Commander Hollins' Attack on the Blockading Squadron. ESCAPE OF THE NASHVILLE, &C. 359 Hollins' Report. It was feet below the water line. | present a broadside. She had, therefore, to The men were quickly at fight with her head down stream. their quarters, and, as the On the success of this ram passed abreast the ship, the entire port "expedition" the New Orbattery gave the adventurer a salute of iron leans people counted with confidence. hail. The Richmond's cable was then slipped a well conceived plan for ridding the river and she proceeded to drop down the river of a provoking obstruction; but, it was so the other ships of the blockade being signal- badly executed as to result in nothing. The ed to pass on ahead, while the Richmond cov-report of Commodore Hollins, however, made ered their exit by way of the S. W. pass, to it a grand success. It read: the Gulf. The ram did not again make ́her appearance. The river above presented a somewhat startling spectacle. A line of blazing fire rafts stretched entirely across the channel, bearing down upon the squadron with the current. Behind them, to assist in the consummation of the proposed destruction, were five steamers, well armed and of light draught, ready to play upon the Federal ships from any quarter. The Preble passed the bar in safety, but the Vincennes and Rich-port cut away from the Richmond's side on the first shock of the ram. No Federal vesmond grounded. Captain Pope in his report said: sel was sunk nor any disabled. The Commodore rested on his honors, and was heard of no more. "This occurred about eight o'clock, and the enemy, who were now down the river with the fire steamers, commenced firing at us, while we return ed the fire from our port battery and rifled gun on the poop-our shot, however, falling short of the enemy, while their shell burst on all sides of us, and several passed directly over the ship. "FORT JACKSON, Oct. 12th, 1861. "Last night I attacked the blockaders with my little fleet. I succeeded, after a very short struggle, in driving them all aground on the Southwest Pass bar, except the Preble, which I sunk. "I captured a prize from them, and after they were fast in sand I peppered them well. "There were no casualties on our side. It was a complete success. HOLLINS." The prize referred to was the coal trans But to him belongs the credit of having first tried the principle of the water ram, and his partial success served to incite those other efforts, in the same direction, which resulted in the introduction of a new and most powerful agent of destruction. "At half-past nine Commander Handy, of the VinThe Confederates were Escape of the Nashcennes, mistaking my signal to the ships outside the further delighted, at this ville, &c. bar to get under way for a signal to abandon his time, by the escape from ship, came on board the Richmond with all his of Charleston S. C. harbor, (October 11th,) of ficers and a large number of the crew, the remain the steamer Nashville, having on board a valder having gone on board the Water Witch. Capuable cargo of cotton and turpentine. Also tain Handy before leaving his ship had placed a slow match at the magazine. Having waited a reasonable time for an explosion, I directed Commander Handy to return to his ship with his crew, to start his water, and if necessary, at his own request, to throw overboard his small guns, for the purpose of lightening his ship, and to carry out a kedge with a cable to heave off by. At ten A. M. the enemy ceased firing, and withdrew up the river. During the engagement a shell entered our quarter port, and one of the boats was stove by another shell." The two ships were dragged over the bar safely during the day. Captain Pope stated that he would have stopped at Pilot-town (the junction of the passes), and there have given battle, but the great length of the flag ship would not allow her to wind so as to of the steamer Theodora, October 12th, with the Commissioners extraordinary of the Southern Government to the Courts of St. James and St. Cloud, viz: James M. Mason of Virginia, and John Slidell of New Orleans. The Nashville passed out of the harbor on the night of Friday, October 11th, under command of Captain Robert B. Pegram, formerly of the United States navy. She was a fine fleet craft, stolen from her New York owners by the South Carolina "authorities," before the date of President Lincoln's proclamation of April 13th, with the design of making her the nucleus of the proposed Confederate navy. Could those authorities have been as successful in "appropriating" Government vessels Escape of the Nashville, &c. The Chicacomico as in other preparatory | being to cut off Brown's plunder of the resources retreat. This, however, they of the United States, they failed to do, for Colonel might have had a navy with which to defend Brown destroyed whatever property was not their harbors quite effectually. The Theodora portable, and, after a double quick march passed out the night following the Nashville's through the sand, reached the lighthouse in escape, running direct for Cardenas, Cuba. the evening, with the loss of about fifty-most The drama of their arrest by the vigilant of them being stragglers, and officers trying Commander Wilkes, was soon to follow, form- to reclaim them, taken prisoners. ing one of the most exciting and important events of the year. The Chicacomico Colonel Hawkins, apprised of this attempt to bag the whole regiment, at once communicated with the fleet, and then marched, with six companies, to the lighthouse, to reenforce Colonel Brown. Of the fleet, the Susquehanna and Monticello were present. These vessels at once moved up to the viciniThus affairs stood during the evening and night of the 4th. On the following morning, the Monticello, commanded by Lieutenant Braine, doubled the cape and proceeded along the shore to look for the enemy. The vessel had not gone far when the rebels were seen, whereupon the Monticello opened fire. The exploding shells did the work proposed. Not only were the rebels scattered in every direction, but, owing to the precision with which the shells were thrown, many were killed, wounded or driven to the water. It is said that a single shell, entering the side of one of the schooners, exploded in her hold, filling the air with the wreck, mingled with the remains of human beings. It was an appalling sacrifice. It much encouraged the The level and barren beach, being but three enemy, and a bold descent was arranged, by fourths of a mile in width, afforded no spot which the camp of Colonel Brown was to be of refuge from the terrible missiles, which not A somewhat remarkable conflict occurred on the Hatteras beach, Oct. 4th and 5th, which deserves more than a brief Summary allusion. The 20th Indiana regiment, Colonel Brown,ty of the lighthouse. was dispatched by Colonel Hawkins-commandant at the fort to form a camp at Chicacomico, a settlement about forty miles south of the Inlet, where a number of Unionists were understood to dwell. The camp was formed for their protection. The regiment proceeded, late in September, to the point named, in the propeller Fanny, accompanied by the gunboats Ceres and General Putnam. Nothing transpired to cause alarm until the capture, by the rebels, of the Fanny, on the 29th of September, when she was proceeding from the fort to the camp, with a full cargo of stores and forty men, chiefly belonging to the 30th Indiana and 9th New York regiments. This capture was effected by three armed steamers. cut off and the troops captured. It was also determined to "punish" those Union families only swept the sands, but were dropped Dead bodies at Chicacomico, who had given the Federal- strewed the beach and sank in the waters. ists such warm welcome. Early on the morning of October 4th, Colonel Brown discovered five rebel steamers, with flatboats and schooners in tow, emerging from Croatan Sound, steering for the Federal encampment. Accoutrements, guns, clothing, musical in and as struments were flung aside in despair, each soldier sought such place of refuge the barren spot offered a sand heapclump of bushes, a scrub oak or holly Colonel Brown lost For three and one half hours the rain of shot and shell was not intermitted, and only no time in communicating these facts to Colo tree. ceas nel Hawkins at the Fort, informing him that ed when night drew its pitying veil over the he would retreat to the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras. The steamers succeeded in landing field. The Monticello having expended one hundred and eighty shells withdrew to the over fifteen hundred men about three miles cape. The forces there then marched to the above Colonel Brown's position, and proceed- Fort, accompanied by the families of Unioned to land troops further down, their policy ists who had fled from Chicacomico to avoid ין STRENGTH OF THE NATIONAL ARMY. the threatened vengeance of their fellow citizens from the mainland. It was a mistake in the Federal commander not to have moved his forces up the beach to co-operate with the Monticello. Had there been a few companies present the entire rebel force would, doubtless, have been secured. As it was, the disaster covered the enemy with confusion, and sent an alarm through the rebel heart at the mention of the word gunboat. Yet, the secession journals, true to their old instincts, 361 gave forth accounts astonishing for their misstatements. The Norfolk Day Book, then considered good authority, reported only one man wounded; and, to the latest day, when the carnage was confessed by those engaged in the expedition, that journal never gave any other statement of the disaster. The truth, in that instance as in many others, was not calculated to "fire the Southern heart"therefore it was suppressed. The actual rebel loss wan never published. CHAPTER XIL STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING AT THE NORTH DURING THE FALL OF 1861. FORCES IN THE FIELD, CONFEDER FEDERAL AND ENFORCE GOOD CON ATE. THE FEDERAL CONFISCATION Unity of the War Legislation. The Na. tional Army. 15th, the States had answered the President's first and second calls thus prodigally: Connecticut. THROUGHOUT the North | quate to he great task of. public sentiment remain- suppressing the rebellion ed, up to the meeting vi et armis. Up to August of Congress in December (1861), a unit on the policy of a vigorous prosecution of the war. Scarcely a voice was raised, throughout the whole domain of the Free States, for peace Illinois...... or in justification of the Southern movement. This solidity of feeling and purpose gave the Administration great cause for satisfaction, filling, as it did, its armies, its coffers, its commissariat, and indicating the straight forward course to pursue. No government could have been more loyally or more materially sustained. Kansas.. Inf. Cay. Massachusetts. Michigan. New York. New Jersey. Ohio.. Rhode Island.. ... 5.000 Total.................384,700 35,500 5,300 425,500 To these enormous numbers must be added the National and State troops provided by Kentucky and Missouri, viz: August 2d, the extra session of Congress passed its War tax and modified tariff bills, supplying the National exchequer with funds for immediate use. The Army bill authorized an equivalent of five hundred thousand men for active service, including all arms of infantry, cavalry and artillery. Under this act enlistments were active, and generals Also the quotas supplied by the following in the field found themselves with men ade- States and the District of Columbia, viz: California The National Army. about 9,500. .3,600 4.800 Maryland. Also the enlistments in the The Confiscation Act passed by the extra session The Confiscation Act. of Congress, was, to some extent, enforced. 44 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represent rection against the Government of the United States, Giving, as the grand total of men enlisted in the Union cause, from April 15th to August 15th, (1861,) the aggregate of four hun-atives of the United States of America in Congress assemdred and ninety-nine thousand two hundred bled, That if, during the present or any future insur and fifty. At the date last named there were, in the field, about three hundred and seventy- declared, by proclamation, that the laws of the five thousand men. Of this vast mass McUnited States are opposed, and the execution thereClellan had (at the date of Sept. 14th) in the of obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be immediate Department of the Potomac (in- suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial procluding the Departments of Annapolis, Lower ceedings, or by the power vested in the marshals by Virginia, and the defenses around Washing-law, any person or persons, his, her, or their agent, ton,) one hundred and eighty thousand men attorney, or employee, shall purchase or acquire, of all service. One month later, the Com-sell or give, any property of whatsoever kind or demanding - General held two hundred and scription, with intent to use or employ the same, or sixty thousand men under call, with which suffer the same to be used or employed, in aiding, to assail the Confederate Capital. abetting, or promoting such insurrection or resist ance to the laws, or any person or persons, engaged therein; or if any person or persons, being the own er or owners of any such property, shall knowingly use or employ, or consent to the use or employment Confederate Forces in the Field The Confederate forces enlisted up to August 1st, were put down by rebel writers at three hundred and twenty thou- of the same as aforesaid, all such property is hereby sand; but, it is certain that no such numbers declared to be lawful subject of prize and capture were in the field at that time. In Eastern wherever found; and it shall be the duty of the PreVirginia there were not to exceed one hun-sident of the United States to cause the same to be dred and twenty thousand at any time prior seized, confiscated and condemned. to the evacuation of Manassas Junction (February 8th, 1862). In Western Virginia not to exceed twenty-five thousand. In Tennessee, up to the fall of Nashville (Feb. 25th, 1862,) not to exceed one hundred thousand. In Missouri, up to the battle of Pea Ridge "Sec 2. And be it further enacted, That such prizes and captures shall be condemned in the district or circuit court of the United States having jurisdiction of the amount, or in admiralty in any district in which the same may be seized, and into which they may be taken and proceedings first instituted. "Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Attor (March 6th, 8th, 1862), not to exceed thirty-ney-General, or any district attorney of the United five thousand. These figures are outside es in the departments named; and, from a care timates, drawn from the concessions of the may institute the proceedings of condemnation, and States in which said property may at the time be, Southern authorities after their several defeats in such case they shall be wholly for the benefit of the United States; or any person may file an infor ful collaboration of accounts bearing on this mation with such an attorney, in which case the question, we are prepared to state with con- proceedings shall be for the use of such informer fidence that, at no time prior to the advance and the United States in equal parts. on Richmond from Yorktown (May 2d, 1862), "Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That whenever had the Confederate generals more than two hereafter, during the present insurrection against thirds the number of available men, at any par- claimed to be held to labor or service under the the Government of the United States, any person ticular point, than were at the disposal of the Union commanders. The great diversity of opinions and statements on this point renders exactness of estimate impossible; still, we law of any State shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, or by the lawful agent of such person, to take up arms against the United States; or shall be are confident that we have closely approxi- required or permitted by the person to whom such mated to the truth in our figures and assumptions. labor or service is claimed to be due, or agent, to work or to be employed in or upon any 1 THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. fort, navy-yard, dock, armory, ship, intrenchment, | are in a state of insurrection or in any military or naval service whatsoever, against the Government and lawful authority of he United States, then, and in every such case, the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due shall forfeit his claim to such labor, any law of the State or of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding. And whenever thereafter the person claiming such labor or service shall seek to enforce his claim, it shall be a full and sufficient answer to such claim that the person whose service or labor is claimed had been employed in hostile service against the Government of the United States, contrary to the provisions of this act. 'Approved, August 6th, 1861." The Proclamation for the enforcement of this Act was as follows: clamatiou. 363 The President's Proclamation. against the United States, and that all commercial intercourse between the same and the inhabitants thereof, with the exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States and other parts of the United States is unlawful, and will remain unlawful until such insurrection shall cease or has been suppressed; that all goods and chattels, wares and merchandise, coming from any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, into other parts of the United States, without the special license and permission of the President, through the Secretary of the Treasury, or proceeding to any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, by land or water, together with the vessel or vehicle conveying the same, or conveying persons to and from said States with said exceptions will be WASHINGTON, Friday, Aug. 16th, 1861. forfeited to the United States, and that from and af "Whereas, On the 15th day ter fifteen days from the issuing of this proclamaThe President's Pro- of April, the President of the tion, all ships and vessels belonging in whole or in United States, in view of an in- part to any citizen or inhabitant of any of said surrection against the laws, Constitution, and the States with said exceptions, found at sea or in any Government of the United States, which had broken port of the United States, will be forfeited to the out within the States of South Carolina, Georgia, United States, and I hereby enjoin upon all District Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, Attorneys, Marshals, and officers of the Revenue and in pursuance of an act entitled An act to pro- and of the Military and Naval forces of the United vide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws States, to be vigilant in the execution of said act, of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel inva- and in the enforcement of the penalties and forfeitsions, and to repeal the act now in force for that ures imposed or declared by it, leaving any party purpose,' approved Feb. 29th, 1795, did call forth who may think himself aggrieved thereby to his apthe militia to suppress said insurrection and cause plication to the Secretary of the Treasury for the the laws of the Union to be duly executed, and the remission of any penalty or forfeiture, which the insurgents have failed to disperse by the time di- said Secretary is authorized by law to grant, if, in rected by the President; and whereas, such insur- his judgment, the special circumstances of any case rection has since broken out and yet exists within | shall require such remission. the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas; and whereas, the insurgents in all the said States claim to act under authority thereof, and such claim is not disclaimed or repudiated by the person exercising the functions of Government in each State or States, or in the part or parts thereof in which combinations exist, nor has such insurrection been suppressed by said States. "Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in pursuance of an act of Con "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. "Done in the City of Washington, this 16th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1861, sad of the Independence of the United States the eighty-sixth. "ABRAHAM LINCOLN. "By the President, "WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. This act, though quali gress, July 13th, 1861, do hereby declare that the in-fied by its title to cover Nullity of the Act. habitants of the said States of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida, (except the inhabitants of that part of the State of Virginia lying west of the Alleghany Mountains, and of such other parts of that State, and the other States hereinbefore named, as may maintain a loyal adhesion to the Union and the Constitution, or may be from time to time occupied and controlled by the forces engaged in the dispersion of said insurgents,) only such property as had been "used for insurrectionary purposes," was designed to be retaliatory. The friends of the Slave regarded it as the first step towards his enfranchisement. But, it soon came to be regarded as a dead letter in spite of its Congressional authority and Executive endorsement. commander of a department saw it enforced, if we except Fremont's attempt in Missouri, No |