The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01

This thrilling incident in the career
OF Captain william c. white is fur
nished The Times Dispatch by Colonel
William II. Stewart. OF Portsmouth,
who prefaces Captain Whites story
with the following note.--Ed.J
At my earnest and persistent sole
itat!on, Captain William c. Whittle has
written tho following account Of an
affair in which he participated on Mex
lean waters near Vera Cruz in March.
1860. This paper is a valuable coEtri-
button 10 history from one OF the
most chivalrous, bravest aud truest
officers who ever trod the deck OF
man-of-war. / am proud to say that
he will be the next grand commander
OF the Grand Camp OF Confederate Vet
Grams OF Virginia.
Captain William Conway White was
born in Norfolk, Va, In 1870, and en-.
tered the United States Naval Academy
in 1854, from which he graduated in
1858. and was ordered to the flagship
of the gulf squadron, at Key Nest
In part OF 1858, 1859 and 1869 he served
on the frigate Roanoke and sloop of
war Preble IN the Caribbean Sea and
Gulf OF Mexico. In December. 1850.
he was ordered TO Annapolis for OK
animation, and upon passing he was
promoted TO passed nidshipman and
Ealing master, respectively.
When Virginia seeded he resigned
from the United States Navy and ten-
dered his services TO Governor Letcher,
who appointed him an officer In the
navy OF the State, and afterwards he
was commissioned lieutenant in the
Confederate States Navy. In 1861 he
was stationed at naval battery at
West Point. York River. Va. and there
reported 10 General John B. Magruder.
a. Yorktown. TO drill soldiers at the
navy guns covering the Williamsburg
Road. Later he was ordered on simi-
lar duty at Spratleys Farm. on James
River, and thence to Charleston. IS. c.,
as the third lieutenant OF the Confed-
crate steamship Nashville. and made
her cruise to England and back to
Beaufort. y. c.. where he was left in
command OF the vessel until her pur-
chasers could send crew 10 her.
Upon the capture of Newborn by the
Federals he daringly ran the ship
through the blockade and into George
town, $. c., vtero he delivered her TO
her purchasers
Captured In 1862.
He was in March 1869. ordered to
New Orleans as third lieutenant Of the
Confederate steamship Louisiana, and
desperate fight with Farraguts fleet in
passing Forts jackson and st. Philip.
After this conflict. when the Louisiana
was destroyed to prevent her from
he was captured and sent to Fort War
ron, Boston, Mass. He was exchanged
in August, 1862. and ordered as first
lieutenant OF the gunboat Chattahooche
: OH the river Ok tHhl name lIaleTa le
was ordered abroad to join confed-
crate vessel. While awaiting her he
was selected to take dispatches from
the Confederate commissioners in Eng
land and France and from Captain
Bulloch, who was in charge of equip
ping cruisers, to tho Confederate
States government at Richmond, Va.
These dispatches were taken through.
the blockade and delivered, and Lieu
tenant Whittle was sent back. to the
commissioners with return UiSnltCheS,
In October, 1864. he was ordered as
executive officer of the Confederate
steamship Shenandoah, and after her
unique cruise surrendered to tho Brit
ish government In Liverpool, Eng in
November, 1855. In December. 1865. he
went to Buenos Ayres and remained In
tho Argentine Confederation until
In Virginia. In 1858 he was appointed
captain of the Bay Line steamer ply
Ing between Norfolk and Portsmouth
and Baltimore. He served In that ca
pactS until 1890, when he resigned to
become superintendent OF tho floating
equipment of tho Norfolk and Western
was sold in 1901 he assisted. in 1902,
n organizlng the Virginia Bank and
cashier, and is now q vice president
and director. Such splendid career
makes an example for our Southern
youth. WILLIAM Fl. STEWART.
.
Captain Whittle's Narrative.
In March, 1860, the following United
States naval vessels We're assembled in
the harbor Of Vera Cruz, Mexico. viz.
the frigate Savannah, Captain Joseph
Jarvis; the soop OF war Saratoga,
Commander Thomas T. Turner. and
the sloop OF war Profile Commander
Thornton a. Jenkins They We're all
sailing ships, Captain Jarvis was tho
senior and ranking officer. The writer
Of this article was nidshipnlan OH
the Preble at the time
President Juarea was the President
of the Republic of Mexico, a strong
and threatening revolution, headed by
General Miramon, leader OF the church
party" existed in Mexico, and Presi-.
dent Iuare2, with weak army, was
hemmed In at Vera Cruz, General Mira
mons forces. reaching from point on
the water above TO another point be-
low, thus surrounding the city, The
strong fortificatiQn in the harbor, the
Isolated castle OF San Juan d'ulloa, was