Second voyage--Departure from Havana--Captain Dave sails same
night--Light winds and calms--Plans to keep out of sight of
cruisers--Narrow escape--We meet an old friend--We don't like her
looks--We make a warlike display--She sheers off--A long passage--Get
in with difficulty--Captain Dave ahead of us--He brings in with him a
naval Federal officer and prize crew.
At last a steady breeze sprang up from the south, which freshened
towards the afternoon, and we stood down the bay just before sunset.
We passed the two Federal cruisers as they lay at anchor. We saw the
officers scrutinizing us with their glasses, but as neither of the
vessels had steam up, it was impossible that they could follow us
that night.
Our direct course was about W.N.W., but as that was likely to be
watched, we thought best to keep out of it. We might, with the wind
we had, have kept to the north of this course, which would have
placed us more to windward, but that would have thrown us in the way
of cruisers on the look-out for vessels from Mobile. We therefore
stood to the westward, which was also the course we should follow
according to our clearance.
Captain Dave sailed along with us, but we lost sight of him during
the night. There were also two other vessels--one of them the
_Sylvia_--sailed the same evening, but it was arranged that all
should take different routes, so as better to evade the cruisers.
We kept on about due west for about three days, but the breeze got
gradually less, and at last died away.
It was then down all sail and keep a strict look-out from the
mast-head, with sweeps ready to pull out of sight should anything
appear on the horizon. Soon, however, a light breeze sprang up from
the eastward, and we stood away to the northward. For nine or ten
days we kept creeping on this way more than half of the time lying
with our sails down.
We had got to within 150 miles of Galveston without sighting
anything, but we were now on the dangerous ground, and made it a
point always before daybreak to take down all sail, whether there was
wind or not, and as soon as it got clear to scan the horizon all
round, and if anything was seen in the distance, to keep sail down
until it went out of sight, or pull away from it if it was calm.
The first serious scare we got on this trip was when about 120 miles
from Galveston. A very light breeze had been blowing all night, and
we were making about two knots, but before the day began to break we
took down all sail. As day broke, right ahead, at little more than
three miles' distance, there was a large steamer steering to the
westward right across our track. Such was the position of the two
vessels, that if we had continued under sail there would have been
danger of a collision. She was certainly a cruiser, and we
considered it to be all up with us now.
The men ran below to get their money out of their chests and hide it
under their stockings, and I got the letters and despatches ready to
consign to the deep.
It was still gray dawn, and the morning was somewhat hazy, and the
steamer had passed our track, and we were upon her quarter before it
got clear daylight. It was evident that they had not yet noticed us,
but we knew that with the clear daylight they would soon observe us,
and put about and make a prize of us. How we wished for a fog or a
shower of rain to obscure us!
We got out the sweeps and pulled, but not so much to increase the
distance as to head off from the cruiser and bring our two masts in
line with her, and make us less easy to be observed.
The steamer kept on her course, and as she was now nearly five miles
distant, we began to think it just possible that she might pass on
without observing us.
She did, greatly to our relief. The look-out was probably sleepy and
looking only ahead, and a sail being what they pictured in their
minds, our low hull and bare poles never caught their attention, and
it was evident that they never thought of such an unseamanlike act as
to lay and roll under bare poles in a calm or light breeze.
Unseamanlike or not, I was now more than ever convinced of the wisdom
of the device, and if they did not believe any one would do such a
thing so much the better.
There was now some days of very light winds and calms, so that during
the day we were the greater part of the time with our sails down,
keeping watch from the masthead. Several times we saw cruisers in
the distance, but got out of sight by hard pulling at the sweeps
before we were observed.
At length a steady breeze sprang up from the south-east, and we were
getting along very well, when we sighted a small schooner ahead,
which I took to be one of those vessels which left Havana at the same
time with us. As we got nearer the men thought it was the _Sylvia_.
When we first saw this vessel we were steering about north by west
with a free sheet, and she was nearly right ahead, close hauled on
the starboard tack, by which her course must have been about east by
north.
Soon after, however, she changed tack and stood on the port tack,
which caused her to head about south by west and towards us. I was
astonished at this, because it was understood that when one blockade
runner sighted another at sea they should steer away from each other.
This was in case of a cruiser, seeing the one and bearing down upon
her, would also see the other, and both would be captured.
We were now certain that it was the _Sylvia_, but why she was tacking
to windward I could not understand, when she had a fair wind for the
Texas coast, unless she wished to speak and compare longitudes, as
she had done before off the coast of Mexico, but at the same time, I
remembered that it was not the same captain that was upon her now.
"Yes," said the mate, "and take care that she has not changed captain
and crew since she left Havana, and is now in the hands of the
Yankees, and they intend to make a prize of us, so I would advise you
to be on your guard."
"If that be the case," said I, "we had better haul up at once and
keep to windward of her," and we immediately luffed up and stood on
the wind with a good full about east-north-east.
I knew that as she could not lay any higher we must pass her about a
mile to windward, and we should then be able to have a better look at
her; and in case it might be that she had lost her reckoning, I took
off one of the hatch-covers, and having blackened it over, I chalked
the longitude upon it in letters large enough to be seen at that
distance, and when we were abreast of them we held it up for them to
see, while I closely examined her with the glass.
Few men were to be seen upon her, but those I could see I took to be
men-of-war's men, and I suspected there were others keeping down out
of sight.
I had now no doubt that it was the _Sylvia_, that she had been
captured and had a prize crew on board, and they were now trying to
make a prize of us.
The sailing qualities of the two vessels were nearly equal, rather in
our favour, and I had no fear of them overhauling us; but it was not
yet 2 p.m., and the wind might die away, and I knew the _Sylvia_ had
a good large boat, and they might attempt to board us with an armed
crew, and as neither vessel had hoisted their flag, I thought there
would be no harm in making some display of force.
I then called the crew, and told them that I would not ask them to
fight, but that was the _Sylvia_, which had been captured, and was, I
thought, on the way to New Orleans in charge of a prize crew, and
they would like to make a prize of us if we would submit to go
quietly along with them, but if they saw that we were not willing to
submit and had arms to protect ourselves, they would not make any
attempt, as there would not be more than six of them, and there were
eight of us, all as good men and well armed; and all I would ask them
to do would be to make a display of armed men on deck, which I had no
doubt would be sufficient to warn them off, as they knew that most of
the captains of blockade runners now held commissions in the
Confederate service. The mate then told them that a prize crew on a
captured vessel had tried to board a schooner from Mobile, and the
crew of the schooner had beaten them back with handspikes.
We now saw that the _Sylvia_ had tacked and was standing after us.
The men readily agreed; some even expressed their determination to
fight rather than allow themselves to be captured by a prize crew.
We then opened a case of Enfield rifles. In this we had some
difficulty, as the boxes were lined with tin, but we got out a
sufficient number, and brought them on deck and fixed the bayonets,
every man taking one except the man at the helm.
We were now to the northward of the _Sylvia_, and our course clear
before us, and the _Sylvia_ to leeward. I now put the vessel upon
our course again, crossing the bows of the other vessel at about a
quarter of a mile distance.
We now made a display of our force in the best way we could devise,
taking care that at least seven men might be seen, each with a rifle
and fixed bayonet. This had the desired effect, and we soon saw the
_Sylvia_ luffing up and standing away to the eastward.
We saw her afterwards making some signals which we did not
understand, and whether this was intended for us, or to frighten us
by pretending to signal with some warship in the distance we did not
know. We scanned the horizon from the mast-head, but saw nothing.
We watched her closely during the rest of the day, in case she might
creep up upon us during the night and take us unawares.
The light breeze continued during the night, but died away about
daybreak, and all sail was taken in and everything stowed, so as to
be as unconspicuous as possible.
I now supposed that we must be about thirty or forty miles south-east
of Galveston, and taking a heave of the lead, we found we were in
about thirty fathoms water.
This was rather a good place to lay, as it was about twenty miles to
the southward of the general track of cruisers between New Orleans
and Galveston, which track I wished, if possible, to cross during the
night. We therefore got out our coil of rope and let down our
grapnel, which would not only prevent us drifting with the current,
but indicate the direction and strength of the current.
Throughout this day it continued quite calm without a breath of wind,
and we swung from our grapnel, the current being from about S.S.E.
To ascertain the strength of the current, and if the grapnel was
holding, chips of wood were thrown overboard, and the speed at which
they drifted astern noted.
I got here, during the day, the exact latitude and longitude, so
that, knowing the exact position of the vessel and the direction and
force of the current, we would be able to make a good landfall if a
breeze sprung up towards the evening, which was very likely.
All that day nothing appeared in sight, and just about sunset a light
breeze sprung up from S.S.E. This was all that was desired, and we
got up the grapnel and made sail, and I set the course to make the
land about thirty miles to the eastward of Galveston.
The breeze was very light, but steady, and I wished to time so as to
be within four miles of the land by daybreak, but the vessel's bottom
having got a little foul by the tedious summer voyage, the speed was
not great. And when daylight broke the land was not in sight, but it
was somewhat hazy; but this was all the better in the position we
were in, as we were less apt to be seen from a distance.
About 8 a.m. the sun broke out bright, and I was just going to take a
sight to get the exact longitude, when the cry of "Land ahead!" was
given.
The haze had lifted, and there, right ahead, about four miles
distant, were the three mounds described by Captain M. in his
directions. This was everything we wished, and we soon came to
anchor in three fathoms water about a mile from the shore.
All sail was now taken down, and not a bit too soon, for just as
everything was stowed away, a cruiser was observed coming from the
eastward.
The policy now, if she came down upon us, was to run the vessel on
the beach, by which means the greater part of the cargo might be
saved, as the Federals would not attempt to land or come near the
shore in their boats. I was very unwilling to beach the vessel, and
determined not to do it till the last extremity.
As the wind had now almost died away and there was very little sea, I
determined to go closer to the beach, as close as I could go without
touching. We accordingly got up the anchor, and pulled with the
sweeps to within half a mile of the shore, where we dropped our
grapnel, backed by a heavy piece of chain, and then payed out line
and backed with the sweeps still further in, keeping the vessel's
head pointed towards the steamer, in order to bring her two masts
into one and make her less easy to be seen. We brought her into nine
feet of water, where we dropped anchor.
This was no doubt a critical position to be in had it come on to blow
from seawards. Seamen would be apt to call it madness to take a
vessel into such a position on an open coast, but it must be
remembered that the little vessel, although having come from Havana,
was drawing only about four feet of water, and could be propelled by
oars and handled as easily as a ship's longboat.
The cruiser was now nearly abreast and about six or seven miles
distant, but she made no appearance of turning in towards us.
At the same time a body of Confederate mounted troops came down and
drew up upon the beach.
Whether the cruiser did not perceive us, or whether she saw us and
thought it was a vessel already on the beach and surrounded by
Confederate troops (a thing not uncommon at that time) I do not know;
but she passed on, seemingly bound for Galveston. Meanwhile the
Confederate troops remained drawn up upon the beach, and I knew it to
be De Bray's regiment, which was stationed to the eastward of
Galveston; and as I knew some of the officers, I resolved to land and
deliver the mails, and get some information about the blockading
fleet.
I therefore got out the boat, and taking four men, succeeded in
landing safely, and delivered the letters and despatches to the
commanding officer, which he promised to forward at once to Galveston.
The information as to the blockading fleet was that it would be very
difficult to enter at Galveston. Thirteen war-vessels had been
counted off the place on the previous day, and it was supposed that
they often at night sent their launches into the narrow channels near
the shore.
We now returned on board, and began to prepare for the night's
adventure.
About 4 p.m. a light breeze sprang up, and as we had about thirty
miles to go, I resolved to start early so as to have command of time.
The time I would wish to run past the fleet would be between 3 and 4
a.m., which is about the sleepiest time, and the men on watch are
more intent listening for eight bells than looking out for vessels.
About sunset we got up anchor and set lower sails and steered S.W.,
keeping in about three fathoms water. The night was dark, but clear,
and the breeze kept steady.
About midnight I calculated we had run about twenty miles and were
now getting near the guarded waters. I knew that the narrow channel
through which we were to pass led between the shore and a large shoal
on the east side of the main entrance to Galveston Bay. On this
shoal there was not more than from two to three feet of water, and
the breakers broke furiously over it; and between the channel and the
shore there was a considerable stretch of shallow water. We had
learned from the troopers that the Federals had lately stationed a
gunboat on the east side of this shoal. I knew, however, that a
gunboat would not venture to anchor in less than 3½ fathoms of water,
so that there would be room to pass, if we could do so, unobserved.
As we had plenty of time I decided to put the vessel under low
canvas, so that nothing would show above the dark loom of the land to
leeward.
We accordingly put double reefs in the mainsail and foresail, and
proceeded very cautiously, keeping the lead going.
We soon began to hear the distant roar of the breakers on the shoal,
and very soon after, I could, with the glass, clearly make out a
vessel at anchor on our port bow, and pretty close in to the shore,
so that it would be close work to get past unobserved. Keep her away
a little. She was kept away until the water shoaled to ten feet, and
then brought up and kept in that depth. The dim lines of the gunboat
were now abeam, and if we could only get water sufficient we should
get past. The water now shoaled to eight feet, but that was what I
expected. We had now got past the gunboat, but the water suddenly
shoaled down to six feet, and then to five. This would not do; we
luffed up; it deepened a little, and then shoaled down to five feet
again. We came round on the other tack, but still found little more
than five feet.
The roaring of the breakers was heard all around, and I expected
every moment the vessel would take the ground. There was not a
moment to lose; the vessel was luffed up into the wind with sails
shaking. I feared to drop anchor lest the noise of the chain running
out might be heard on board of the gunboat, and tried to throw out
the grapnel.
"It will never hold her," said the mate.
"Never mind, it will check her a little till we see what is to be
done."
The grapnel was thrown out and the sails lowered.
With my glass I could see that we had got well past one gunboat; but
we could see another over the breakers to the south-west.
The man with the lead said the vessel was drifting, and there was a
strong current.
"Better let go the anchor," said the mate, "or we will be on the
breakers."
The anchor was hanging at the davits, but I feared the noise of the
chain running out.
"Ease gently about three fathoms of chain out of the hawse hole,"
said I, "and then let go."
This was done, and the anchor dropped without noise.
"We have got into a fix," was the word; "but there is certainly a
channel if we know where to find it; let us get out the boat and go
and take soundings."
The boat was got out, and I took two men in her, and, taking the
hand-lead, began to sound all round the vessel. A compass in the
boat would have been of no use as we could not use a light, so we
must calculate the bearings by that most invaluable guide, the North
Star.
It was sometime before we got a passage away from the vessel, but at
last, by passing through about six feet of water, back nearly in the
direction we had come, we found a channel of seven feet, which we
followed as far as we could without losing sight of the schooner, and
found it to lead about W.S.W. This exactly agreed with the
directions given by Captain M., and we returned to the schooner
marking well the course we must take.
When we got back to the schooner I was annoyed to find that the men
in letting go the anchor had omitted to take a turn of the chain
round the bitts, and the vessel had drifted out about twenty fathoms
of chain before they discovered their mistake, and all this was now
to heave up. Of course I swore at their stupidity, but it was not to
be expected that they would have all their wits about them in a time
of excitement.
While they heaved in the chain I studied the position and saw how we
had got into this fix. By keeping away to avoid the gunboat, we had
gone out of the course, and been led into a sort of _cul de sac_, and
it was fortunate that we did not ground on the shoal.
The difficulty was now to get out of this, and get into the channel,
the distance would be only 150 yards, but from the direction of the
wind she would not lay the course, and there was no room to tack or
water sufficient to use the centre-board, besides a strong current
against us.
We attached a good heavy piece of chain to the grapnel, which we
carried out with the boat, and by using the sweeps to lessen the
strain, we after a good deal of hard work succeeded in warping up.
Having got into the channel we hoisted sail again, and followed the
channel very cautiously, as the channel was narrow and required very
careful steering to keep in seven feet of water, and the slightest
deviation would have been fatal to us. We were now safely past one
gunboat, but we could see another some distance ahead on the port
bow; but as she could not be in shallow water, there must be a turn
off in the channel before we got near her.
Suddenly the man with the lead called out sharply, "Nine feet!
thirteen feet! Hard up! ease off sheets and keep her away to
north-west."
We were now into the main channel, standing up before the wind with
the last seen gunboat nearly astern, when suddenly a light flashed on
our port bow, and we were hailed, "Schooner ahoy! heave to quick or
we will sink you."
I scarcely knew what to do. I thought it must be an armed boat from
the blockading fleet.
"No ship's boat comes in that far," said one of the men.
"Who are you?" I cried.
"Confederate guard boat," was the reply. "What vessel is that?"
"The schooner _Rob Roy_ from Havana," I replied.
"All right; but heave to quick or you are sunk."
Our helm was put hard down, but being before the wind with our sheets
eased off, we took a pretty large sweep in coming round and before we
could get the sheets aboard, we had almost run into the guard-boat.
It was one of the harbour steamers fitted up for the purpose, and so
close did we come that a man on the upper deck of the steamer caught
the end of our jib-boom just as we had lost headway, and with the
help of our men pushed the two vessels apart.
Explanations then followed.
"Why did you threaten to sink us?"
"To make you heave to quick as you were running upon certain
destruction."
"Why? are there torpedoes in the channel."
"Well, perhaps there are, but you were running right on to the wreck
of the _Westfield_, and if you had struck that, you would have gone
down right fast. Drop a little way astern and let go your anchor
until daylight. It is here the boarding officer will visit you
before you go up to town."
We dropped astern and let go the anchor. Every one breathed freely,
and the general expression was, "In all right at last."
It was now past four o'clock. I told the men all to go and turn in,
but, fatigued as they must have been, they seemed too happy and
exhilarated to care about sleep.
In a short time a boat from the guard ship came alongside.
"May we come on board," said the officer.
"You know your port regulations best," said I, "but we have no
sickness on board. Is the health officer with you?"
"No, he won't be down till daylight, and I think we had better not go
on board until he comes."
"Will you take something now?" said I.
"Well, it's early."
With that the cook came up and said he had coffee ready.
"Will you take a mug of hot coffee?" said I.
"Rather than all the grog in the world," they said.
Coffee was brought and handed to them in the boat, which they enjoyed
as a great luxury, not having, as they said, tasted any for months.
"So you are the _Rob Roy_, in all right. We heard you had been
captured."
"Well, we have had some narrow escapes; we have had a long passage of
eighteen days, light winds and dodging the cruisers. Has any of the
other vessels got in? There was several vessels left Havana at the
same time with us."
"Captain McLusky is in three days ago; he has got into the Brazos
River, and brought a Yankee officer and crew along with him."
"What do you say?" said I.
"He is in the Brazos River, and has brought in with him as prisoners
an officer and five men from a Yankee gunboat."
"The devil is in that man," said I; "he left Havana on the same night
as I did upon an old flat-bottomed barge that I could scarcely
believed would cross the Gulf, but how about the prize crew?"
"He was captured, and recaptured his vessel again. I believe there
was some fighting, but I have not heard the particulars."
"Has any other vessel arrived? has any got into Galveston?"
"No; you are the first that has come in here for several months."
When I told the officer that we had arms for the Government, he said
that was important, as he knew the Government was much in want of
them; he would, therefore, telegraph to the city, so that there might
be no delay, and so saying, they left and returned to the guard ship.
About daylight a boat came alongside with the health officer and
other port officials. The despatches had already been delivered by
Major ---- of De Bray's regiment; and they had orders to board the
_Rob Roy_ immediately on her arrival and give her quick despatch, and
also to inform the captain that General Magruder would be glad to see
him at headquarters as soon as possible.
The boarding ceremonies were soon gone through, and I invited them to
take breakfast with us. This invitation they very willingly
accepted, and enjoyed much such things as we had on the table, which
had become almost unknown in Texas owing to the blockade, especially
some pickled mackerel, which they said the General would have enjoyed
much, as he was very partial to it; the health officer remarking at
the same time that he was caterer for the General's mess, and he had
much difficulty in procuring such things as the old man liked, as
they were now getting very scarce. Of course I took the hint.
I said if they would give me a passage up to town in their boat, I
would go up and see the General as he desired, and take the ship's
papers and enter the manifesto at the custom house; and as there was
no pilots and some dangerous obstructions in the way, I would mark
them and return and take up the vessel. This they readily agreed to
do.
I then put into the doctor's boat a few things, such as some tea and
coffee, two small cheeses, three kits of mackerel, a barrel of
potatoes, a box of raisins, and some other small articles; also
half-a-dozen bottles of brandy, a case of gin, and a dozen bottles of
port. The liquor, of course, being a donation for the hospital.
I then gave orders to the mate to remain at anchor until I returned,
and have everything ready to run the vessel up to town.
I took a look at the position of the blockading fleet and the narrow
channel through which we had passed in coming in, and I resolved, if
possible, to make a thorough survey of the small channels before we
sailed. We then got into the boat and started up the bay towards the
town of Galveston.
My attention was first directed to the wreck of the _Westfield_, a
formidable looking pile of iron boilers and machinery sticking out of
the water, which marked the spot where this ill-fated vessel came to
her tragical end with some of her officers and crew a short time
previously.
The _Westfield_ was one of the war ships which lay at Galveston after
that place was captured by the Federals in 1862, and this is the
story that I heard of how she came to be a wreck on that shoal.
When the attack was made on Galveston by the Confederate forces under
General Magruder, on the morning of the 1st of January, 1863, the
Federal forces after a desperate battle on land and water were
overpowered, and the place was retaken by the Confederates, and most
of the war ships and vessels in the harbour fell into the hands of
the latter. The Commodore, however, tried to escape to sea with the
_Westfield_, but in the attempt he grounded on a shoal and stuck
fast. Seeing that he was going to be attacked by the Confederates
with their land batteries, he determined to escape in his boats, and
blow up the ship to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.
He accordingly laid a train to the magazine, but, by some
mismanagement or accident, the train was fired prematurely and the
Commodore and a large portion of his crew were blown up with the ship.
It was straight on to this wreck that the _Rob Roy_ was running in
the dark morning when ordered by the officer of the guard ship to
heave to. Several other dangerous obstructions were pointed out to
me, which had been placed in the way as traps for a hostile fleet.
We reached the town about 8 a.m. I went first to the British
Consulate, but as it was not yet business hours, I merely reported
arrival and left my papers.
I then proceeded to General Magruder's headquarters. The General was
not yet dressed, but I was told to go up to his room.
General Magruder, who had a slight lisp or stutter in his speech, was
swearing at one of his boots which he could not get on comfortably,
on account of corns on his toes.
He was, however, in very good humour, and I saw that the few things I
had brought from the vessel had arrived before me.
In the room with him was an aide-de-camp, and lying around in order
were numerous papers, I suppose part of the packet I had brought.
The aide-de-camp had opened one of the bottles of gin, and was
preparing something which was known at that time by the name of "Gin
cocktail." He cast his eye towards me in a laughing way and by way
of acknowledgment said--
"This is some of your importations, Captain."
I knew there was a penalty for bringing in spirituous liquors, and it
was declared contraband, and I replied that it was part of my ship
stores, which I had sent ashore as a donation to the hospital, and I
hoped in doing so I had committed no breach of law or regulations.
"Oh, no," was the reply, "when it is understood to be for the use of
the medical department; and the gift was a very valuable one and was
greatly appreciated;" and he added, with a smile, "that both he and
the General were on the sick list at present."
Having taken their cocktails, the General got his boot on all right,
and the cocktail seemed to have quite allayed the pain of the corns.
He then congratulated me on my safe arrival and having looked over
the list of the cargo, he said it was a most valuable cargo and came
most opportune, and he would like to get the arms delivered as soon
as possible.
I said I found that the seat of customs was at Houston, and I would
require to enter the manifesto there; but to take the vessel up
Buffalo Bayou would take two or three days unless I got a tow up.
"Oh," said he, "we have plenty of steamers here, and will order one
to tow you up."
"Major," said he to the aide-de-camp, "you had better write an order
for that at once. Write an order of instruction to Captain W. about
the arms, and then give orders to the Marine Department to get a
steamer ready to tow the vessel up to Houston."
The following order was then written out and handed to me, from which
I now copy verbatim:--
"HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT TEXAS, GALVESTON,
_June_ 2_nd_, 1864.
"CAPTAIN W., Schooner _Rob Roy_.
"CAPTAIN,--I am directed by the Major General commanding to say that
you will take your vessel to Houston, and in the absence of the
officer designated by General Smith, you will deliver the arms
forwarded by Mr. Helm C. S. agent, to Captain Scott, ordnance officer
at that place. Conforming of course to the revenue laws.
"I am, Captain,
"Your most obedient servant,
"WM. S. CARRINGTON,
"A.A.A.G.
"You will hand the invoice to Captain Scott, ordnance officer."
Having got through the business, the General asked me to stay to
breakfast. I said I had breakfasted long ago, and would now go and
get the vessel brought up to the vicinity of the harbour, where she
would be handy for the steamer to take her in tow.
Breakfast was now being put on the table, and the health officer had
come in.
"I think," said the General, "that I smell 'coffee sure enough,' as
the negroes say.[1] Has the doctor been on board of the _Rob Roy_?"
"Of course," said the doctor, "that is my duty, and the captain has
been very kind."
I now took my leave and got a harbour boat to take me to the vessel,
which I reached about ten o'clock, and a light breeze having sprung
up we got up anchor and soon got up to the harbour, and anchored near
to a steamer named the _Island City_, which was the one spoken of by
the General as the one that would be ordered to tow us up to Houston.
I went on board of the steamer to ascertain what time they would be
ready to start. I was told, to my astonishment, that they had got no
orders on the subject. They expected that they would be going up to
Harrisonburg, but had got no orders about towing up the _Rob Roy_.
I scarcely understood why no orders had been given, and made inquiry
at the Marine Department. I was met there by the usual shuffling,
and referred by one to another, until at last I lost patience, and
determined to go to the General himself.
I went to General Magruder's headquarters, but found he had gone out;
supposed to be gone down to the Forts; would likely be back in about
an hour.
On my way out I passed the door of another room, where a number of
people were assembled, mostly females and children, on whose garments
and general appearance could well be seen the effects of the
blockade; many of them held plates in their hands.
As I walked slowly past a voice from within the room cried, "Hulloa,
Captain." I looked in and saw the health officer, who was also
doctor of the General's staff. He was busy dealing out among these
people a small share of the few things I had given him. To some he
laid two mackerel on their plate, to others a bit of cheese or a
little coffee or tea, to the children some raisins, &c. On my making
a remark the doctor said, "The General would divide his last crust
with these poor people, and poor enough they are here now."
I said that caused me to form a very different opinion of the
General, as I had heard that he was rather selfish and tyrannical.
He replied that the General might have his faults, as all men had,
but he took no care to hide his faults or court adulation, and he
cared not what any one said about him. He followed his own course
and turned to the right or left for no one. At the same time this he
could say of him, that a kinder-hearted man was not in existence.
It was now about one o'clock, and I went out and was wandering slowly
along the front street, when a phaeton came driving along, and in it
I saw the General and another officer sitting.
The General observed me, and, stopping the machine, cried out, "Have
you not got away yet, Captain?"
I said, "No, there was no wind, and I saw no chance of being towed
up."
"How is that?" said he.
I said the officers seemed not to understand each other in the
matter; one had no orders, others had no authority to give orders,
and I had been bandied about from one to another.
"Confound them all," the General stuttered out angrily; and, looking
to the right and left, said, "Have you a bit of paper and a pencil?"
I took out the order I had received in the morning.
"That will do," he said, and I handed it to him with a pencil, and he
wrote something on the back with the pencil and handed it to me,
saying, "Take that to the Marine Department."
This paper has been lying tied up in a bundle with others for over
twenty-five years, and though not very legibly written, I can now
copy from it the writing in pencil verbatim, as follows:--
"It is of importance to give despatch to blockade runners. General
Haines has got the transport steamers. He will give orders for their
captains to afford the _Rob Roy_ any assistance they can which will
not interfere materially with the public service. General Haines
cannot be at a loss to give the proper orders, as he is supposed to
know and can ascertain what assistance can be given; for instance, if
the _Island City_ goes to ----, or proceeds to Houston, if not ----
she could take her up on the way; if not needed here she could be
sent on purpose, as the _Rob Roy_ has a valuable cargo of arms that
ought to be delivered without delay.
"&c., &c.,
"J. B. MAGRUDER."
The blanks in the above are words which I cannot now make out. He
handed this to me, saying, "Take this to the Marine Department." I
went at once to the Marine Department, asked for the chief officer,
and handed him the order. He did not observe the pencil writing, but
opened the paper and read the order.
"Well," said he, "this is an order for you to take your vessel to
Houston and deliver the arms, &c. Why don't you do so? What have I
to do with that?"
"It is in regard to being towed up," said I. "I understood that
orders were given to you on the subject, and I called to see about it
this forenoon, but got no satisfaction. Please read the pencil
writing on the back, that will explain it better to you."
He turned it over and began to read the pencil writing on the back,
which was not very plain.
"What is this?" said he. "Whose writing is that?"
"General Magruder wrote that," said I, "a few minutes ago, after
passing one or two compliments at the management of the Marine
Department."
He turned it over, looked at the signature, and then began to read it
carefully with changed countenance.
"Can't you read it, Major," said one or two of the officers round
him, referring to the General's handwriting.
The Major read it carefully over, and immediately taking a pen
endorsed on it:--
"GALVESTON, _June_ 2_nd_, 1864.
"The _Island City_ will be ordered to take the _Rob Roy_ in tow for
Harrisonburg as she goes up.
"ROBERT WAGAN,
"Major and Chief Marine, 1st D.S."
I merely mention these little incidents to show the attitude so often
displayed by subordinates in office.
The _Island City_, which had steam up, was alongside of the _Rob Roy_
almost as soon as I could get on board, and very soon we were
crossing Galveston Bay in tow of this steamer.
Having seen and experienced some of the damage done to sailing
vessels on the Brazos River by the carelessness of steamers while
towing, I reminded the captain of the valuable cargo of arms and
ammunition that was on board, and which would be destroyed if the
vessel was sunk or damaged.
He said he would be careful, and as it would be dark by the time we
reached Buffalo Bayou, he intended to stop and take on wood at a
place near the mouth of the Bayou, where we would lay up for the
night, and proceed up the narrow Bayou in daylight; but he said he
could only tow us to Harrisonburg. I said we could easily manage up
the rest of the way ourselves.
All went well. We entered the Bayou and lay all night at a
wood-yard, where I may safely say we had all a sweet night's sleep,
which we stood greatly in need of, being the first we had had for
some time.
In the morning the steamer took us in tow again, and towed us up as
far as Harrisonburg, where she dropped us, and we worked up to
Houston by the oars, where we arrived on the 3rd of June, 1864.
Mr. M. was at the wharf to receive us, and of course there were a
great many congratulations on our safe arrival, as it was feared, and
it was afterwards confirmed, that the _Sylvia_, the _Emily_, and
another vessel, I think named the _Lily_, all of which had left
Havana about the same time with us, had been captured.
The Messrs. M. were appointed consignees, with instructions to sell
the cargo and invest the proceeds in cotton; it being understood that
what part of it that was sold to the Government would be paid for in
cotton bonds.
The usual forms at the custom house were again gone through, and soon
our cargo of arms, ammunition, and other war stores were landed, and
sent off to do what good or evil they might.
I found that at the time the large cotton press was stopped,
undergoing repairs, and if I wished to have the cotton bales
compressed I should require to wait for some time.
As this was very important for stowage I preferred to wait. I was in
no hurry, as I certainly did not wish to go to sea again at this
season, as there was great danger of capture on account of the calms,
or light winds and long daylight, and I did not desire to sail before
the end of August, when there was a better chance of a steady wind.
[1] The term "coffee sure enough" was a negro term at that time for
genuine coffee. Coffee had been an article extensively used in the
South, and the want of it was one of the greatest privations endured
by the people in consequence of the blockade, and many substitutes
for it had been tried in the shape of corn, beans, peas, and
different kinds of seeds, roasted and ground, and served as a
beverage at breakfast under the name of coffee, but none approached
the genuine article; and it was a common expression among the
negroes, if on some rare occasion such as the arrival of a blockade
runner, they had got a taste of the genuine article, they would boast
to their friends that they had tasted "coffee sure enough"--hence the
phrase became a general one.