for the Tus-
carora to accompany the Clyde. upon
which Mr. Davis and the other prison
ers were. up the Potomac as far as the
depth Of water would permit
Operations Around Charleston.
Operations about Charleston are out
lined fully in the reports Of the South
Atlantic Squadron. Brief statements
are included in the volume of the de-
struction of the British steamer Flora
al Fort Moultrie. where she ran on
shoal while attempting to run the
blockade and get into Charleston. Will
lam Ames. lieutenant colonel of the
Third Rhode Island Artillery, chief Of
artillery of the Department of the
South, made a report Of the destruction
OF the vessel to Lieut. Thomas j. Rob-
inson. acting adjutant general. as fol-
lows:
Morris Island. s. c., Oct "a, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to report that
at daylight. on October %. a large side
wheel iron steamer. with two smoke
stacks. was discovered ashore oppo-
site Battery Rutledge, Sullivan's Island,
she having run on a shoal at that point
during the night This vessel was
painted lead color. was very long. and
appeared TO be light draft. She was
probably OF seventy tons burden. The
first shot fred at her was from the
picket monitor. Fort Putnam opened at
the same time with two 3O-pound Par
go f-f1r
the second shot.
Bombarding the Steamer
This was the first shot that struck
the blockade runner from either army
or navy. Battery Chatfeld opened with
q 30O-pounder PARROT. The third she'll
from this gun passed through the star
board wheelhouse into the vessel and
exploded, tearing the wheel and wheel
house away, and breaking up a large
portion OF her works amidship. Fort
Strong opened with three 100-pounders,
striking her many times on the hull and
on her decks. The navy also kept up
q FIRE on the vessel from the two mon
itorssdoing the steamer much damage"
All orders preliminary to the raising
OF the United States nag on Fort sum
ter on April IA, 1865. are included in the
volume, President Lincolns order was
that national salute be given by every
fort and battery which fred upon Fort
Sumter on April IA, 1861, the date when
the Stars and Stripes were lowered on
the historic fort. It was also requested
In the order of President Lincoln that
Henry Ward Beecher be one OF the
speakers at the raising or the nag.
Destruction of Vessels.
The destruction Of the United States
steamer Patapsco by a torpedo in
Charleston harbor, the capture OF the
United States steamer Dali Ching. the
destruction OF the Harvest in Winyah
Bay. and many other events of import
ance in the naval warfare along the
South Atlantic coast are among the sub
3ects discussed in the exhaustive re-
ports
Operations of the Gulf blockading
squadron treated In the reports from
June 70 December Is. 1861, relate
chiefly 70 engagements along the mouth
Of the Mississippi. The Massachusetts
was the most active OF the Federal YES
sells In the Gulf at that time and many
Of it's engaRements are daecrfhad