The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-24
THE CONFEDERATE NAVY
By w. F. CLAYTON,

CLAYTON,
Confederate States Navy.
off Laguayra. captured the schooner
Abby Bradford. put prize crew aboard
and sent her to New Orleans and the
next day the bark Joseph Maxwell
was overhauled. On September 25th
captured and burned the brigantine
Joseph Park, of Boston, no cargo: got
$500 in money out of her and some
provisions. October 9th captured and
burned the schooner D. Tobridge, Q:
New Haven, Conn, loaded with provi-
sions; nrovisioned the Sumter for five
months out of her. On November IA ,
1851, the United States gunboat Iro-
quois, six guns. steamed into the port
of st. Pierre. Martinique. where was
anchored the Sumter Steamed around
her and then left the harbor. taking
position just outside. That night she
came back and made as though she
would ram the Sumter. All hands
were called to quarters and everything
made ready for an engagement but
she sheered off, and while making sew
eral feints drring the night, did Moth
Sumter at quarters all night. Evil
IDENTITY the commanding officer of the
Iroquois was hesitating whether he
should do as was afterwards done to
the Florida at Bahai, Brazil. but France
was able to resent such an insult to her
neutrality. and he concluded that dis
erection was the better part of valor.
He. however. caused an American
schooner lying in port to anchor at
the entrance Of the harbor, and when
Semm,s left that schooner signaed by
burning blue lights.
semmes saw the signals and foiled
them by steering south. then fox-like
doubling, and when daylight came the
Sumter and Iroquois were perhaps one
hundred miles apart and steering in
opposite directions. I had almost for
gotten an incident that has some spark
of after-romauce. Sernmes In his Jour
nal says. as he entered the port Of
Cienfuegos:
"As l passed the fort. situated at
short distance within the harbor, a
couple of muskets were fired there
from, and was hailed and directed
to anchor. which / did. I sent lieu
tenant on shore to demand an expiana-
ton of the commandant, and was In
formed that he. the commandment. never
having seen our flag before. did not
know what flag 1t was, and that he
had orders to stop all vessels OF war
or otherwise until their flags could be
distinguished"
It is said that this incident gave rise
to one OF the most beautiful ballads
of the war. both In words and tune.
l regret that only one stanza is re-
tanned by memory:
HrThaf .trtn..
The colors OF yours are the same
But you fly the Stars and the Bars
.. stranger. pray tell us your name. ;,
When Semmes left st. Pierre his
ship was In bad order. bottom fo,1l.
leaking, and engines needing repairs:
SO he determined to go to Europe.
there being no place In the West IN
dies where he could make his repairs.
He crossed the Atlantic. burned one
and ransomed two vessels, and en-
tered the port of Cadiz. Finding that
port unhospitable. he then made Gil
braltar, and finding that he would
not be allowed to make as extensive
repairs as his ship required, the sum
ter was put up at auction and sold,
and purchased by Frasier, Trenholm
Co., who were the fiscal agents OF
the Confederacy abroad. 1t being a
Charleston house; and with this sale
ended the cruise OF the Sumter as a
naval vessel of the Confederate States,
but not her career, for In 1863. while
the writer was stationed on hoard the
Iironclad North Carolina. at Wilmington,
! n. c.. and was officer OF the deck,
morning watch. the ship lying inside
| of New Inlet, Just before daylight. hr-
ling was heard TO the northward and
eastward. AS light appeared bark
under full sail was seen coming down
| the coast with two United States gun
! boats firing at her from a respectful
/ distance,
AT the entrance TO the bar Law
three United States gunboats, and thi,
mysterious bark was heading straight
for them. Northern papers had re,
ported the escape OF one OF our iron
clads building In Europe. and that (,
4 would make for either Charleston ol
Wilmington, this we learned from pa,
pers rsceivea watched this barb
! for fully half an hour. and wondered
why the United States gunboata III,
not close In on her, when Il dawnct
upon me that It was our iron.clah.
Immediately summoned the captain an
executive officer, and tho crew hayinl
heen rousted out TO scrub deckg. II s.
needless 70 say there was considerabl.
excitement on the North Carolina, on
ward came the bark, every stitch D
, canvass spread and engines doing t1ei
best. In anxiety we awaited thu act,ol
or me three vessels on or near the bar
2 and y was with qualification that W,
J neheld them turn and fly after firing
! re" shot, and ths bark crosaed IN
! bar and anchored outside Of the rir
: or inner har to laval, the tide. III wa
2 now seven beels--fals past I'm
: watch ended at eight Captain Mus
ordered me 10 call away tho first Gu,
yer. and instructed me to hoard tn
c mark and find out who she VISA! an,