The Red Cloud chief., 1913-03-27
I1e
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
March "a. 1868.

The Confederate steamer Havelock.
under the command Of Capt. L. NJ.
Coxetter. ran the blockade into
Charleston, :. G. A correspondent for
the Mobile Register gave the follow
ing accout OF her escape: she had
run through the blockadcrs just before
day. having left Nassau on the TWEEN.
tieth instant. bringing a most valuable
cargo. Ate" crossing the bar. how
ever, she ran ashore on r"unkcn
Dick shoals. and II was feared the
enemy's gunboats would run In and en-
deavor To capture her, which might
have been done at tho time had they
had pluck enough to have attempted
It. The Confederate States rams
Chicora. Captain Rutledge, and Pal
metto Captain Tucker. got under way
and went down to offer battle, should
the enemy attempt a capture. There
was evidently great commotion among
the fleet. who could be seen rapidly
signaling one another. The battery
was crowded by spectators watching
events. and eagerly looking forward
to some demonstration on the part
Of the Federals. as our rams glided
down to the scene OF action. The
British steamer Petrol, which had
been delayed in rendering assistance
to the French steamer Republic.
Renaudin, which had just gotten of.
was seen going out at this time. pass
Ing Sullivan's island. Numerous sail
boats and barges were seen running
down the bay. adding to the interest
Of the scene. For time the greatest
interest and excitement prevailed.
BY the assistance Of the high tide.
and after throwing over some ten
slabs of iron and fifty boxes Of tin.
the Havelock floated of and came
safely up to the city. much to the
chagrin Of the Yankees"
Ponchatoula, La. was captured by
the expedtionary Union force under
Colonel Clarke, after q brief skirmish
with the enemy.
March Is, 1863.
The United States rams Lancaster
and Switzerland undertook 70 run
the batteries at Vicksburg. AS soon
a. they came within range. the Con
federates opened a tremendous fire
The Lancaster was struck thirty
times. Her entire bow was sho
away, causing her to sink immediate
ly. turning complete somersault a.
she went down. All but two of hel
crew escaped. The Switzerland wal
disabled by sixty-four pound sho
entering her steam drum. She floatet
down. the batteries still firing an,
striking her repeatedly. until finall.
the Albatross ran alongside ant
towed her to the lower mouth Of tn
canal. Both these gunboats were i'm
provised from lightweight rive
steamers. and were not At to with
stand heavy fire.
Confederates under Wheeler. For
rest, Stuart and Strong. capture,
Brentwood, Tenn. garrisoned by fiv'
hundred Federals under Colonel Blood
good. After the capture tho Confeder
ate force was overcome by a body o
Union troops under Gen. Green .Cla!
Smith. who follwed them for severa
miles. inflicting some desultory pun
ishment in q running fight.
The citizens Of Savannah. Ga. wer
suffering greatly from the want of ,
SUFFICIENT supply Of nourishing food
Even cornmeal could be had only Il
limited quantities. The railroads wer
forbidden to carry any food out o
town.
Governor Brown Of Georgia sent
message to the legislature Of tina
state recommending an act restrictin
the planting of cotton to quarter o
an acre to each hand. under q sever
penalty. He also recommended tina
further restrictions be put on the Gls
tillation of spirits, SO as to prevent tn
use Of potatoes. peas and dried peache
for thai purpose. He was in favo
Of giving a cordial support to the Cor
federate government.
The Union feet of ironclads, NOR
itors and gunboats, Admiral DuPon
commanding. left Hilton Head. 8. {
The Confederate schooner Clara wa
captured on the blockade at Mobile
March 2e, 1863.
A large and enthusiastic Unio
meeting was held at Buffalo, N. Y, q
which resolutions were unanimousl
adopted declaring firmly and decided
for the support Of the government an
the prosecution OF the war until tn
Confederates were forced to sue fo
peace.
The legislature of Maine adjourne,
having adopted concurrent resolution
fully indorsing President Lincoln
Emancipation Proclamation, appro'
ing the use of negroes in the militar
service Of the United States. and Of
posing all suggestions Of compromis'
An expedition sent to Rome. Tenn
by Gen. George Crook. commandin
1t Carthage. Tenn. returned wit
twenty-eight prisoners, among them