7 aie ay H t 1 ie 1 i | nah ' i { te i I i ‘Bis te i Mae 4 vie. 1 i y 4 i Me | mT i 4 i i ‘Zi uP} ' ti nt? mT i i | i im ine i H } RH : ii i i HW Ni iH ff im ou ag ii ce yf I Hun eh fail Fi Bik He | a) a tant | iN ‘By t Maat | Ait a) 4 ot ie | | a a} ’ H Ht ain) ah ae r i 4 La bid! . 8 Ha ba bd ‘ ¢@ i i 3 Bt y ' { . 2 fi ie Ln! i) t d qj Re ie yal Be rt , tt : i iy iy Mc ta) t 7) Be =o i aoe! + Lee ts Sr, Ee = Chronicles of the Cape Fear River Caswell, adding that several vessels of the Federal fleet had crossed the New Inlet Bar, and were at anchor in the river almost within hail of him. Maffitt was about to give the order to slip the chain, “not standing upon the order of his going,” when his pilot begged for permission to go ashore, if only for ten min- utes. He represented the situation of his wife, whom he had left ill and without means of support, in such moving terms, that Maffitt granted permission, upon condition that he would return speedily. The pilot was faithful to his promise, returning in fifteen or twenty minutes. During his absence, steam was raised and the chain unshackled. As the pilot’s foot touched the deck of the Owl, the boat was hooked on and run up the davits, the chain slipped, and the Owl upon her way to sea again. Another blockade runner is said to have been not so fortunate. She had run the gauntlet safely and come to anchor off Smith- ville. The tarpaulins had been removed from the hatches, the lamps lighted, and a cold supper spread upon the table, at which the passengers were seated, two or three officers of the British Army among them. A toast to the captain having been pro- posed, they had just tossed off a bumper of champagne to his health and continued successes, and he was about to reply to the compliment, when the officer of the deck reported that a boat was coming alongside. The captain received the officer at the gang- way. The mail-bag, according to the usual routine, was given to the latter for transportation to the shore; and the customary inquiries made after the name of the vessel, cargo, number of passengers, etc. The astounded captain was then informed that his vessel was a prize to the United States ship, then at anchor near him! , Charleston was now the only harbor on the Atlantic coast at all accessible, and that must evidently soon fall; but a cargo might be landed there before that inevitable catastrophe, and, fully appreciating the exigency, I determined to make the effort. Even after the occupation of Wilmington by the United States troops, there would remain an interior line of communication between Charleston and Virginia. The facts of history prove that the importance of carrying in a cargo of provisions was not exaggerated, for the Army of Northern Virginia was shortly afterwards literally starving; and during their retreat from the position around Petersburg, the country adjacent to their line was swarming with soldiers who had left the ranks in search of food. Blockade Running , 4738 But it was the part of prudence to ascertain, positively, an Charleston was still in our possession. This in y the Chicora, which arrived at Nassau on the 30th of January; and on February 1, the Owl, shasibbigpe Dream, Chicora, and Chameleon sailed within a few hours 0 her for Charleston. a ca Abaco Light soon after dark and shaped our course direct for Charleston. At early dawn the next aneeees — I was lying awake in my room on the sian — t = oe der to the helmsman, of the deck give the quick, sharp or a j heel in all of the blockade runne a-port.” The steering whee pe peepee AP the bridge and immediately forward ot t — —— ee the ofines of the deck kept his watch upon = —— As | aoe undressed at night while at sea in —