An almost daily incident of the Federal blockading fleet was the rescue
from frail boats of negro slaves, officially reported by the Federals
as "intelligent contrabands," who at the risk of their lives deserted
their owners and escaped to the Federal warships several miles from the
beach. They numbered several hundred during the war, and I am informed
that very few of them returned from the North, where many settled in
their new-found freedom. Some of the more industrious prospered, but a
larger proportion died from exposure to the rigorously cold winters of
the North.
Specimens of the official reports of such cases follow:
"U.S.S. 'Monticello,'
"Off Wilmington, N.C.,
"_September 22, 1862_.
"Sir: I beg leave to forward you the following information obtained
from the within named persons, who came off to this vessel this morning:
"Frank Clinton, aged thirty-five years, belonging to Robert H. Cowan.
"Samuel Mince, aged twenty-three years, belonging to Mrs. Elizabeth
Mints.
"Thomas Cowen, aged twenty-four years, belonging to Mrs. J.G. Wright.
"Charles Millett, aged twenty-eight years, belonging to Mrs. John
Walker.
"James Brown, aged twenty-three years, belonging to John Brown.
"Horace Smith, aged twenty-two years, belonging to Mrs. William Smith.
"David Mallett, aged twenty-six years, belonging to Mrs. John Walker.
"The gunboat _North Carolina_ is to be launched next Saturday and is
to be clad with railroad iron down to the water's edge. The sides of
the boat are built angular, and the guns are to be mounted on a covered
deck. The lower part of the hull is of pine and the upper of heavy oak.
This vessel is to be fitted up by Mr. Benjamin Beery and the engine
she is to have is to come out of the steamer _Uncle Ben_, formerly a
tugboat. The contrabands state that they are sanguine of having her
ready by the 10th of October, 1862. These contrabands are from in and
about Wilmington city, and they all agree in stating that that city is
completely entrenched and guns mounted at every half mile upon the
works. From their account Cape Fear River has several batteries upon
its banks. The first is called Camp Brown, two miles from the city,
which is an earth and log work on the right-hand side going up the
river, and mounts two guns; opposite to it are obstructions in the
river, consisting of sunken cribs. The next fort below is called Mount
Tirza and mounts two guns and is on the same side of the river. The
next is Fort St. Philip, a large work, mounting sixteen guns, near Old
Brunswick, on the left-hand side of the river going up. Opposite this
last-named work the obstructions in the river are heavy piles with a
narrow passageway through them. At this point the lightboat, which was
taken from Frying Pan Shoals, is anchored inside the obstruction and
mounts four guns. There is also a lightboat anchored inside Zeek's
Island, mounting a like number of guns. One of these contrabands is
from Fayetteville, N. C., and states that they are making rifles and
gun carriages up there, and also that they are building a large foundry
and blacksmith's shop. As fast as the arms are completed they are sent
to Raleigh, North Carolina.
"These contrabands state that the rebels succeeded in getting out of
the _Modern Greece_ (which vessel was run ashore near New Inlet) six
rifled cannon, which, from their description, I should judge to be
Whitworth's breech-loading guns; also 500 stand of arms and a large
amount of powder and clothing, the last two in a damaged condition. One
also states that the steamer _Kate_, before running into this port,
was chased by a cruiser and threw overboard 10,000 stand of arms. This
he is positive of, as one of the hands on board the _Kate_, a friend
of his, told him so. From their accounts I judge that a regular and
uninterrupted trade is kept up between Nassau, New Providence, and
Shallotte Inlet, N.C., which inlet is about 20 miles to the westward
of this place. Schooners are said to arrive here weekly, and, after
discharging, take in cotton, turpentine, and rosin, and sail for Nassau
with papers purporting that they sailed from the city of Wilmington. I
would suggest that some means be taken to stop this trade, and I am,
"Very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"D.L. Braine,
"_Lieutenant-Commander_.
"Commander G.H. Scott,
"_Comdg. U.S.S. 'Maratanza,'
"Off Western Bar, Cape Fear River_."
"U. S. Gunboat 'Penoboscot'
"Off Cape Fear, N.C.,
"_September 23, 1862_.
"Sir: I have to inform you that seven contrabands came to this vessel
this morning who gave their own and their masters' names as follows:
"William, owned by S.G. Northrop, of Wilmington.
"Lewis, owned by Dr. McCrea, of Wilmington.
"Ben Greer, owned by P.K. Dickinson, of Wilmington.
"George, owned by T.D. Walker, of Wilmington.
"Virgil Richardson, owned by James Bradley.
"Abraham Richardson, owned by D.A.F. Flemming.
"No information of importance was elicited, except that the steamer
_Mariner_, loaded with cotton, tobacco, and turpentine, was ready for
sea and would make an early attempt to run the blockade of this port.
"I am, respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"J.M.B. Clitz,
"_Commander_.
"Commander G.H. Scott,
"_Commanding U.S.S. 'Maratanza,'
"And Senior Officer Present_."
"From William Robins, contraband, ship carpenter, who has been at work
upon one of the rebel gunboats at Wilmington since July:
"1. There are two boats in process of construction; one at J.L. Cassidy
& Sons, the other at Beery & Brothers. Captain Whitehead superintends
the former and Mr. Williams the latter. Commander Muse has control of
the whole. Both boats are built upon the same plan, 150 feet keel,
23 feet beam, 12 feet draft. They are to be iron-roofed like the
_Merrimac_. The iron is to be made in Richmond and will be ready in
four months. The engines are on board but not set. One of them is new,
made at Richmond; the other was taken from the _Uncle Ben_. Propellers
are about eight feet in diameter. The boats are pierced for eight guns,
but will carry but three, which can be moved at ease. Guns are not yet
ready. Boats would have been ready for launching in three weeks had not
many of the workmen left. Some struck for more pay; some were fearful
of yellow fever. Formerly ninety-five to one hundred were at work on
each boat; now only thirty. Pay $2.50 to $3.
"2. Provisions scarce. Flour, $27; rice, 12-1/2 cents; potatoes, $3.50
to $4; bacon, 50 cents; beef, 25 cents; meal, $2; butter, 85 cents to
$1.
"3. There are no soldiers in Wilmington. Colonel Livingsthrop
(Leventhorpe), with one regiment, is at Masonboro Sound. There are
about 3,000 in all in this vicinity. Colonel Lamb is at Fort Fisher.
Captain Dudley evacuated Zeek's Island and is now at Fort Fisher.
"4. Friday last was set apart by President Davis as a day for
thanksgiving and prayer for the victories before Richmond and in
Maryland, as also for the capture of Harpers Ferry and Cincinnati, both
of which were taken without the loss of a life.
"5. No vessel has run in or out of the port since the _Modern Greece_
except the _Kate_. The _Modern Greece_ had two shots through her
boiler, and one through her donkey engine. Her cargo consisted of
powder and arms and whisky. Much was taken out and much remains. Powder
was all wet. They dried some of it. She had two heavy guns. She was a
very fine steamer. They saved none of her machinery.
"The _Kate_ ran in and out the main channel. The tug _Mariner_ is now
ready to run out, having 100 bales of cotton and 100 barrels of rosin.
They say a schooner ran in at Little River Inlet not long ago. The
_Mariner_ is going to Nassau for salt."
Information given by Colonel Shaw's body servant:
"Thirty-five hundred troops (a large margin given) in and about
Wilmington, including all the forts, under the command of General
Leventhorpe. At present most of the soldiers have left Wilmington
and moved down this way on account of yellow fever. There are about
800 at Fort Caswell, and about double the number at Fort Fisher. The
troops are clothed, very dirty, but apparently are sufficiently fed.
Provisions come to them from the country. They enlist from fourteen to
fifty years of age. Many of the conscripts run away; 300 have deserted
in one day. Have telegrams from Richmond, but they are in doubt about
the entire correctness of such. Previous to the battles before Richmond
the people were quite disheartened and were willing to give up the
place; since, however, they are much encouraged, and a better feeling
pervades. There are some Union men in W. Not any small craft at W. The
two gunboats, not rams, are being completed; workmen from the army. One
engine is new from Richmond; the other old from _Uncle Ben_, and each
boat will mount three guns on a side; also one forward and one aft. The
tug _Mariner_ is prepared to run for Nassau. Has two guns; is loaded
with cotton. Flour is $30 per barrel; whisky $15 a gallon; boots $20
a pair. Have grown some corn about W. this season. No business doing.
Clerks all enlisted. The fort's southwest breastworks were injured by
the _Otorara_; no one killed. Beauregard at Charleston, and Lieut.
Commander Flusser, who ought to have left out the 'l' in his name,
said: 'A "reliable contraband" who says he deserted from the enemy
today and who represents himself as an officer's servant, declares
that he has heard of no boat building up this river; that he does not
believe that there is one there; that one was some time since under
construction at Tarboro, but that work on her has been discontinued,'
etc. I fear the 'reliable contraband' was sent in by _Messieurs les
Secesh_. I do not think anyone can outlie a North Carolina white,
unless he be a North Carolina negro."
Also there were occasional white deserters from Fort Fisher and from
the out-lying Confederate camps or outposts. These were not named for
obvious reasons, and they were described in the official reports as
so ragged and so infested with vermin that they had to be immediately
divested of their clothing, which was thrown overboard, and the
deserters were clothed from the ships' supply chests. As cleanliness is
said to be next to godliness, it is manifest that these fellows were a
very bad lot.