Chapter XII

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.