The official report of Lieutenant Lamson, U.S. steamer _Nansemond_,
off New Inlet, October 21, 1863, says, "I have the honor to report the
capture and entire destruction of the blockade runner _Venus_, from
Nassau to Wilmington with a cargo of lead, drugs, dry goods, bacon, and
coffee.
"This morning at 12.30 she attempted to run the blockade, but was
discovered by this vessel, and after a short chase overhauled. When
abeam, I opened fire on her, one shot striking her foremast, another
exploding in her wardroom, a third passing through forward and killing
one man, and a fourth, striking under the guard near the water line,
knocked in an iron plate, causing her to make water fast. She was run
ashore. We boarded her at once, capturing her captain and twenty-two
of her officers and crew. The U.S.S. _Niphon_, Acting Master J.B.
Breck commanding, which was lying near where she went ashore, came
immediately to my assistance. I ran a 9-inch hawser to the _Venus_,
and Captain Breck sent a 7-inch hawser to the _Nansemond's_ bow, but
all our efforts were unavailing, as the tide had turned ebb and she
was going at least 14 knots an hour when she went ashore. Finding it
impossible to move her, I ordered her to be set on fire, which was done
in three places by Acting Ensigns Porter and Henderson, of this vessel.
Our boats were for some time exposed to a sharp fire of musketry from
the beach, and the vessel was within range of one of the batteries. We
had just commenced shelling her machinery when another vessel was seen
off shore, and by the light of the burning steamer I was able to give
her one shot and started in pursuit, but it was so cloudy and hazy that
we lost sight of her almost immediately. I ran east at the rate of
fourteen knots till 7 o'clock, but did not get sight of her again, and
ran back, making the land on the northward.
"In the meantime, Captain Breck, with the assistance of the _Iron Age_,
Lieut. Commander Stone, had completed the destruction of the _Venus_,
her boilers having been blown up and her hull riddled with shell.
"I have to express my thanks to Captain Breck for the prompt assistance
rendered me by sending his boats to assist in carrying my heavy hawser
to the _Nansemond's_ bows. His boats then reported to Acting Ensign
J.H. Porter, who was in charge of the _Venus_. The fire forward not
burning well as it was expected, he sent a boat on board in the morning
and rekindled it."
The _Venus_ was 265 feet long and 1,000 tons measurement, and is
represented by her captain and officers to have been one of the finest
and fastest vessels engaged in running the blockade. She had the finest
engines of any vessel in this trade and was sheathed completely over
with iron. She drew eight feet of water, and when bound out last,
crossed the bar at low water with over 600 bales of cotton on board.
The wrecks of the _Hebe_, _Douro_, and _Venus_ are within a short
distance of each other.
A private notebook was found by the Federal boarding party in the
effects of the captain of the _Venus_, in which a list of blockade
runners engaged in the year 1863 was entered as follows, a total of 75
steamers, of which 34 were captured or destroyed, but this list was not
complete, as a hundred at least were engaged during that period.
Vessels Engaged in Running the Blockade in 1863.
(Those marked C had been captured or destroyed.)
_Nina_ (C)
_Leopard_ (C)
_Antonica_
_Thistle_ (C)
_Douro_ (C)
_Calypso_ (C)
_Granite City_ (C)
_Flora_
_Ruby_ (C)
_Eagle_ (C)
_Havelock_
_Douglas_
_Annie Childs_ (C)
_Wave Queen_ (C)
_Giraffe_ (C)
_Gladiator_
_Hebe_ (C)
_Venus_ (C)
_Juno_ (C)
_Princess Royal_ (C)
_Cronstadt_ (C)
_Phantom_ (C)
_Lord Clyde_
_Dolphin_
_Hansa_
_Ella_
_Spaulding_ (C)
_Mary Ann_
_Mail_ (C)
_Spunkie
Cornubia_ (C)
_Nicolai I_ (C)
_St. John_ (C)
_Hero_[3]
_Gertrude_ (C)
_Britannia_ (C)
_Emma_ (C)
_Georgiana_ (C)
_J.P. Hughes_
_Banshee_
_Alice_ (_Mobile_)
_Aries_ (_St. Thomas_) (C)
_Neptune_ (C)
_Norseman_ (C)
_Merrimac_ (C)
_Kate_ (C)
_Orion_
_Siriens_ (_Sirius_?)
_Atlantic_
_Eugénie_
_Cuba_ (_Mobile_) (C)
_Raccoon_
_Arabian_ (C)
_Jupiter_
_Gibraltar_
_Boston_
_Juno II_
_Scotia_
_Flora II_
_Herald_
_Elizabeth_ (C)
_R.E. Lee_
_Beauregard_
_Sumter_
_Corsica_
_Bendigo_
_Diamond_
_Margaret and Jessie_
_Don_
_Pet_
_Charleston_
_Rouen_
_Hero II_
_Fanny_
_Stonewall Jackson_
Total, 75; captured and destroyed, 34.