University of Virginia Library

95. Escape of the Sumter
By CAPTAIN RAPHAEL SEMMES (1864)

ON the morning of the 29th of June, hopes were excited by a report from the pilot that the Brooklyn had left her station; and speed being got up

with all haste on the Slimier, she again dropped down to Pass ' L'Outre, but only to find that the report had been fallacious. The Brooklyn was still at anchor, though a slight change of berth had placed her behind the shelter of a mass of trees. Once more, therefore, the Sumter was brought to an anchor—, but on the day following, her patient waiting was rewarded by the long-looked for opportunity. On the morning of the 30th of June the Brooklyn was again

A BIG SHIP GUN.

[Description: Men with cannon aboard a ship during the Civil War]

reported under way, and in chase of a vessel to leeward ; and no sooner was the fact of her departure fairly verified than steam was got up for the last time, and the little Sumter dashed boldly across the bar, and stood out to sea.

Almost at the last moment, however, it seemed as though the attempt to escape were again to be baffled by difficulties on the part of the pilot. The man on board of the Sumter lost courage as the moment of

trial came, and professed his inability to take the vessel through the pass thus left free by the departure of the Brooklyn, alleging as his excuse that he had not passed through it for more than three months. Happily the man's cowardice or treachery produced no ill effects; for, as the Sumter dropped down the river on her way toward the open sea, another pilot came gallantly off to her in his little boat, and volunteered to carry her through the Pass.

The Sumter had not yet reached within six miles of the bar when her movements were perceived from the Brooklyn, which at once relinquished the far less valuable prize on which she had been hitherto intent; and changing her course, headed at top speed towards the bar, in hopes of cutting the Sumter off before she could reach it. The narrow opening through the bar, distant about six miles from either of the opposing vessels, now became the goal of a sharp and exciting race. The Sumter had the advantage of the stream; but the Brooklyn was her superior in speed, and moreover, carried guns of heavier calibre and longer range.

At length the Pass is reached; and dashing gallantly across it, the little-Sumter starboards her helm and rounds the mud-banks to the eastward. As she does so the Brooklyn rounds to for a moment, and gives her a shot from her pivot gun. But the bolt falls short; and now the race begins in earnest.

The chase bad not continued long, when a heavy squall of wind and rain came up, and hid the pursuing vessel from sight; but it soon passed away, and the Brooklyn was again descried astern, under all sail and steam, and evidently gaining upon her little quarry. On this the Sumter was hauled two points higher up, thus bringing the wind so far forward that the

Brooklyn was no longer able to carry sail. And now the chase in her turn began to gain upon her huge pursuer. But she was getting into salt water, and her boilers began to prime furiously. It was necessary to slacken speed for a time, and as she did so the Brooklyn slowly recovered her advantage. Then gradually the foaming in the Sumter's boilers ceased, and she was again put to her speed. The utmost pressure was put on; the propeller began to move at the rate of sixty-five revolutions a minute, and the Brooklyn dropped slowly but steadily astern. At length she gave up the chase, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, just four hours after crossing the bar, the crew of the Sumter gave three hearty cheers as her baffled pursuer put up her helm, and, relinquishing the chase, turned sullenly back to her station at the mouth of the river.