Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-03-28
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CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
March "a, 1868.

unueI Inc command or Capt. l.. M
Coxetter, ran the blockade into
Charleston, S. G. A correspondent for
the Mobile Register gave the follow
Ing 9accout Of her escape: ''She had
run through the blockaders just before
day, having left Nassau on the twen-
tieth instant, bringing most valuable
cargo. Afte. crossing the bar, how
ever, she ran ashore on Drunken
DICK shoals, and it was feared the
enemy's gunboats would run in and en-
deavor to capture her, which might
nave been done at the time had they
had pluck enough to have attempted
1t. 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 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 off.
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 foated off and came
safely up to the city, much to the
chsigrin of the Yankees
POnchatoula, La, was captured by
the expeditionary Union force under
Colonel Clarke, after brief skirrnish
with the enemy.
March IS, 1868.
The United States rams Lancaster
and Switzerland undertook TO run
the batteries at Vicksburg. AS soon
as they came within range, the Con-
federates opened tremendous fire.
The Lancaster was struck thirty
times. Her entire bow was shot
away, causing her to sink immediate
ly, turning a complete somersault as
she went down. All but two of her
crew escaped. The Switzerland was
disabled by sixty-four pound shot
entering her steam drum. She floated
down, the batteries still firing and
striking her repeatedly, until finally
the AlDatross ran alongside and
towed her to the lower mouth of the
canal. Both these gunboats were i'm
provised from lightweight river
steamers, and were not fit to with
stand heavy fire.
Confederates under Wheeler, For
rest, Stuart. and Strong, captured
Brentwood, Tenn, garrisoned by five
hundred Federals under Colonel Blood
good. After the capture the Confeder-
ate force was overcome by body of
Union troops under Gen. Green Clay
Smith, who follwed them for several
miles, inflicting some desultory pun
ishment in running fight.
The citizens of Savannah, Ga, were
suffering greatly from the want of a
sufficient supply of nourishing food.
Even cornmeal could be had only in
limited quantities. The railroads were
forbidden to carry any food out Of
town.
Governor Brown of Georgia sent a
message to the legislature of that
state recommending an act restricting
the planting of cotton to a quarter of
an acre to each hand, under severe
penalty He also recommended that
further restrictions be put on the els
tillation of spirits, so as to prevent the
use of potatoes, peas and dried peaches
for thai purpose. He was in favor
of giving cordial support to the Con-
federate government.
The Union fleet of ironclads, mon
itors and gunboats, Admiral Dupont
commanding, left Hilton Head, S. G..
The Confederate schooner Clara was
captured on the blockade at Mobile.
March 26, 1868.
A large and enthusiastic Union
meeting was held at Buffalo, N. Y, at
which resolutions we're unanimously
adopted declaring firmly and decidedly
for the support of the government and
the prosecution of the war until the
Confederates were forced to sue for
peace.
The legislature of Maine adjourned,
having adopted concurrent resolutions
fully indorsing President Lincolns
Emancipation Proclamation, approx
ing the use of negroes in the military
service of the United States, and OPP
posing all suggestions of compromise.
An expedition sent to Rome, Tenn,
by Gen. George Crook. commanding
at Carthage, Tenn, returned with
twenty-eight prisoners. among them a
Confederate Captain Rice, together
with seven wagons and thirty horses
General Burnside issued an order
assuming command OF the department
of the Ohio.
M.-o,, 81 1852