The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-28
He KNIGHTS -ERRANT'' OF CIVIL
WAR RECEIVE TARDY RECOGNITION;
DESERVE CHEERS OF ALL DIXIEL. AND

was the flag Of the Confederate crui-
ser Florida, salute from l.nglish
guns at st. George, Bermuda Islands,
July 16 1868 The career of the
Florida was picturesque. One Of the
most daring feats Of the war Is cred.
tied to her. In the open daylight on
the afternoon Of Sept 4, 1869, she
dashed into Mobile Bay, her guns not
in commission. her crew short-handed
and an epidemic of yellow fever
aboard, the guns of the Oneida. the
Winona and the Rachel Seaman mean
while playing upon her at close range
with heavy shell and shrapnel. For
allowing the Florida to break the
blockade. Commander ii. Preble of the
Oneida, ranking officer present was
summarily dismissed from the United
States Navy. but Lincoln five months
later reappointed him. The Floridas
passage of the blockade was made the
subject of an investigation by naval
court of inquiry In 1872 and John
Newland Maffitt, late commander OF
witnesses called by Preble Maffit, one
of the notable officers in the Confed-
crate Navy, was born at sea. His
father. preacher. helped to launch
ut Nashville the predecessor Of the
Christian Advocate, the organ Of the
Southern Methodist Church. The sons
career in the Confederate Navy was
full OF thrills, his final assignment be-
ing as commander of blockade run.
ner.
A youngster who came to the
Florida while she lay in Mobile Bay
being repaired, was Charles W. Read,
Of Mississippi, then only 22 years OF
age. but veteran of the fight with
| Farragut below New Orleans and of
! the dash of the ram Arkansas out Of
the Yazzo river, through Farragut's 8
/ fleet. to the wharf at Vicksburg, July
Is, 1862. His cruise up the Atlantic
coast in the captured brig Clarence,
in the Tacony, another prize, and the
Archer, still another prize. to the har-
Dor of Portland, Me-, where he cut
out the revenue cutter, Caleb Gushing
only to be captured while getting away
with the vessel, was one of the most
ful Of men (he had but twenty ever
engaged in. Reads raid lasted from
May 6. 1868, to June 81, in the course
Of which he captured twenty vessels
one an ocean liner off New York and
another an immigrant ship off Boston
though 90 United States war ships
and as many more chartered vessels
We're sent out to capture him. New
York City for the moment was even
in state of panic lest the raider at
tack It. The lad concluded his Confed
crate naval career by desperate at
tempt to take the ram. William II
Webb, out OF Red River. down the
Mississippi and into the Gulf.
Final Chapter of History
The final chapter Of Confederate
history was written by the navy by
the cruiser Shenandoah, james |. Wad
dell. commander.
"rhe Shenandoah, "her commander
wrote. was actually cruising but eight
months after the enemy's property
during which time she made 3S cap
lures. an average of a fraction ovel
four per month. She released six or
bond and destroyed 81.
"She visited every ocean except tn,
Antarctic ocean.
"She was the only vessel which car
ried the flag around the world. ant
she carried II six months after IN,
overthrow OF the South.
'She was surrendered TO the British
nation on the 9Th of November. 1866
The last gun in defense OF the Soutl
was fired from her deck on the 22nt
of June, 1865. in the Arctic Ocean.
"She ran distance OF $4,000 statut,
miles and met with no serious injury
during a cruise of 13 months.
she never lost n chase, and wa,
second only to the celebrated Ala
bama."