I learn from official reports that after Captain Roe of the U.S.S.
_Sassacus_ had practically destroyed the _Wild Dayrell_ by gun fire
he stood out to sea and regained his position in the outer line of
cruisers, known as the Bermuda line or track, and that at daylight
of the 4th of February, 1864, he discovered a blockade runner to the
northward, which proved to be the fine new iron steamer _Nutfield_ of
750 tons (unusually large size), from Bermuda bound for Wilmington.
The _Sassacus_, being the faster ship, increased her speed to thirteen
knots, and at noon succeeded in getting in range of the _Nutfield_
with her 100-pounder rifle guns, which did such execution that the
hard pressed _Nutfield_ changed her course, heading for the land,
and ran ashore at New River Inlet. The _Nutfield's_ crew set her on
fire and fled precipitately in their boats for the beach. One of the
_Nutfield's_ boats capsized in the surf and the Federals tried to
rescue the crew but only succeeded in saving the purser, the others
being supposedly drowned. Efforts were made by the _Sassacus_ for two
days to haul off the _Nutfield_, which was a very valuable prize, being
loaded with an assorted cargo of merchandise, drugs, munitions of war,
Enfield rifles, a battery of eight very valuable Whitworth guns, and a
quantity of pig lead; the battery and the lead were thrown overboard
during the chase. The _Nutfield_ had escaped from the blockading fleet
at New Inlet the night before and was off New River intending to try
the Cape Fear the following night, but most unfortunately fell in with
the _Sassacus_, a fast cruiser, during the day. A large part of her
valuable cargo was taken out of her by the Federals.