394 NortH Carouina Troops, 1861-65.

of steam we rushed ahead, annihilating space and melting
with excited fancy hours into minutes. Our celerity short-
ens the distance, leaving only ten miles between us and the
bar. With guiding lead, slowly and carefully we feel our
way. ‘Captain,’ observed the sedulous chief officer, as he
strove to peer through the hazy atmosphere, ‘it seems to me
from our soundings that we should be very near the blockad-
ers. Don’t you think so? ‘I do,’ was my response. ‘Hist!
there goes a bell—one, two, three, four, five, six, seven—
11:30, a decidedly good calculation, and it is high water on
the bar. By jove! there are two jist ahead of us, and I
think both are at anchor. Doubtless others are crnising
around there, indicators of the channel.’

“I ordered the helm put hard a-starboard, directing the
wheelman to run between the two blockaders, as it is too late
to steer clear of either. Through a bank of clouds huge,
grim objects grew distinctly into view and necessity forced
me to run the gauntlet, trusting against hope that our transit
would not arouse their vigilance. They were alert vessels,
for a crackling, hissing sound was instantly followed by the
fiery train of a rocket, succeeded by the dreaded calcium
lights with a radiance brilliant though brief, so as to illumi-
nate distinctly an area of miles.

““Heave to, or I’ll sink you!’ shouted a gruff, imperious
voice, so near that we could fancy his speaking trumpet pro-
jected over the steamer. ‘Ay, ay, sir!’ was the prompt re-
sponse, and to the horror of all on board I gave the order in
a lond voice, ‘Stop the engine!’ Then was heard the boat-
swain’s whistle, the cutting away of eutters and the tramp-
ing of boats’ crews. Our impetus had caused the steamer
to nearly emerge from between the Federals. © Back
your engines, sir, and stand by to receive my boats,’ said the
same stern voice. Affirmatively acknowledging the com-
mand, I whispered loud enough for the engineer to hear me,
‘Full speed ahead, sir, and open wide your throttle valve.’

“The movements of the paddles for a moment deceived the
Federal commander into the belief that we were really back-
ing, but, speedily comprehending the manceuver, with very
fierce execrations, he gave the order to fire. Drummond

BiockaDE RUNNING. 395

lights were burned, doubtless to aid artillerists, but so radia-
ted the mist as to raise our hull above the line of vision, caus-
ing the destructive missiles to play havoe with the sparse
rigging instead of shattering our hull and probably explod-
ing the nine hundred barrels of gunpowder, with which Gen-
eral Johnston afterwards fought the battle of Shiloh. It cer-
tainly was a miraculous escape for both blockader and block-
ade-runner.

“We paused not recklessly, but at the rate of sixteen knots
an hour absolutely flew out of unhealthy company who dis-
courteously followed us with exploding shells, and for some
time kept up such a fusillade as to impress us with the belief
that the blockaders had inaugurated a ‘Kilkenny Cat Mud-
dle,’ and were polishing off each other, a supposition which I
subsequently learned was partially correct.

“The breakers warned us of danger, and the smooth water
indicated the channel through which we passed in safety, and
at 1 o’clock in the morning we anchored off the venerable vil-
lage of Smithville (now Southport). Then came the men-
tal and physical reaction, producing a feeling of great pros-
tration, relieved by the delightful realization of having
passed through the fiery ordeal in safety and freedom.

** “Tf after every tempest came such calms,
May the winds blow ’till they have weakened death ;
And let laboring barks climb hill of seas

Olympus high ! and duck again as low
As hell’s from heaven.’

“After sunrise we proceeded to Wilmington, where our
cargo was quickly discharged. Having obtained our return
cargo, in company with two other blockade-runners I started
for Nassau; and although the sentinels of the bar resented
me with affectionate souvenirs in the way of shot and shell,
they did but little damage. My companions came to grief,
thereby adding to the prize fund that was shared by the gov-
ernment with the officers of the blockade squadron.”

Shortly after joining the Confederacy, Captain Maffitt
went to England, took command of the blockade-runner
Inlian, of which this compiler was purser, and returned to
the Confederacy through the port of Wilmington. He was