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captured, much to the impatience of the the most unworthy considerations, with shipping interest of the Atlantic States, the Southern rebellion. and the chagrin of the Department, the latter was never caught. The steamer Powhatan had been in quest of her since the capture of the Abby Bradford, which put her in possession of papers affording indications of her movements. That United States ship had sought her on the coast of Cuba, at Curacoa, at Barbadoes, and getting track of her at Surinam, eager for her prey, had pushed on to Maranham, to find that the fortunate Sumter had left the harbor but three days before. Owing to the necessity of coaling, a slow operation in this port, six days elapsed before the Powhatan could be ready to renew the chase.

A letter writer on board this vessel gives an account of the state of affairs which he found existing at Maranham: "The people," says he, "from the Governor down are Sumter-mad, and politics run as high as ever they did in the South -the Brazilians sympathizing almost to a man with the secessionists, under the impression that the South was fighting the battle of Brazil, fighting to protect their property in slaves. Addresses were made by Captain Semmes to the Governor and people of Maranham, in which he used the most specious arguments to prove that after the North had abolished slavery in the Southern States she would turn her attention to abolishing slavery in the Brazilian empire. Of course the arrival of the Powhatan was looked upon with distrust, and a reward of five hundred dollars (made by an American) to any one who would knock a hole in her bottom, so that she could not follow the Sumter, was received with great favor."* The cordial reception given to this marauding crew by the provincial or insular representatives of nations with which the United States were on the best of terms, exhibits a singular perversity of sympathy, based generally on

The pursuit of the Sumter. Moore's Rebellion Record, III., 262.

Sailing from Maranham, the Sumter, on the 25th September, overtook and captured the bark Joseph Park, Captain T. L. Briggs, from Pernambuco to Turk's Island, and a day or two afterward, fearful of losing the company of his prize, Captain Semmes brought his vessel alongside, transferred the stores of the bark to his deck, and then having made a target of her for awhile, set her on fire. One hundred and sixty-five sovereigns, with which Captain Briggs was commissioned to buy salt fell into the hands of Captain Semmes. The captured crew appear to have been well treated, and three of them were won over to enlist and share the fortunes of the privateer. It was dull work now for the Sumter. "Nearly one month," writes, on the 22d October, the officer whose journal of her cruise we have already cited, "has elapsed since the capture of the Joseph Park, and not a single sail has been seen during that time. We think of the Yankee's boast, that their sails whiten the ocean!" It is amusing to see how coolly these scapegraces throw aside their nationality, and how thoughtlessly they transfer their share of the national boasting or honor, as it may be, to the Yankee portion of the race. This monotonous sailing in those dull, equatorial regions to which the Sumter was now limited by the Northern gun-boats, and other craft in search of her, was however pleasantly relieved a day or two after by "a blessing from her guardian angel, in a pretty little schooner the Daniel Trowbridge, crammed with everything in the eating line we could desire. Early this morning (continues with unction the enthusiastic journalist of the cruise on the 29th of October), a boat was sent off to the prize for a supply of fresh provisions, and returned with sheep, pigs, potatoes and an abundant supply of fowl-luxuries we had not indulged in for a long time. During the excellent dinner we enjoyed

THE PURSUIT BY THE IROQUOIS.

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to-day, many thanks were expressed for some of her crew set to work at somethe kindness of Uncle Abe in thus re-thing on her forecastle-doubtless mount membering us in our hour of need-of fresh provisions."

During the following week the Sumter overhauled a number of vessels, but, greatly to the disappointment of her crew, they were all protected by the British flag. On the 9th of November she put in at the French harbor of Port Royal, in Martinique, and a few days after removed to the commercial town of St. Pierre, in the same island. It was here that she had the narrowest escape from capture of any recorded on her log. The United States steamer Iroquois, Commander James S. Palmer, was on the 12th of September coaling at the neighboring island of St. Thomas, when word was brought of the presence of the Sumter at Martinique. Hurrying off on the instant, in thirty-six hours Captain Palmer was at St. Pierre. "On turning into the harbor," says he, in his dispatch. "I discovered a suspicious steamer, which, as we approached proved to be the Sumter, flying the secession flag, moored to the wharf, in the midst of this populous town, quietly coaling. The town and shipping in the harbor were instantly all excitement. I could not attack her in this position for humanity's sake, even were I disposed to be regardless of the neutrality of the port. I did not anchor, but cruised around the harbor within half gun-shot of her during the night."

These demonstrations caused something of a fluttering on board the Sumter. The officer's journal of her cruise describes the arrival and this proceeding of the United States vessel. "November 14. The Iroquois has arrived! When first opening the harbor she was disguised; her yards were braced every way, the Danish flag flying at her peak. But this ruse did not deceive us, for many had seen her before. Having taken her position in front of the harbor she hoisted the Stars and Stripes, while

ing the forward pivot gun, a 120-pounder. The Iroquois is a magnificent looking craft, bark-rigged, carrying six heavy guns. As soon as she hoisted the United States flag crowds of people collected on the quays to get a good look at her, some of them even expecting that she would give us battle then and there. Preparations were immediately made for this event. Our ship was cleared for action. The carpenter's gang were set to work making shot-plugs. At twilight all hands were mustered on the quarterdeck, where small arms were served out; and look-outs were doubled fore and aft.

November 15. Last night about 11 o'clock, the Iroquois was seen approaching the Sumter. Immediately all hands were called with as little noise as possible. No drum beat to quarters ; but 'boys, rouse up, the Iroquois is alongside ready to grapple us!' was sufficient to clear the gun-deck of hammocks in a remarkably short space of time. The gun-deck being already cleared for action, was properly lighted; the guns were manned, the magazine was opened, and the surgeon and his assistant stood by. Our big pivot-gun bore directly on the Iroquois."

This, it was very evident, was not a condition of things to be tolerated long in a harbor of the French Empire. In the morning the national man-of-war Acheron arrived from Port Royal, and her Captain, by direction of the Governor, requested Captain Palmer "no longer to compromise the neutrality of the French waters by establishing a blockade within their jurisdiction, but to anchor, when every hospitality and facility would be afforded, or to take a position without the distance of a marine league from shore." Captain Palmer accordingly decided upon anchoring, and had no sooner done so, than he received a visit from the French commander, in the course of which he was reminded of a point of in

ternational law in Wheaton, that one belligerent could not depart until twenty-four hours after the other. In consequence of this information, Captain Palmer fearing that the Sumter, having steam on, would gain this advantage, instantly pulled up his anchor, and got under weigh before the French captain left the ship. He then took his position at the mouth of the harbor, outside of the marine league, intently waiting for the departure of his expected prize.

It was a difficult task which Captain Palmer now undertook. "To blockade such a bay as this," he wrote to Secretary Welles on the night of the 18th of November," which is almost an open roadstead, fifteen miles in width, the surrounding land very high, and the water very bold, obliged as we are by the neutrality of the laws, to blockade at three miles distance, it would require at least two more fast steamers, and a vessel of war of any description in port, to notify us by signal of her departure, to give any reasonable hope of preventing her escape. Even now, moonlight though it be, she may yet creep out under shadow of the land, and no one be able to perceive her; she being always able to observe my position, open to seawards. Though I have made arrangements to be informed by signal of her departure from shore, I fear I cannot depend upon the parties, so fearful are they of the authorities and of popular indignation. I have done all I can, and if she escapes me, we must submit to the distress and mortification. I wish the Sumter were anywhere else except in this port or under French protection. The authorities here, under plea of neutrality, are throwing every obstacle in my way, in the way of communicating with the shore. They are so full of punctilio, and withal so polished, that it is provoking to have anything to do with them."

Nothing could more fully reflect the impatience of a high-spirited command

er, eager for action, than this animated dispatch of Captain Palmer. On the 23d he writes again: "It is now the ninth day that I have been blockading the Sumter. She lies still at the wharf, surrounded by more or less of a crowd day and night, all anxious for her escape, sympathizing with their fellow Frenchmen of the State of Louisiana, to which State they believe the Sumter to belong. Thus far we have had the moon, but it is now waning fast, and, with the most intense watching and devotion, I fear I may yet have to report her escape. Would that there were another fast steamer to watch the other point of the bay. I have some understanding with some loyal people on shore, to notify by signal of her departure. The French will doubtless think it a great outrage upon their neutrality, but they will have to pocket this, as I have been as forbearing as they can expect, and nothing but the feeling of the impolicy of bringing on hostilities between my country and France makes me submit with anything like grace."

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That very night it turned out as Captain Palmer had feared. The Sumter escaped his most vigilant efforts. At 8 o'clock in the evening he was signalled from the shore that the privateer had shipped to the southward. Instantly," continues Captain Palmer in his final dispatch, "we were off in pursuit, soon at full speed, rushing down to the Southern part of the bay, but nothing was visible on the dark background. small steamer, apparently one plying between St. Pierre and Port Royal, was off the point making signals, doubtless for the benefit of the Sumter. But we could see nothing of her as we proceeded on, so dark was the shadow thrown by the high land. Still we went on, all searching the darkness in vain. So soon as I had opened Port Royal Point, and seen on the now open horizon, I concluded that we had passed her, or that she had doubled on us and gone to

THE SUMTER ESCAPES HER PURSUER.

the northward. I then turned, keeping close to the shore, looking into her former anchorage, thinking she might possibly have returned. No sign of her there. We continued on to the northward, but when we opened the port nothing of her this way." Thus baffled, despairing in which direction to turn, Captain Palmer turned back to complete his coaling at St. Thomas.

It is interesting to compare with this vivid account of the pursuit the no less animating officer's narrative of the escape. The Sumter, in the entry of the Diary, November 23, "is once more in blue water. Every preparation having been made, the ship being in good sailing trim, a portion of her stores placed on the spar-deck, to be hove overboard to lighten her in case it was necessary; precisely as the eight o'clock gun was fired she slipped her anchor, and steamed slowly out to sea, keeping close under cover of the land. Scarcely had her propeller revolved a dozen times before a blue light appeared at the mast-head of the only Yankee ship in port. Then a second signal was displayed on shore, and then another. The engine was stopped. The Sumter was now abreast of the French war steamer, which was under the guns of the fort, but nothing could be seen of the Iroquois. The engine was again started; our ship moving very slowly, and still closely hugging the land. When nearly opposite the southern point, the Sumter was seen bearing down on us; but as we were so completely under cover of the land, it was not likely that she saw us. The Sumter's prow was turned in the direction of the other, but afterward she ran closer into the harbor, all the time watching every movement of the Iroquois. Seeing that she was still watching the southern point, the Sumter shot across to the northern point at her fullest speed. Just before she reached the point, a vessel was seen a little a-head of her. The engine was again stopped

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to determine the character of this craft. The darkness was so intense that it was impossible to make her out at first. A blundering quarter-master pronounced her to be an armed steamer; after a minute of anxious suspense, she was transformed into a sailing frigate, lying broadside on; and, finally, while we were in momentary expectation of an attack, she proved to be a harmless little fore-and-aft schooner. About a quarter of an hour was lost in making out this vessel. The engine was again set in motion, and in a few minutes the Sumter was rounding the point. After she passed Diamond Rock she gave the land a wider heading for the open sea. It should have been stated that a large and brilliant light, which was placed astern of the Sumter, in the window of a building near the cathedral, every night after the arrival of the Iroquois, was hauled down as soon as the former got under way. Four lights, seemingly on a flag-staff, were placed one above another, on a house-top, supposed to be that of the United States consul; after being displayed about five minutes they were put out, one at a time. The vessel that raised a blue light to her mast-head was the same one that hauled down the British flag which she had flown ever since the Sumter had been in port, and hoisted her proper colors, the Stars and Stripes, as soon as the Iroquois arrived."

Captain Palmer learned at St. Pierre that the Sumter had purchased sea-jackets for her crew, which led him to think she might intend a cruise in northern waters, though he hardly supposed that she would be adequate for winter service in that quarter. She had something, however, no less hazardous in prospect, namely, a winter passage across the Atlantic. Before undertaking this, however, she made prizes of several valuable vessels in the western Atlantic. One of these, the Montmorenci, of Bath, with a cargo of 1,800 tons of coal, consigned to British residents at St. Thomas,

part, it was thought on board the Sumter, by the exertions of the United States consul at the port. A day's sailing brought the privateer, after "overhauling a couple of Yankees" by the way, "under the guns of Gibraltar the impregnable," from which friendly shelter she appeared in no haste to depart. Nearly a month afterwards the Tuscarora, which had been for some time engaged in watching the Confederate steamer Nashville, came to Gibraltar to keep a look out on the Sumter. Then, toward the

in consideration of that friendly nation, Commander Semmes generously allowed to go on their way, politely taking a bond to the value of the ship, drawn in bis favor by the captain. Another day he captured and burnt the schooner Arcade of Portland, Maine. On the 3d of December a large ship was overhauled, the Vigilant, bound to Sombrero Island for guano. Her crew, all blacks, says the Diary, "were terribly frightened on seeing the Sumter. When the prizecrew boarded her the negroes could hardly be prevented from jumping over-end of February, came the diversion of board, and when they came aboard the Sumter they acted as though their hour had come. Some of them verily believed that they would have to walk a plank. The Vigilant was stripped of everything we wanted and then fired. We took from her a nine-pounder rifled gun, which is mounted on the forecastle in place of the one hove overboard in running the blockade of the Mississippi." The last day of the year the Sumter counted up as her trophies, the running of two blockades, escape from a fleet of gun-boats, ransacking the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, the capture of sixteen valuable prizes, visits to the ports of seven nationalities, and frail bark as she was admitted to be, the passage of the Atlantic in mid-winter.

the seizure of the paymaster of the Sumter. He went over in a French steamer to Tangier, on the opposite shore, when he was taken possession of according to a privilege of the State of Morocco, by the United States Consul, who arrested him for piracy or treason, and sent him home to America a prisoner on board the national sloop-of-war Ino. These loyal policemen of the seas, in fact, began to be uncomfortably frequent about the resting place of the Sumter, which had also discovered that her boilers were worn out, quite unfit for sea; so one day, the 9th of April, the crew was paid off and discharged, and the valiant Sumter laid up "until after the expiration of the war."

As part of the public history of this On the 4th of January, 1862, she ran redoubtable vessel we may cite the into Cadiz, boldly challenging the hospi- paragraph devoted to her depredations, talities of old Spain. But the Dons had and those of others, and the attempts made up their minds as to her character, made to capture her in the annual reand that of the pseudo government from port of Secretary Welles of the Navy which she professed to derive her com- Department. "It was natural," said he, mission, and had no civilities to expend "that apprehensions should prevail in upon her. Captain Semmes was imme- regard to armed cruisers, commissioned diately and peremptorily ordered to leave expressly by the rebel leaders, to deprethe port within twenty-four hours. He date upon our commerce. This robbery pleaded distress, and was allowed to re- of merchants and others engaged in main for repairs, and at the end of ten peaceful and lawful pursuits, by piratical days left this punctilious people utterly cruisers, is not inconsistent with the gendissatisfied, "unable to obtain what was eral conduct of those who have violated required—not a bucket of coal, the sale law and moral obligations to gratify inwas forbidden," and the loser by deser-ordinate ambition. Our extended comtion of seven of her crew, induced to de-merce presented inducements for pirat

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