The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03

1 was attached, had no copper on hei
bottom, and 1t was necessary to come
into fresh water every month and lie
there several days ia kill the worms
Well, we had been to Wilmington, art
on our return were, anchored off New
Inlet. / had the morning watch from
| 4 to s a. M. About o'clock, 1t still
being dark, + heard firing to the north
] assumed that 1t was some unfortunate
blockade runner who had missed his
Ireckoning and was being pursued by
1.-THE enemy. When daylight revealed the
situation I observed through tile glass
! full bark-rigged steamer coming down
the coast. She had all sail set. and
observed that the enemy were firing
at her at a distance. We had prevt-
ously to that gotten some United States
papers which stated that one of OUT
ironclads had escaped and was on the
high seas. / watched this bark for
some time, and being convinced that
1t was our ironclad that had escaped
l called the captain and executive off,
GER. They came on deck and agreed
with me. Off the bar were three Yam
kee gunboats. and this bark made for
them When near enough they opened
fire, but still she came on. They scat
tered. and taking in all sail she crossed
the bar and anchored outside OF the
rip. or inner bar BY this time my
watch was up. and Captain Muse or
dered me to take the first cutter and
board her. She had the Confederate
flag flying. / did so. and found her to
be the Gibraltar, formerly the Sumter.
breakfasted with the captain,
whose name has escaped me. He
stated that he had missed his reckon
ing, and found himself many miles
above New Inlet: that when fired upon
by the Yankees he called his crew to-
Iether, and stated that this was the
ship that Semmcs had ilnmortalized. and
that II they would stand by him he
would sink before surrendering. They
agreed. and he came through safely
with the two fifteen-incl guns and
ammunition on board. One of these
guns was mounted on the mound near
Fort Fisher. The other was sent to
Charleston. and mounted on the bat
terry, but was disabled the first fire.
Lambs Service.
Colonel William Lamb commanded
Fort Fisher. He was II yirginian. and
from my knowledge saved more prop
erty for the Confederacy than any
other man. He had two Whitworth
5hilS, hiN Nlicil IL JloShdutl MttS uIi
ashore would go down and fight the
enemy Off. lie came by the North
Carolina one morning. hailed the ship
and said: az blockader is ashore to the
north of FRYING Pan Shoals The crew
Is in the swamp of Baldhead Island.
Can you send boat to rescue the
crew? I will try to retake the ship
Captain Muse ordered me to take n
boats crew and report for duty to
Colonel Lamb. went up Baldhead
Creek and found the crew and landed
them at the lighthouse: but my orders
We're to report to Colonel Lamb for
duty, and, going up the creek as far
as 1t went, which was close to the sea-
shore, 7 wendell my way overland
with my crew and reported to Colonel
Lamb for duty. He had just arrived
behind the sand dunes with his two
guns. Three Yankee gnnboats had
hausers attached to the blockader
which proved to be the Kate. while
there were three other Yankee gun
boats on the south side blockading the
lCaswell bar. Well, we opened fire or
1.-THE boats in possession of the Kate
and we fought six gunboats with out
two guns for three hours. We drove
them off. took possession of the Kate
and for ten days wrecked her, getting
out everything except her boilers
She had valuable cargo of arms and
ammunition for the Confcderacy
among her cargo. There was ten
gallon cask of Scotch whiskey Will
the address of Jefferson Davis. Prcsi.
dent of Confederacy, from his admirers
in Edinburg. The President never got
that liquor. 1t was divided out among
the men who worked up to theii
waists in water to save this cargo
and / feel assured that President Davis
gladly sacrificed his present to the In.
terest of the confederacy. This was
IWilmington In 1863. May. she soor
come up to the standard Of that veal
Hin her commercefis the PRAYER of one
whose recollections of her shall evei
be pleasant. w. II. CLAYTON.
Florence. S. G., October q. 1907.
a