358 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

Dream, whose pilots’ names may be among those already re-
called. These are noted here from memory, for there is no
record extant. All of these men were exposed to constant
danger, and one of them, J. W. Anderson of the Mary Celeste,
died a hero’s death. Shortly after leaving the port of Nas-
sau on his last voyage, he was stricken down by yellow fever.
The captain at once proposed to put the ship &bout and return
to the Bahamas, but his brave pilot said: “No, you may
proceed. I will do my best to get you into port, even if it
costs me my life.” On the second day he was delirious, but
as the little ship approached our dangerous coast he regained
.consciousness, and spoke of his home and the loved ones await-
ing his coming at Smithville. When darkness drew on, his
feyer increased and his condition seemed hopeless, but with
the heart of a lion he determined to take his post on the
bridge, and when soundings were reached he was carried bod-
ily to the wheel house, where, supported by two of the sailors,
he guided by feeble tones, the gallant ship through devious
ways until the hostile fleet was passed. As the well known
lights of his home appeared in the distance, his voice grew
stronger, but tremulous, for he felt that he was nearing the
end of life’s voyage. “Starboard; steady; port; ease her;
stop her; let go anchor”—with the rattle of the chains he
sank to the deck, overcome by the dread disease, and on the
following morning breathed his last.

Along the coast may still be seen the storm-beaten hulls of
some of the unfortunate ships, which after weathering many
a gale at sea, came to grief within sight of a friendly port.
The Beauregard and the Venus lie stranded on Carolina

Beach ; the Modern Greece near New Inlet; the Antonica on ~

Frying Pan Shoals; the Hilla on Bald Head; the Spunkey
and the Georgiana McCall on Caswell Beach; the Hebe and
the Dee between Masonboro and Wrightsville. Two others
lie near Lockwood’s Folly bar, and others whose names are
forgotten, lie half buried in the sands where they may remain
for centuries.

THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER AD-VANCE.

I have already quoted a part of Senator Z. B. Vance’s
address delivered in Baltimore in 1885, with reference to the

 

 

BLocKADE RUNNING. 359

operations of the State of North Carolina in blockade-run-
ning under his administration during the late war, and I
now present the following communication prepared for the
compiler by the late Colonel James G. Burr, of Wilmington,
which will be read with interest by many of our older citizens
who well remember the episode so felicitously described.

“In the month of August, 1862, Zebulon B. Vance, then
Colonel of a North Carolina Regiment serving the Army of
Northern Virginia, and quite a young man, was elected Gov-
ernor of the State by a large majority. He did not seek the
office, in fact, objected to the use of his name for the reason
that he preferred the position which he then held in the army,
and for the further reason that he thought he was too young
to be Governor. The people, however, thought differently,
and he was borne into office by a popular upheaval. With
what energy and vigor he discharged his duties, how true he
was in every way to his State and people are matters of his-
tory and need not be referred to here. . He was inaugurated
the ensuing September and early in his administration he
conceived the idea of purchasing for the State a steamer to
run the blockade at Wilmington, bringing in supplies for our
soldiers in the field and our suffering people at home.

“Colonel Thos. M. Crossan, formerly of the United States
Navy, was accordingly sent to England with Mr. Hughes, of
New Bern, where, in conjunction with Mr. John White, the
agent of the State in England at the time, they purchased the
fine side-wheel steamer, Lord Clyde, then running between
Glasgow and Dublin, which name before her advent into
Southern waters was changed to that of Advance or Ad-Vance,
the latter in compliment to the distinguished war governor
through whose instructions and active influence the purchase
had been made.

“In the Spring of 1863 the Advance made her first success-
ful trip through the blockaders and arrived safely in the har-
bor of Wilmington, bringing a large amount of much needed
supplies. The Governor was informed of her arrival and
came down immediately, and the next day, Sunday, went
down on one of the river steamers with a number of his
friends to the ship, which was lying at the quarantine station