360 Norra Caro ina Troops, 1861-’65.

about fifteen or sixteen miles below the city. After spending
several hours on board examining the ship and partaking of
the hospitalities of its officers, it was determined to take her
up to the city without waiting for a permit from the health
officers, as it was assumed the Governor’s presence on board
would be a justification for the violation of quarantine reg-
ulations. Accordingly, steam was raised, and she came up
to the city and was made fast to the wharf in front of the
Custom House. Then occurred a scene which is well re-
membered to this day by all who witnessed it.

“Searcely had the ship been secured to the wharf when a
military gentleman in full uniform made his appearance, and
though he was told that the vessel belonged to the State, and
that the Governor was on board, he seized the occasion to
make a display of his authority and to magnify his own im-
portance. With the manner of a Sir Oracle, and in a loud
and commanding tone of voice, he peremptorily declared that
no one should leave the ship, and ordered her immediate re-
turn to quarantine station down the river. Governor Vance
happened to be standing near the gangway, heard distinctly
the rude speech of the military satrap and noticed his offen-
sive manner; and his crest rose on the instant. With flash-
ing eyes he turned upon him, and in a voice of cencentrated
passion exclaimed: ‘‘Do you dare to say, sir, that the Gov-
ernor of the State shall not leave the deck of his own ship ?”
The reply of the officer was of such a nature as to add fuel
to the flames, and an exciting scene would doubtless have oc-
eurred (for the Governor was young then and his blood was
hot) had not his friends interposed and persuaded him to re-
tire to the cabin where, after a while, his equanimity was re-
stored. In the meantime, the Chairman of the Board of
Commissioners of Navigation, the late P. W. Fanning, who
had been sent for, arrived upon the scene and promptly set-
tled the matter by giving his permit for the ship to remain
where she was, and the immediate landing of all who desired
to do so. The Governor was the first to step upon the gang-
way, and as he passed down, he stopped for a moment, res-
pectfully saluted Mr. Fanning, and in a ringing voice ex-
claimed: “No man is more prompt to obey the civil au-

BiockaDE RUNNING. 361

thority than myself, but I will not be ridden over by epau-
lettes or bayonets.” The large crowd which had assembled
gave him three cheers as he disappeared from view and added
three more for the gallant ship Ad-Vance, from whose masts
and yards innumerable flags were flying in the breeze.

“The Ad-Vanee was a first-class ship in every respect; she
had engines of great power which were very highly finished
and her speed was good. With a pressure of twenty pounds
to the square inch she easily averaged seventeen knots to the
hour and when it was increased to thirty pounds, she reeled
off twenty knots without difficulty. Her officers were: Col-
one] Crossan, Commander; Captain Wylie, a Scotchman, who
came over with her, Sailing Master; Captain Geo. Morri-
son, Chief Engineer; Mr. John B. Smith, Signal Officer.
The only objection to her was her size and heavy draught of
water, the latter rendering it difficult for her to cross the
shoals, which at that time were a great bar to the navigation
of the river, and in consequence of which she could never go
out or return with a full cargo either of cotton or supplies.
She ran the blockade successfully seven or eight trips, bring-
ing in all kinds of supplies—thanks to the energy and wise
foresight of our patriotic War Governor—that were so much
needed by our troops and the people. The regularity of her
trips was remarkable atid could be calculated upon almost to
the very day; indeed, it was common to hear upon the streets
the almost stereotyped remark, ‘To-morrow the Ad-Vance will
be in.” And when the morrow came she could generally be
seen gliding up to her dock with the rich freight of goods and
wares which were so greatly needed by our people. In the
meantime, however, she had several narrow escapes from cap-
ture, Coming from Nassau on one oceasion the weather
being very stormy and a heavy fog prevailing, she ran ashore
opposite Fort Caswell and remained there two days. The sea
was so rough that the blockaders could not approach near
enough to do her any damage, and after discharging part of
her cargo she was relieved from her perilous position and got
safely into port. But the most exciting trip was one made
in the month of July, 1864, from Bermuda.

“She had on board as passengers a number of prominent