The blockade-runner "A. D. Vance." It frequently took a blockade-runner to
catch a blockade-runner, and as the Federal navy captured ship after ship
of this character they began to acquire a numerous fleet of swift steamers
from which it was difficult for any vessel to get away. The "Vance"
brought many a cargo to the hungry Southern ports, slipping safely by the
blockading fleet and back again till her shrewd Captain Willie felt that
he could give the slip to anything afloat. On her last trip she had safely
gotten by the Federal vessels lying off the harbor of Wilmington, North
Carolina, and was dancing gleefully on her way with a bountiful cargo of
cotton and turpentine when, on September 10, 1864, in latitude 34° N.,
longitude 76° W., a vessel was sighted which rapidly bore down upon her.
It proved to be the "Santiago de Cuba," Captain O. S. Glisson. The
rapidity with which the approaching vessel overhauled him was enough to
convince Captain Willie that she was in his own class. The "Santiago de
Cuba" carried eleven guns, and the "Vance" humbly hove to, to receive the
prize-crew which took her to Boston, where she was condemned. In the
picture we see her lying high out of the water, her valuable cargo having
been removed and sold to enrich by prize-money the officers and men of her
fleet captor.
[Illustration: A GREYHOUND CAUGHT--WRECK OF THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER "COLT"]
The wreck of this blockade-runner, the "Colt," lies off Sullivan's Island,
Charleston Harbor, in 1865. The coast of the Carolinas, before the war was
over, was strewn with just such sights as this. The bones of former
"greyhounds" became landmarks by which the still uncaptured
blockade-runners could get their bearings and lay a course to safety. If
one of these vessels were cut off from making port and surrounded by
Federal pursuers, the next best thing was to run her ashore in shallow
water, where the gunboats could not follow and where her valuable cargo
could be secured by the Confederates. A single cargo at war-time prices
was enough to pay more than the cost of the vessel. Regular auctions were
held in Charleston or Wilmington, where prices for goods not needed by the
Confederate Government were run up to fabulous figures. The business of
blockade-running was well organized abroad, especially in England. One
successful trip was enough to start the enterprise with a handsome profit.
A blockade-runner like the "Kate," which made forty trips or more, would
enrich her owners almost beyond the dreams of avarice.
[Illustration: THE CONFEDERATE RAM "STONEWALL"]
Here are two striking views in the Port Royal dry-dock of the Confederate
ram "Stonewall." When this powerful fighting-ship sailed from Copenhagen,
Jan. 6, 1865, under command of Capt. T. J. Page, C. S. N., the Federal
navy became confronted by its most formidable antagonist during the war.
In March, 1863, the Confederacy had negotiated a loan of £3,000,000, and
being thus at last in possession of the necessary funds, Captain Bulloch
and Mr. Slidell arranged with M. Arman, who was a member of the
_Corps-Legislatif_ and proprietor of a large shipyard at Bordeaux, for the
construction of ironclad ships of war. Mr. Slidell had already received
assurances from persons in the confidence of Napoleon III that the
building of the ships in the French yards would not be interfered with,
and that getting them to sea would be connived at by the Government. Owing
to the indubitable proof laid before the Emperor by the Federal diplomats
at Paris, he was compelled to revoke the guarantee that had been given to
Slidell and Bulloch. A plan was arranged, however, by which M. Arman
should sell the vessels to various European powers; and he disposed of the
ironclad ram "Sphinx" to the Danish Government, then at war with Prussia.
Delivery of the ship at Copenhagen was not made, however, till after the
war had ceased, and no trouble was experienced by the Confederates in
arranging for the purchase of the vessel. On January 24, 1865, she
rendezvoused off Quiberon, on the French coast; the remainder of her
officers, crew, and supplies were put aboard of her; the Confederate flag
was hoisted over her, and she was christened the "Stonewall." Already the
vessel was discovered to have sprung a leak, and Captain Page ran into
Ferrol, Spain. Here dock-yard facilities were at first granted, but were
withdrawn at the protest of the American Minister. While Captain Page was
repairing his vessel as best he could, the "Niagara" and the "Sacramento"
appeared, and after some weeks the "Stonewall" offered battle in vain.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: STORMING THE TRENCHES.
_Painted by P. Wilhelmi._
_Copyright, 1901, by Perrien-Keydel Co.,
Detroit, Mich., U. S. A._]