Mobile Register
June 22, 1861
Page 1
Our
Charleston Correspondence
The Privateer Savannah—Capture of the Brig Hallie Jackson, of Savannah—The British Bark
Edward—Departure of the Washington Mounted Artillery for Virginia—Reception of
the Pulaski Guard of Savannah—Flying Rumors from Virginia—Narrow Escape of Mr. Trapmann, of Charleston—Captain Lartigue
and “The Marion Men”—High Premium for Small Change—Small Bills—The New Postal
Arrangements—Letter Writing an Expensive Amusement.
Charleston,
June 17, 1861
We
have been for several days past in great anxiety about the fate of the crew of
the privateer Savannah, which was fitted out at this port and carried a prize
into Georgetown. After disposing of her
valuable burden, the Savannah, it is said, was captured by one of the
blockading fleet, and her men confined on board the Minnesota. The uncertainty attending the whole
proceeding increases this anxiety on the part of numerous friends and relatives
in this city, of the highest respectability, whose families were gallantly
represented by young privateersmen on board the
Savannah.
On
Friday afternoon H. B. M. Consul, Robert Bunch, went down in the steamer Aid to
see after the British bark Edward, bound from Liverpool to Savannah, which, in
trying to get into port got ashore on the Gaston Bank, became disabled and
short of provisions and water. Captain Bonneau, of the Howell Cobb, fell in with this vessel off
St. Helena, and procured a steamer to tow her into port. Meanwhile the U. S. Brig Perry came in sight and
ordered her off, and when the Consul paid his visit he found that Edward had
proceeded to New York. He was also
informed that the crew of the Savannah were on board the Minnesota, that one of
them had been sent to New York and the rest would have to go there also for
trial. This may be a ruse on the part of
the commander of the fleet to put a stop to privateering,
or it may be true, that our brave young fellows have fallen a prey to the
enemy. Whether the madcaps
will venture to carry out their desperate measures of revenge by treating them
as pirates remains to be seen. A single
case of such atrocity will stir up a fever in the blood of every Southerner,
which will never be assuaged, but by the most extreme retaliatory remedies.
It
is also reported that the Brig Hallie Jackson, of
Savannah, has been taken as a prize by the Minnesota and sent to New York.
The
Washington Mounted Artillery left on Thursday evening for Columbia, on their
way to Virginia. They were escorted from
their camp ground to the Military Hall, where a large crowd was in attendance
to bid them farewell. A handsome
Artillery Guidon of the U. S. Army Regulations, size
of 1837, made of white and red silk, bordered with red and white ribbon and
rosettes, was presented to them at the Hall.
It bears the inscription “Right shall make Might,” “Hampton
Legion—Washington Artillery.” A
Collation provided by the Washington Artillery closed the interesting exercises,
after which the Volunteers marched to the cars and proceeded on their journey.
The
Pulaski Guard, of Savannah, a fine body of soldiery, came in by the Savannah
train on Thursday evening on their way to Richmond. The Charleston Mounted Guard escorted them to
the Charleston Hotel, where they were welcomed by the citizens. Captain Reed responded in a stirring
address. The company left on the same
evening, at 11 o’clock, on the North Eastern Railroad.
Flying
rumors from Virginia have been agitating, and then leaving us in doubt and
suspense daily. The various conflicting
reports about the battles at Bethel Church enable us to form no definite idea
as to the exact loss of our side or of the enemy, although all agree that there
was an immense disproportion. Yesterday
it was reported that Gen. Beauregard was killed in an attack upon Alexandria;
also that one of our citizens, Wm. H. Trapmann, Esq.,
who left recently on his way to Europe with his young bride, came within an ace
of being arrested in Washington, being suspected of being the bearer of
dispatches from this city. Next, we
heard that the brave Gen. Lee had turned traitor, and that Governor Letcher had
shown the cloven foot, and the noble Old Dominion was about to be hopelessly
subjugated. In such a chaos of startling
and sensational news, we know not what to believe, and have resolved to believe
nothing. The next intelligence will
perhaps make confusion worse confounded.
But our cause is in the hands of a Good Providence which has never yet
deserted us on the Battlefield of Justice and Right.
Captain
G. B. Lartigue is raising a company of “Marion Men”
for the War. He has applications for
four companies. A part, and perhaps all,
will be mounted. Some will be provided
with double barrelled guns. They will act as scouts, as advanced guards,
to attack and draw in outposts, harass the camps, attack the advancing army in
the flank, make ambuscades—and annoy the enemy in every way. They are destined for the border—for our own
State or the enemy’s country—whichever may most require their services. The camp equipage and baggage will consist of
the mere necessities of life—the service being one of sacrifices and
privations—such as Marion’s Men of the Revolution cheerfully endured in the
forests and swamps, under the gallant leader whose name, “The Swamp Fox,” has
become immortal. They are to go into
service for three years, should the war last so long.
Specie
is at a premium of 10 to 12 per cent. I
paid a broker a day or two ago a five dollar bill for $4.50 in silver, to spend
at the Postoffice.
He counted it out to me in five cent pieces, and remarked that he had
done a brisk business in that way during the morning. Change is now so hard to be obtained that you
can hardly buy anything with your pocket book full of bank bills. Tickets are given in change, which pass current
among the storekeepers. Our new postal
arrangements have gone into operation.
The very high rates of postage have already greatly reduced the business
of letter writing. A single letter in
Mobile now costs ten cents. The letter box is closed to prevent letters
being deposited without paying the whole postage in advance. I have my envelopes for letters for the
Advertiser and Register stamped with the word “paid” beforehand, to save
trouble and delay.
--SPECTATOR--
[Transcribed
by Sharon Strout]
