Chapter VIII

My share in the schooner reduced to one-eighth--Appointed master of her--The Brownsville route intercepted--Captains of blockade-running vessels to be furnished with commissions--A schooner on the bar--My old friend Captain Downs again turns up--Amusing story of his capture--I am entrusted with important despatches.

As soon as the holidays were over I lost no time in seeing about getting the cargo of cotton ready for the vessel. I was determined to get her loaded, and take my chance of getting a pass to go to sea.

When Messrs. R. and D. G. M. came to make up all the accounts against the vessel, and I counted up what would be required in the way of stores and outfit, I found we were so deeply in debt to them, that I would have to transfer to them three-fourths of the vessel as their share of her. This left only one-fourth to be owned by myself and partner.

They also made an arrangement fixing the freight of cotton to any neutral port at the rate of 14 cents per lb. They also agreed with me to be master of the vessel, paying me an advance of 100 dollars in specie for my services in port, and to allow me 7 dollars per bale for all cotton carried out by the vessel, when landed in a neutral port.

I now found myself owner of only one-eighth of the vessel, which six months before had been, with her full cargo, my own undivided property. However, if I could only succeed in making the trip, I would retrieve a good deal. And I was now master of the vessel myself, and had everything under my own control.

Of the deck-load which had been taken off the vessel when she sunk, sixty bales belonged to the former consignees, and twenty-one bales to the owners of the vessel. Messrs. M. purchased the sixty bales from the former consignees, so we might begin and take them on board, and the balance of the cargo would be sent shortly afterwards. Messrs. M. also stipulated to send a person with the vessel to act as supercargo, and dispose of the cargo when landed in a neutral port, and settle accounts with me.

I employed a stevedore to stow the cotton in the vessel, cautioning him against committing the same error and doing damage as Captain J. and his mate had done.

He was cautious, but erred on the other side. He did not get into the hold as much cotton by ten bales as had been before. However, I had warned him to be cautious.

A very large deck-load--exceeding what was in the hold--was put on. The bales on deck stood on their ends, and were dunnaged high up from the deck to allow the water free run under them. This made the deck-load about six feet high, and on the top of this all work had to be done. The vessel, thus loaded, only drew four and a half feet of water with centre-board up. One would have thought this rather a ticklish trim to go to sea in; but as other vessels had done it, even to excess of this proportion, I thought I might do the same.

Being once more ready for sea, all that was wanted now was a pass to go to sea, and as this had to be presented at the Forts at the river mouth, it was indispensable. To obtain this, however, it was thought there would be no difficulty, as startling news had just come to hand.

The threatened attack by the Federal forces at the Brazos River and Matagorda Bay had turned out to have been only a feint, and while a part of their fleet hovered off these parts, the main expedition had gone westward, and landed a large force at Point Isabel, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, which was marching upon Brownsville. Communication by that route would therefore be cut off, and as the Mississippi River was now in full possession of the Federals, Texas would not only be cut off from communication with the Confederate States east of the Mississippi River, but her most important communication through Mexico with the outer world would also be cut off.

The only seaport of any note in Texas was Galveston, and that was so closely blockaded by the Federal fleet that entrance or egress was deemed impossible, and no vessel had yet attempted it.

The only other ports or entrances, such as the Brazos River, could only be entered by vessels of very light draught, such as centre-board schooners; and now that the Brownsville route was stopped or threatened, the only communication with the outer world would be by such of those vessels as might successfully run the blockade.

One steamer, and sometimes two, were stationed off the mouth of the Brazos River; but as these vessels had to lay from three to four miles off, on account of the depth of water, it was possible for a light-draught vessel to creep along the shore in a dark night and pass in or out, if they knew the bar, or got the assistance of the pilot.

It was now supposed that the Government would try to favour and encourage blockade running. And I went to Houston to get the vessel cleared and a permission to pass the Forts out to sea. I got the vessel cleared, but there was still some difficulty about getting the pass to go to sea; but I was told it would be all right in a day or two. Two other vessels which lay alongside of mine had got their passports to go to sea without any difficulty.

On the outward passage from Texas at that time it was uncertain what neutral port the vessel might make easiest. It was, therefore, the usual way to clear for the most distant port, and if wind and weather were unfavourable, or danger appeared in the way, to put into a nearer port.

In this case I cleared for Belize, Honduras, intending to go there if the north wind continued; if not, or if chased, to run into Tampico or Vera Cruz.

In the meantime I was informed that it had been suggested by General Magruder, and Chief of the Marine Department, that, having regard to the case of Captain McLusky, and his recovery of his vessel after it had been captured, that captains of blockade runners might be provided with commissions, or certificates, as officers in the Confederate Naval Service, which, in event of their vessels being captured, would serve them as a warrant in any attempt they might make to recapture her should an opportunity present itself, and such certificates should be granted to such men as the General commanding might approve of. I did not well see how any power under this certificate could be acted upon, or carried out under a neutral flag. However, it might be acted upon after the vessel was captured, and the enemy had placed their flag upon her; but as obtaining it required no oath or other obligation on the part of the applicant, I applied for it, and obtained it.

It was simply a certificate that ---- was an "acting master" in the Confederate States Navy, and was to be recognized, obeyed, and respected as such.

I had picked up another man, being a seaman, named Hagan, who had come in upon a blockade runner, but had got his leg badly hurt, and was left behind when his vessel sailed; also a boy, a Chilian, who had acted as steward or cabin-boy of some vessel; and a Mr. Taylor, a rather gentlemanly person, who had come in as mate upon a vessel, and left her to join the Confederate Naval Service; but having a falling out with Commodore Smith, the Chief of the Naval Department, he had left that Service, and agreed to go with me as mate. I observed he signed his name as Brotherton on the articles, but I had formerly known him by the name of Taylor.

I had now a mate, cook, two men, and a boy, and though much underhanded I determined to put to sea, agreeing to divide the amount of the wages and bonuses which would have been paid to the hands we lacked among the other men if we made the trip safe.

I again proceeded to Houston, and pressed at headquarters for a pass to go to sea. I was told it would be all right, and I might be getting my vessel down to the mouth of the river, and the passport would be sent on to me.

I was not quite satisfied with this reply, which I took for a put-off, as I did not think they would be so very obliging as to put themselves to the trouble of sending the passport to me; but I was informed that the General commanding had some very important dispatches to send out, and it was being considered which way they should be sent. As the Brownsville route, if not entirely stopped, was not considered quite safe, and they might be entrusted to my care, and sent to me with the passport.

Satisfied with this, I soon returned to Columbia, quite impatient to have the vessel taken towards the sea. Somehow or other all the way I could not help thinking of the time two months before, when I had come down full of hopes of getting to sea, only to find the vessel sunk in the river, and the sight still haunted my imagination, and I did not breathe freely until I got to the vessel and found her all right.

On the following day we got everything ready, and began to work down the river. We had got about half-way down, and had made fast to the bank to await the turn of the tide, when a party of soldiers were seen coming through the woods towards the vessel. As they came up I heard the mate say to himself, "Damn that fellow! He has sent to arrest me."

They came up to the vessel, and the sergeant in command asked if this was the _Rob Roy_, I said it was. He then asked if there was one George Taylor on board, as he had an order to arrest and detain him. I said, not to my knowledge; but they must satisfy themselves. I would produce the crew list and call over the names; the men would answer to their names, and if they did not find their man they might search the vessel.

The sergeant then took the roll, and called out--

"A. Brotherton, mate?"--"Here."

"Frederick Jansen, cook?"--"Here."

"George Thomson, A.B.?"--"Here."

"James Hagan, A.B.?"--"Here."

"Appolonaria Barrois, ordinary?"--"Here."

"Have you found your man?" said I.

"No," he answered; "none seem to be of that name, at least."

"Well," said I, "that is all that is to go out on the vessel, with the exception of two supercargoes, who are not yet come down; but they are both well known," and I gave their names.

He said he was certain it was not any of them that was wanted; but he still looked dissatisfied, and seemed to think it but a small number of men he had seen, and not the whole crew of the schooner.

I said it was not a full crew, but it was all I had, for I was two hands short; but he would see that they tallied with the crew list, and I told him to take his time and search the vessel, and show me the order, and I would give him any information I could.

The sergeant handed me the order, which I read as follows--

"You are ordered to arrest and bring to these headquarters one, George Taylor, supposed to be on board of the schooner _Rob Roy_, as he is suspected of being a dangerous and suspicious character."

"Does this order come from Commodore Smith?" I said.

"Yes," replied the sergeant.

I then said that two of my men had come in with me on the inward trip--them I was certain about, the other three I had engaged here, and these were the names they had given. "But," said I, "if you will go ashore a little while, I will call them down separately to the cabin and question them."

They went ashore, and I called the mate down to the cabin.

"Mr. Brotherton," said I, "there is no doubt but it is you that is wanted. You know that you are known by the name of Taylor, although you have signed Brotherton on the articles. And I think I can understand very well why this order has been given to detain you, although it is, no doubt, a very trifling affair."

"Of course," said he, "it is me they are after; but is not he a vindictive devil--that Commodore Smith?"

"I know he is," said I, "and that you will find out."

"It is just spite," said he; "he wants to annoy me."

"No doubt of that; but you must mind while you are in the Confederate States, you are in the lion's mouth. It is no place to talk of either law or justice; you must submit to the powers that be. He has the power, and he likes to display it. It would do you no good, but rather harm, to think of practising any deception. He knows you are on board here, and he will send a person to identify you, and the vessel will be stopped until he is satisfied. Therefore your best way is to go boldly at once to headquarters, and make a clean breast of it, and tell Commodore Smith that you intend to appeal to General Magruder, and demand an inquiry or court-martial; but that you are willing first to offer any explanation to him. And I have no doubt, if you take the right way, and pay due court to his dignity, all will be right, and you will get back to join the vessel within a week."

"I believe you are right," said he, "and I will go at once," and he packed up and went off with the men.

When we got down past the woods and in sight of the sea, we observed that two gunboats were lying off the mouth of the river at a distance of between three or four miles from the Forts, one of which generally took a cruise along the coast during the day, and returned in the evening to her anchorage.

I had been getting every information I could of the plans and movements of the blockading vessels, and I knew that the burning of coal was an item to be considered by them, as at this time it was not easy to keep all the steamers employed on the blockade supplied with coal.

Up to this time there had been no attempts made by steamers to run into the Texas ports. There was no place except Galveston where they could enter, and that was supposed to be hermetically closed. It was, therefore, only sailing schooners they had to contend with.

The plan of the blockade, then, seemed to have been for the steamers to lie at anchor with banked fires, or make short cruises in the vicinity of the ports, and the cruising over the Gulf to be done by sailing vessels of the swiftest class.

The other two schooners, which had got their clearance papers and passports, remained within the woods at some distance from the mouth of the river, but, as we were awaiting orders, we went down to near the Forts, where we could be communicated with.

Sometimes one of the cruisers would come in close and fire a few shots, not at the Forts, but generally to the west of them, and more in our direction. These shots would go a considerable distance inland, and fall in the wood or prairies. What they were firing at I never could make out, but it made it rather unpleasant for us.

A few days after we got down there appeared one morning at daybreak a large schooner aground on the bar. She was within two hundred yards of the Forts. She showed British colours, and the pilot was making his way off to her.

I expected that very soon the gunboats would come close in and fire upon her, and, if she got wrecked in the channel, it would be an obstruction, and it would be difficult for us to get out past the wreck.

I immediately got into the boat with the longest and best cordage I had, and taking my three men, which was all I had, leaving the cook on board, we pulled out through the surf to see if we could render any assistance.

When we reached the stranded vessel I was astonished and delighted, when who should I see looking over the bow but my old friend, Captain Downs. He was astonished to see me, but there was no time to lose in talking.

"Here," cried he, "give me the end of that line of yours, and I will make fast a stout hawser to it, and you take it to one of yon piles which the _Rob Roy_ drove in--it will be at least one useful purpose they have been put to--and we will try and heave her over."

There was a heavy surf, and it was dangerous work, but we got to the pile after being nearly swamped, and succeeded in making fast the hawser. We then made fast the boat's painter to the pile, and hung on to be ready to cast off the hawser if the schooner got off.

We saw that the gunboats were getting up steam to come closer in and open fire on the schooner, and it was a trying moment, but we heard the old pilot shouting, "All right, boys, the tide is making. Heave away heartily, and the British lion will soon take you over."

All sail was set on the schooner, and I could see that she was working over.

One of the gunboats had got under weigh, and was standing in, but seemingly with great caution, and keeping the lead going, while on the Forts the artillerymen were at their guns preparing for action, and I began to fear that we were going to be in an awkward position between two fires; still, I did not like to abandon the post.

Our minds were soon relieved, however, by a loud cheer from the schooner, and a call to us to cast off the hawser. The schooner was afloat and coming over the bar at a rapid rate. We cast off the hawser, and as she passed they threw us a line and took us in tow, and we were soon past the Forts and proceeding up the river. The gunboat returned to her anchorage, and no powder was wasted that morning.

I drew the boat up alongside, and jumped on board of the schooner. The old pilot was in his glory, and shouting, "You see what the British lion can do!"

The schooner was taken up the river to where the _Rob Roy_ lay, where she was made fast until she was reported at the Forts, and carefully examined to see if she made water from the thumping she had got on the bar, I remembering my experience at the same place four months' previous, and was ready to direct Captain Downs to the same bank where I had beached the _Rob Roy_; but, on examination, she was found to be all right, and making no water, Captain Downs remarking that she had only lost a few of the barnacles off her bottom, which he could very well dispense with.

By the time the schooner was reported at the Forts, the flood tide was about spent, and Captain Downs said he would not proceed up the river that day, but give the men a rest, and we would have a yarn about his adventures since he had left the Brazos River two months previous.

He told me the story of his capture, and, as I afterwards heard it related in almost the same words by one of the officers of the vessel that captured him, I am satisfied of its truth, and it may be worth relating just as it happened.

On the day following the night on which he sailed out from the Brazos River, and when about sixty or seventy miles out to sea, he saw in the distance a steam cruiser bearing down upon him. It was useless to think of escaping, so he shaped his course to the eastward, and hastened to array himself and two of his men in old suits of United States navy clothes which he had with him, himself in that of a warrant officer. Having placed one of the men so dressed at the helm, he stood up himself to answer the hail. The steamer was soon up along-side, and Downs saw to what class she belonged.

"Schooner ahoy!" shouted a voice from the cruiser. "What vessel is that? and where are you from?"

"It is the schooner _Iniquity_," answered Downs, "two days out from the Brazos River with a cargo of cotton, and she is now a prize to the United States steamer _Ponobscot_, and we are bound for the fleet at Galveston."

There was a pause for a few moments, and then the question, "Where is the _Ponobscot_?"

"She will be about thirty miles to the westward," replied Downs. "There were two larger schooners left the Brazos River the same night as this one, and she is away to look after them."

This was too tempting a prize. They waited not for any further explanation, but started off in the direction which they supposed the schooners would be likely to take, while Downs chuckled to himself and thought he had succeeded in giving them a bone to pick; but the scheme, well laid as it was, went aglee.

When the officers began to think over the matter and their chances of capturing one or both of the schooners mentioned by Downs, there seemed to be some discrepancies, and the statement of the _Ponobscot_ being in that place at that time did not tally well with the accounts they had of the position and movements of the cruisers in the Gulf, and it dawned upon them that blockade runners were up to a good many tricks, and they should have made a closer examination of the schooner.

This was acted upon, and Downs had the mortification of seeing the cruiser putting about and bearing down upon him again.

There was now but little hope; the steamer was soon alongside, and ordered the schooner to heave to, as they wished to examine her papers.

It was now all up with poor Downs, and he only thought of how he could back out of the difficulty.

When they came on board, he said to the officer that what he had before told them was not true; that the truth was he was from Matamoras bound for Havana, but, as his cargo was cotton, he was afraid they might suspect him and put him to some trouble, and therefore told them that story so that they would not detain him or examine him.

Downs knew that this statement would not hold good one moment, but he wanted to come about as easily as possible, and he handed the officer some papers made out in that way.

The officer looked at the papers, and, turning to Downs with an ironical smile, said--

"Well, Captain, you may be bound from Matamoras to Havana, but, if so, I fear you have got most mightily out of your way."

"And I fear you have got most mightily into my way," said Downs, who could never lose the chance of making a joke.

The officer laughed, and said his first statement would now be confirmed, for he would now be a prize in certainty, though not to the _Ponobscot_.

The schooner and crew were sent to New Orleans and condemned as a prize, but Downs's comical humour always gained him friendship, and he was not long detained, and he went to Havana, where he got command of the vessel he was now in.

"And now," said he, when he had finished his story, "tell me how you have got on since I saw you last. I see you have got your vessel up all right again."

I said my story was not so pleasant to relate, and I gave him an account of how we got the vessel raised, and all that had happened.

"Well," said he, "did I not tell you that the ways of Providence are wonderful, and how it might all turn out for the best? And it has done so."

I reminded him that we now owned only one-fourth of the vessel, and only twenty-one bales of the cargo.

"Had it not been for that sinking accident," said he, "I am certain that you would not now have owned any part of either vessel or cargo; for, had you gone to sea at that time, you would have been captured as sure as there are breakers on that bar. Every vessel that went out was captured, for the cruisers were then as thick on the coast as weevils in a sea-biscuit. There are none now, and the coast is clear with the exception of those two lying off the bar, and you can easily dodge them in a dark night. And another thing, let me tell you, quietly: it is a mighty good thing for you that you have got rid of that fellow J. and have the command of the vessel yourself. You would never have done any good with him in charge. So I think you will find, as I have said, that it has all happened for the best, and that Providence sometimes brings you into a better position through an unpleasant passage."

When I then and afterwards reflected seriously over the matter and came to see it in that way, it did seem clear enough that the sinking of the vessel at that time was, on the whole, rather a fortunate thing for me.

On the following day Downs proceeded up the river with his vessel, and my two supercargoes arrived to join the vessel. They brought word from the mate that he could not join the vessel. They said he was staying at one of the hotels. There was no charge against him, but he was detained and ordered to report at the Marine Department every day until further orders.

This was another disappointment to me, but I had become so disgusted with delays that I determined not to let even this be a hindrance, and I resolved to go to sea with the hands I had, telling the supercargoes that they would be required to give a hand at any heavy pull, such as hoisting the mainsail or raising the anchor. They agreed to do so, but feared they would not be of much use.

All I wanted now was the passport to get out past the Forts, and I was thinking of going off to Houston again to see about it, when an officer came to the vessel desiring to see me on particular business. I sent one of the men to hold his horse, and he came on board and asked for a private interview, and we went down to the cabin.

He said that, there being now no longer safe means of conveyance between Texas and the rest of the world by the Brownsville route, General Magruder, having confidence in my integrity, had decided to intrust to my care some despatches of great importance. They were to go to the Confederate States Consul at Havana.

I said I feared Havana was a port too much to windward for me to attempt to make in my present overloaded and short-handed condition, and I would most probably run into Tampico or Vera Cruz.

"Better and safer still," said he, "and as there is a British mail from either of those places, you can send them on by that, but you may use your own judgment; but take care, above all things, that they do not fall into the hands of the enemy."

I said he might depend upon me, but he must bear in mind that there were many dangers in the way.

"All that," said he, "has been fully considered, and here are written instructions to you in regard to that."

He then handed to me instructions in writing, which I read over and assured him that I would follow them out. He then handed me a large sealed packet and an order to the commander at the Forts to allow the _Rob Roy_ to proceed to sea.

These written instructions I have preserved till this day, not so much as a relic of these times, but as a memento of a time when my integrity was put to the test, as will be shown hereafter; and I have sometimes pleasure in looking at them with perhaps a slight feeling of self-approbation. They are now lying before me, discoloured with age, and I copy from them the exact words:--

HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF TEXAS, &c.,
IN THE FIELD, _January_ 13, 1864.

"SIR,--I am instructed by Major-General Magruder to enclose to you a communication of great importance, addressed by him to Charles J. Helm, C.S. Consul at Havana.

"It is highly important that this communication should be placed safely in the hands of Mr. Helm at Havana, but equally disastrous to our cause should it fall into the hands of the enemy, containing, as it does, papers of a very peculiar nature.

"You have been selected as the most suitable person to whom these papers can be entrusted.

"Relying upon your good judgment, zeal, and patriotism, the Major-General commanding desires you to take especial care of them, and deliver them to Mr. Helm if possible.

"Should, however, you find that your vessel will fall a prey to the enemies' cruisers, you are directed to destroy them, taking care, above all things, that they do not fall into the enemy's hands.

"The General wishes you a prosperous journey, and hopes you will meet with success in the matter entrusted to your care.

"I am, sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"EDMOND P. TURNER,
"_A.A. General_.

"P.S.--If you do not go to Havana, you will be kind enough to send the enclosed papers to Mr. Helm by safe and certain hands. Since writing the above, I learn you will only go to Belize, Honduras.

"I am, &c.,
"EDMOND P. TURNER,
"A.A.G.

"To Captain W., of the _Rob Roy_,
"Velasco."

_Additional to the Letter to the Captain of the "Rob Roy."_

"I am informed that there is a semi-monthly mail from that place to Havana.

"It is best that these papers should be transmitted by reliable hands directly to Mr. Helm; but should you be unable to find any person on whom you can rely for the safe delivery, you are requested to mail them in Belize for Havana, addressed to Mr. Charles J. Helm, C.S. Consul at Havana.

"I am, yours very respectfully,
"EDMOND P. TURNER,
"A.A.G.

"Captain of the _Rob Roy_,
"Velasco."

I took the packet, and having wrapped it securely in a piece of canvas and attached firmly to it a piece of chain sufficient to sink it to the bottom of the sea, if need be, I placed it safely in a locker in the cabin. All we wanted now was a dark night and a favourable wind, and as the moon was near the change and it was the season for northers, it was supposed we would not have long to wait.

If there are any of my readers whose powers of endurance have allowed them to toil through this and the preceding chapters devoted to my mishaps, disappointments, and detentions in Texas, their patience must be sorely tried, and they can well imagine how it must have been with me, and my impatience to get to sea and have a change of scene.