The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-02-25

VIII be necessary to 20 back in history
forty-twO years ago. The vessel was
built in Philadelphia and was launch
cd as the Carolina carly in 1851. She
was an iron propeller vessel 2l3 feet
long, thirty feet beam, thirteen feet
deep, with a draft Of only six or seven
fcc', although Of something over 700
tons burden. IL was the intention Of
the Carolina owner. to engage her in
trade, but soon after she was launched
cam" The firing on Sumter and the war
was on.
Events followed each other rapidly
IN those days. President Lincoln pro-
claimed Il blockade Of the Southern
ports and every available boat the
Union forces could buy or borrow was
used t" enforce Tie closing OF the har-
bors OF tho seeding States. 1t was
then that blockadc-running began.
For to carry on the war it was ncccs-
sary that the Southern States should
send away their cotton and other pro.
ducc and receive in return arms and
ammunition. To do this it was re-
CURED TO have ships that could o~utsail
the Union gunboats and cruisers, for
the blockade runners had to slim
through the Gordon Of watchful Union
naval forces.
1t was this kind Of work which the
Carolina was used for. Soon after her
launching she was purchased by par.
ties backcd by the Confederate Gov
crnment and her name was changed to
the Kate. Under this title She be-
came one Of tho most famous blockade
runners. For months she vas the
hope of the Confcdcrates and the dcs-
pair Of the Unionists. Naval records
show that before she was captured she
e!ndca the biockading fleets no less
than forty four times, each occasion
netting thousands Of dollars to her
owners and bringing in much needed
supplies to the rebels.
Capt. Lockwood was placed in COM.
mnnd OF the Kate by her owners.
Little is said Of him personally in the
war records, but he is mentioned
wherever The Kate is named, and the
success which attended tho vessels
movements would indicate that he was
a most daring fellow.
AZ first the Union blockade was la.
mentally inefficient. There we're not
enough boats, and those in charge Of
them, being unfamiliar with the South.
crn waters, became the laughing stock
OF their enemies. The blockade was
called a paper one, and the Confed-
eracy insisted for a long time that
there was no blockade, since her ships
had little difficulty in getting in and
ont.
Late in 1861 the Kate began her
work. She took on n cargo of cotton
at Charleston, and one night, when
there was no moon. she slipped her
cable aud stood out to sea.
In due time the Kato reached Eng
land, where her cotton was sold for a
good price and a load Of arms was
shipped. AT that time, as is we'll
known, England was more friendly
toward the C~onfcdcracy, and a number
of blockade me were manned and
%captaincd by E%nglishmen who went
into the %bunness, M high prices were
paid the crews of blockade Runners.
For the first year little mention is
made in the official records of the
Kate, but the truth probably was the
blockade was sc inefHeetive stat the
Union vessels did not know when she
came and vent. But towards the mid
die Of 1852 the Union forces ha& more
yes sells and the lines Of the bloehaders
were more closely drawn. Then it was
that the comings and goings OF the
Kate was noticed, usually to the NOR
tification Of those commanding the
blockading fleets 1t was after the
then notorious Kate had made more
than e voyages that she was the
subject OF "a strict inquiry on the part
Of Rear Admiral Goldsboruugh. The
Kate was then sometimes known az
the Carolina, and the official acca-
mcnts of The time about to be told of
SO refer to her.
In the annals of the navy depart
mcnt mention ID made Of the Carolina
in a letter written January 10, 1862.
to William III. Seward, Secretary Of
State: by Samuel Whiting, United
States consul at Nassau, New Provi-
dence in the Bahamas. The. letter
was to the effect hat . few days pre-
! vious the Carolina arrived at Nassau,
[ had passed up the channel between
| tbo o~pfedorat ohiN El;,obo,L d.