tortured, hanged, and driven out of the city. Before the close of the day it was frequently remarked that not a negro was to be seen in the streets. and dispersed quietly and apparently in good temper. The Federal Government, in the mean time, had prepared to vindicate its contemned authority. Major-General Dix was relieved of his command at Fortress Monroe and ordered to New York, as commander of the Department of the East in place of General Wool, and General Brown was superseded by General Canby in the command of the United States troops in the city and harbor. A large force was, at the same time, ordered to New York, and soon some 30,000 Federal soldiers occupied the city and neighborhood, when public Thursday, July 16th, opened more cheerfully. Several of the militia regiments which had been absent on service had returned to the city, and its inhabitants felt more confident of security. The mob, though somewhat awed by the arrival of fresh troops, was still defiant and occasionally resisted the soldiers, who, however, succeeded, after several severe encounters in which many lives were lost, in establishing their ascendancy. On Friday, the 17th of July, Mayor halls were turned into barracks and Opdyke proclaimed: parks into camping-grounds. "The riotous assemblages have been dispersed. Business is running in its usual channels. The various lines of omnibuses, railway, and telegraph have resumed their ordinary operations. Few symptoms of disorder remain, except in a small district in the eastern part of the city, comprising a part of the 18th and 21st Wards. The police is everywhere alert. A sufficiert military force is now here to suppress any illegal movement, however formidable." Archbishop Hughes having on the previous day invited the "men of New York, who are now called, in many of the papers, rioters, to assemble in their whole strength" before his residence, found before him on the afternoon an immense assemblage, principally of Irish Catholics, and addressed them in a speech which seemed singularly adapted to his hearers, for they listened calmly With its authority thus fortified, the Government disclaimed all responsibility for the suspension of the draft, and declared its determination to prosecute it. The civic authorities, too, became less disposed to conciliate the violations of the law, and Mayor Opdyke vetoed the aldermanic ordinance. The supervisors of the State and county, however, made a compromise by voting a large sum to relieve the families of conscripts and to pay bounties to volunteers. The President of the United States, after a disputatious correspondence with the Governor of New York, agreed to modify the quotas, but refused to postpone the draft until a decision might be obtained in regard to its legality. The draft accordingly took place in New York during the month of August, without the least attempt to resist it. CHAPTER XIX. The Enemy's efforts to establish a Naval Force.-Aid from Abroad.-Running the Blockade.-Immense number of Blockade-Runners.-The Supplies thus obtained by the Confederate Government.-The Fingal.-Her History.—The Fingal purchased by the Confederate Government.-Turned into an Iron-clad, and called the Atlanta.-Fight between the Atlanta and Weehawken.-A short Fight, and a Union Victory.-Captain Rodgers' Report.-Downes' Report.-Admiral Lee's Report.-Admiral Dupont's Report.-The Secretary of the Navy's comments.-Ericsson's share of congratulations. Capture of Steamer Boston.-Capture of the Vincennes, and sinking of Store-ship Relief.-Capture on the Rappahannock of the Reliance and Satellite.-Captures on the coast of Texas.-The continued Depredations of the Alabama and Florida. -A new Expedient.-Arming prizes.-The Exploits of the Tacony among the Fishermen.-Capture of a Revenue Cutter.-The men of Portland in pursuit.--Blowing up of the Caleb Cushing. Capture of the Privateers.-Imprisonment. 1863. THE enemy persistently strove to establish a naval force, and it may be conceded that the result, though small relatively to the great power on the water of the commercial people of the North, was large proportionately to their own limited resources. This was chiefly due to the indirect aid of a profoundly neutral foreign nation, without which the insurgents of the South could not have accomplished so much, though it was by their own energy that the means were thus obtained, and more or less successfully applied. Notwithstanding the blockade of the Southern coast, sustained by hundreds of Northern cruisers, commercial adventurers, encouraged by the bounties of the Confederate Government, and stimulated by their own eagerness for gain, persisted in the hazardous trade with the Confederate ports in spite of frequent captures. The profit of a successful venture was so great, that the loss of two vessels was believed to be compensated by the good fortune of a third. The trade, thus commercially justified, prospered, and the number of vessels, principally small and swift-going steamers, built in Great Britain, became so great, that the arrivals and departures of blockade-runners at and from Nassau, an English colony, conveniently contiguous to the Southern coast, were announced with the regularity of a line of weekly packets. The Confederate Government thus not only supplied with frequent cargoes of munitions of war, but also with occasional vessels suitable for equipment as privateers and cruisers. In 1861, an iron steamer called the Fingal, built on the Clyde, near Glasgow, was purchased to run the blockade. She was accordingly loaded with a cargo consisting of 200 pieces of artillery, 8,500 Enfield rifles, 20,000 army pistols, 15,000 sabres, 100,000 blankets, 65,000 pairs of army shoes, 2,000,000 of percussion caps, 2 tons of powder, a large quantity of quinine, and other articles needed by the insurgents. Thus freight ed, she sailed for Bermuda or Nassau, and thence to Savannah, where, after eluding the United States cruisers, she entered the port on the 31st of July, 1862. The Fingal was now purchased by the Confederate Government, and turned into a vessel of war. Many months were occupied in cutting her down, roofing her like the Merrimac, covering her with iron armor, and providing her with a beak or ram. Though on several previous occasions the Fingal, now called the Atlanta, threatened to come out and try her strength with the Federal cruisers, as during the attack on Fort Pulaski, and again on the unsuccessful attempt of the Nashville to get to sca, she did not venture to offer fight until the 17th of June. Admiral Dupont, having previously suspected her approach, had sent two iron-clad gun-boats, the Weehawken, Captain John Rodgers, and the Nahant, Commander J. Downes, from Port Royal to Warsaw. These vessels being in readiness, attacked her as soon as she came within range of their guns. past four turned and stood up the sound, heading for the iron-clad, which at this time was discovered to have the rebel flag flying. The Nahant, having no pilot, followed in our wake. At five minutes of five the enemy, being about one and a half miles distant, fired a rifle shot, which passed across our stern and struck near the Nahant. "At this time the enemy was lying across the channel, waiting our attack. At a quarter past five o'clock, being distant from him about 300 yards, we commenced firing. At half-past five o'clock the enemy hauled down his colors and hoisted the white flag, we having fired five shots. Steamed near the iron-clad and ordered a boat to be sent alongside. "At a quarter to six o'clock Lieutenant Alexander came on board to surrender the rebel iron-clad Atlanta. He reported the vessel aground on the sandspit that makes to the southeast from Cabbage Island. Shortly afterward, Captain W. A. Webb came on board and delivered up his sword. Sent a prize crew to take charge of the vessel, Captain Rodgers, in his report of under the command of Lieutenant-ComJune 17th, 1863, says: mander D. B. Harmony, of the Nahant. Sent also Lieutenant-Commander J. J. Cornwell, of this vessel, and Acting First Assistant Engineer J. G. Young, to take charge of the engine. "This morning, at ten minutes past four, an iron-clad vessel was discovered coming down at the mouth of Wilmington River, also two other steamers, one a side-wheel and the other a propeller; "On examination it was found that beat to quarters and commenced clearing the enemy had been struck four timesthe ship for action. At twenty minutes first, on the inclined side by a fifteenpast four shipped the cable and steamed inch coned shot, which although fired at slowly down toward the northeast end an angle of fifty degrees with her keel, of Warsaw Island. At thirty minutes | broke in the armor and wood backing, strewing the deck with splinters, prostrating about forty men by the concussion and wounding several by broken pieces of armor and splinters. One man has since died. The second shot (eleveninch solid) struck the edge of the overhung knuckle, doing no damage, except breaking a plate or two. The third shot (a fifteen-inch coned) struck the top of the pilot-house, knocking it off, wounding two pilots and stunning the men at the wheel. The fourth shot, supposed to be eleven-inch, struck a port stopper in the centre, breaking it in two and shattering it very much, and driving many fragments in through the port. "At twenty minutes past eight the engine of the Atlanta was secured by Engineer J. G. Young, and the vessel backed off into deep water, when she was brought to an anchor. "The wounded, sixteen in number, were removed to the steamer Island City, which had been kindly brought over from Fort Pulaski by Colonel Barton, United States Army. The officers of the vessel were sent to the tug Olender, and a portion of the crew to the United States steamer Cimerone, for transportation to Port Royal. "The Atlanta was found to have mounted two six-inch and two seveninch rifles, the six-inch in broadside and the seven-inch working on a pivot either as broadside or bow and stern guns. There is a large supply of ammunition for these guns, and other stores, said to be of great value by some of the officers capture, as per muster roll, 21 officers and 124 men, including 28 marines. The captured rebel officers told me that they thought we should find the speed of the Atlanta reach ten knots. They believe her the strongest iron-clad in the Confederacy, and confidentially anticipated taking both the Nahant and Weehawken. 66 The behavior of the officers and crew was admirable. Lieutenant-Commander J. J. Cornwell did his duty zealously and efficiently. Acting Master Benjamin W. Loring, whom I recommend for promotion for gallant behavior under the fire of Fort Darling, served the guns admirably, as the result shows. His energy and coolness were everything that could be wished. Executive officer Lieutenant-Commander J. J. Cornwell informs me that on the berth-deck the powder and shell divisions, under Acting Master C. C. Kingsbury, wore the aspect of exercise so completely, that no one would have thought the vessel was in action. The engine, under the direction of Acting Assistant Engineer James George Young, always in beautiful order, was well worked. Mr. Young has, I hope, by his participation in this action, won the promotion for which, on account of his skill and valuable services, I have already recommended him. In a word, every man in the vessel did his duty." Commander Downes had no occasion to fire a gun during this spirited engagement, but thus reports the action of of the vessel. his consort, and the manoeuvres of his There were on board at the time of own vessel, the Nahant : "The Atlanta was first discovered at early dawn, about three miles distant, standing toward us, coming out from the Wilmington River and rapidly approaching. At first she was mistaken for our usual visitor, a steamer that had reconnoitred us daily at about this hour; but a few moments sufficed to show us the true character of the vessel, and we instantly commenced weighing anchor and clearing ship for action. "The Weehawken, slipping her cable, passed us, standing out seaward. At about a quarter to five A.M. cleared ship for action, and in a few moments, our anchor being weighed, we followed in her wake. At this time the Atlanta fired the first shot, which passed close to our pilot-house. The Weehawken having at this time turned, was approaching the enemy, who continued, however, to direct his fire upon us, though without effect. At five A.M. the Weehawken closed with the enemy, and opened fire on him with accuracy, this vessel approaching at the time with the intention of running him aboard before delivering fire; but at the fourth fire of the Weehawken the enemy struck, and hoisted the white flag, the firing ceasing after one more shot from the Weehawken, this vessel not having the satisfaction of expending one shot in reply to the enemy's fire, which had been directed exclusively at her. 66 armed steamers were in sight up the river, crowded with people, apparently observing the progress of events, who steamed up the river when the result was attained. "The behavior of officers and men was, as usual, everything that could be desired. Acting Ensign Clarke, though quite sick, and under the doctor's charge, proceeded to his station at the first call, and remained there until the affair was decided." The report of Admiral Lee gives some interesting details. 66 "The engagement," he says, was exclusively between the Weehawken and Atlanta. The latter mounted four of the Brooke rifles-two of seven-inch on the bow and stern pivots, and two of six-inch on each end. She could fight two of the former and one of the latter on a side. Rodgers engaged the rebel at close quarters. The first fifteeninch shot, fired by himself, took off the top of the Atlanta's pilot-house and wounded two of her three pilots. Another fifteen-inch shot struck half way up her roof, iron-plated, four inches thick, killing one and wounding seventeen men. Eleven shots were fired in all-five by the Weehawken and six by the Atlanta. The latter got aground and surrendered. The fight was short the victory signal. The Weehawken sustained no injury of any sort. Lieutenant-Commander Harmony The Atlanta steers well, and made proceeded on board the prize at half-six knots against a head sea, going to past five A.M., taking possession and noisting the American ensign. Port Royal. She was completely provided with instruments and stores for a "During the action, two of the enemy's regular cruise. She had a ram, a saw, |