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T V0L0M1 XIVI1. MEW BIRR, CRATII COURTY, R. C, TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1904 FIRST SECTION. NUMBER 31. 1 Nice Lot habey's Small xHams Just Received Yerj Finest Freeh Elgin Butter 30c lb, Received Fresh from the dairy every week. Harvey's Small Hams English Cured Shoulders and break fast strips, Complete stock staple and fancy Groceries of the very b st quality. Yoursto please, 'Phone 91. You can find anything yon want in Laco and Embroidery J. H. MITCHELL & CD. Tdey have just received a new lot in Point de Parrot, Flat Val. tad Yalencienne in match sets or otherwise. These goods are extremely pretty and will be sold at a very close margin. They have also received new numbers in the for which they are sole agents for. J. ML MITCHELL & CO., PHONE 288. 43 Pollock St., Opposite Post-office. mft -tuiiiMttsttititmitu ANNOUNCEMENT wmm There Mil be We Kill be closed all day pre parotory for a Big Sale We will tell morning Wholesale aft Retail 71 Broa4 t Beauty Co set ftomtjto sataaeeeeteeeeessttt lttt-' no sale today. Tomorrow you about H in tht CONFEDERATE HISTORY. John Taylor Wood, C. S. N and De feruction of Gunboat Underwriter. Unpublished History Connected With This Affair, By W I Clayton A Participant Correspoa denes and Explanatory Notes The following letter from Col. John D Whltford, explain! the source from which the J our nil bat secured this most valuable account of the destruction of the gunboat Underwriter, which is now published for the first time. It is a re cord vthleh might have been lost, and the Journal Tory gladly publishes It and so secures the history of those timet. which were so momentous In events both for the people of this section and the en tire country. Beginning with the ex tract from the Charleston News and Courier of July 2tnd 1901, which follows Col Wbitford's letter, there will appear in later articles personal letters telling In detail of the events which were con nected with the capture and destruction of the Underwriter. ToOoLJohnD. Whltford, who hs contributed .many valuable historical articles to the Journal, this paper is In debted for these articles-Editor 0 L 8, New Bern, N. C, Aug 12th. Mr C L Stevens, Editor Etc. Journal, New Bern. Dear bin: Herewith your ate banded tome papert which I believe, would Interest oar cltl sens nneraUy. therefore if you concur In the opinion, yon would oblige me by printing them If not thus be preserved, the Information given matt soon be lost In the dim distance. Yours Truly, JOHN D.WHIT Ft) HI) Charleston, S. C, Newt & Courier, July 32nd 1904. To the Editor of The News snd Con rler: In your Ittne of this morning Is a telegram from Halifax, Nora Scotia, Announcing the death of John Taylor "Wood. Having served under that gal lant officer on more than one occasion I feel It a duty to posterity to tell the manner of man he was. The secretary's register of the Burvl vora'- Association of the Confederate States Navy has this: John Taylor Wood, Halifax, N. S. bora in Minnesota of Sonthern parents resigned from U. 8. navy as lieutenant; Dromoted to commander, C. S. N., for gallant conduct, August 93, 1863 Served on O. 8. 8. Virginia, (Merrlmac.) and participated in battles of Hampton Roads, March 8 and 9, 1869. Partici pated In Battle of Drewrv's Bluff, May 15, 1882. Commanded expedition that boarded and captured the U. S. gunboats Satellite and Reliance, In the Rsppa bannock River, August 28, 1883. Com manded expedition that captured and burned the U. B. gunboat Underwriter, at New Bern, N. C, February 8, 1864 Commanded cruiser Tallahassee, a con verted blockade runner, and ran out of the port of Wilmington, N. C , depre dated noon American commerce from that point to the coast of Newfound land, destroying several ships In sight of Sandy Hook, N. Y., snd returned to Wilmington In safety. And now the last entry as secretary make Is, "Died at Halifax, Nova Scotia Jnly 19th, 1904, aged 74 years. ' If snob an expression can bt uted in a republic Join Taylor Wood came Of royal blood. His grandfather, Zachary Taylor, was President of the United States, snd his uncls, Jefferson Davis, was President of the Confederate Ststes His father was surgeon general of either the army or navy when the war broke oat, in 1861, and remained North. Commander Wood was retiring and modest in his disposition, quiet and easy In his manners, but In action lion. In oar estimation he was to the navy what Stonewall Jackson was to the army, ever on the alert to strike the enemy a blow, and his plans so matured and kept secret that every blow he struck resulted in vtotory. He was a conscientious Christian, a member of the Episcopal Church. Nov er while memory lasts shall we forget the prayer he offered Inst ss we went into action in the expedition that re suited In the capture of the Under writer. Out in the bay, several miles from New Bern, he called his ten boats together.and with hats off we all ttood, officers and men, while he pleaded for the Divine blessing uponour expedition, and espe cially did he beseech of Heaven mercy for those who should fall. Never In my lite was I more Impressed by a prayer. In that fight we lost two officers, and seven man killed aad ten wonnded out of 160. all told. We cap tared the ship snd burned her under the guns of a large fortress, sad the Under writer, carrying four heavy guns snd erew of one hundred man. When the Btate of Virginia seceded Wood resigned his position In the Uni ted States navy aad tendered his services to Governor Detcher, who assigned him to a lattery on the Potomac Rlver.there being at that time no ships.and while oa that service he matured his plans which bore fruit afterwards. Ha was a lieu tenant on the Virginia, and afterwards at Drewry's Bluff, and alter that time he was given s roving commission. Hit first Independent command con sisted of two ship cutters snd thirty with six officers. With these be proceeded down the Rappahannock Ri ver and attacked and captured the gun beat Batelite, carrylag one gun and a crew of thirty-five men, and the gunboat Reliance, a sister snip, both doing guard boat service at the mouth of the river. In this fight he lost none of his crew killed, though several were wounded, and he succeeded In bringing his prizes snd prisoners up to or near Fredericks burg. It was for this action that lie was pro moted to be a commander. After that he, with one boat, captured a large mer chant ship In the Potomac, and after a a ving most of her cargo, very valuable to the Confederacy, burned her. He slto captured another ship In the Chesapeake but finding she was owned entirely In Baltimore, he released her, some of her owners being Southern sympathizers. After tome torpedo service he organ ized the expedition that was to accom pany Gen. Pickett In his attempt to re gain Eastern North Carolina. Pickett did not succeed, but Wood did hit part and captured after a stubborn fight, the United States gunboat Underwriter!. In the latter part of 1864 Wood con verted the blockade runner Tallahassee Into a cruiser, placing two smsll guns aboard. He ran the blockade at New Inlet, Cape Fear River, and proceeded up the coast burning several small vet sels of the enemy. When off the hsrbor of New York he burned two or three large merchantmen, and aroused the whole navy of the United States snd vessels were sent to overtake him from New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Passing sn English thlp, bound for New York, he boarded her and let It out that he was bound for Halifax, N S for coal. He.kept his course until night, when he altered his coarse for the Bermuda Is lands, where he obtained coal and ran back into Wilmington. The English captain gave out the news at soon as be reached New York and in leat than twenty-four there were ten or a dozen United States war ships steering for Hal lfax. His rose had succeeded. On his return to Wilmington, the war being nearly closed, he went to Rich mond, and left upon the evacuation, and etcaped to Cuba, and after the war made Halifax his home. One of hlstont wan killed in the Boer war, as a lieutenant In a Canada Regi ment. The writer never saw him after the year 1864, bnt as secretary of the Survi vors' Association, O S N has had several pleasant letters from him. He did his dnty while on this eaitb, and has gone to his reward. Being on the losing side, history disdains him, and few will ever know Jhls record, but al though It may be lost to time, eternity will stamp him as a man who In every sphsre of life tried his utmost to love his God and his neighbor, and while no monument will recount his many virtues we who know him will carry with us the fond recollection of having been associ ated with him, and in that association enjoyed tho society and the counsel of one of nature's noblemen. W F CLAYTON Fiorance, July 21 Reld Whltford U ti Assistant Engineer. United States Engineers Office, Georgetown, 8 C, July 25th. Mr W F Clayton, Florence, S C. Dear Sir: I was very much Interested in your article published In the News and Cour ier July 22nd, on Captain John Taylor Wood. Being a native of New Bern, North Carolina, I was sttrsoted by your notice of the capture of the Underwriter. I have often seen the old wreck In the Neute River, as s boy, after the wsr. My fsther. Colonel Jonn D Whitford, of New Bern, has often: discussed this during sot of Captain Wood and the men under him in the hearing of others ss well as myself. I think there is a man living In New Bern by the name of Hassel, or Hazle or some such name at that (Dnrand Has tell left New Bern several years sgo. He wss recently met with at Norfolk, where he sppeared sonnd and hearty, engaged in active work. Ed) who was in one of the boats In the attacking par ty that night on the Neuse, and the cockswain of the boat Oapt Wood was on. I have frequently heard this man speak of that night, snd of the calm courags of Captain Wood. I would like very much indeed to see a true and detailed account written of the taking of the Underwriter, before it is too late, when not one will be left to tell the tale. It appears tome that yon are the proper man to do this as you wen with the Wood party that night, and you must have all the fsctt and details plainly In your mind. I hope you will consent to write thlt out In full and let me have a copy which I will send to New Bern and atk my father to have published In the local paper there for the Information of the New Bern peo ple. In that way, Iwlll get in print what I have long desired to have kept la my papers. I hope I am not asking too much of you. Yours truly, HEID WHITFORD. United States Engineers Office, Georgetown, S C, July 80th. Mr W F Clayton, Attorney at Law. Florence, S O. My Dear Bin- Yonrt of July 20th, giving a detailed account of tha capture and burning of the U B Gunboat "Under wri er" at New Bern, N C, In reply to mv request, re ceived. Permit me i o ibank )ou with all my heart for your ktudnett. I cer tainly appreciate your prompt and full reply. I enjoyed reefing the article im- meneely, and am delighted to have a true account of this daring act at my old homo, which I do nut think haa over been written before. I shall send a copy of the article, In letter form, u you suggest, to my father st New Bern, and requested him to have It published In the local press there. I will tske pleas ure in having a copy of tho paper con taining the article aent to you. I only wish you would visit New Bern and ace the city. There have been many changes since that February night you write about. There were two forts on the banks of the Neute, jutt above the city limits, one at the mouth of Jack Smith Creek which has been leveled and conse quently dltappeared In the agricultural purtulti of the country. The other fort waa nearer New Bern at a place called Stevenaon's pond. Traces of that fort still plainly remain. Whether it was thlt one or the other, whote gunt fired upon you that night, I am unable to tay. (It was Stevenson fort, they were also fired upon by artillery, on the old fair grounds. Bid.) But it was perhaps Jack Smith Creek fort as I have often leen the wreck of the Underwriter be tween the two forts. I believe the wreck has now disappeared. The boiler from the Underwriter was removed from the wreck and remained for years on one of the wharves at New Bern You must have been very olose to the guns of the fort that night, aud It Is a wonder to me that all your boats were not sunk The more woaderful that more of you were not killed in coming up alongtlde of the Underwriter. I do not think that the wharf where the Un derwriter wat lying covld have been much over a quarter of a mile from the fort, and if the was at one of the fort wharves, then the wat not more than five hundred feet from the guns was surprised to read In your article that you went down as far as the Trent, and found no vessels of war In the har bor, the first night. I know every foot of that water perfectly, having swam in It and sailed over it as a boy, and after wards surveyed it. 1 have been from Klnston to New Bern, myself In a row boat. The distance is fifty miles, was a boy at Goldsboro when yuu passed with your boats going to Klnston, oar family having refugeed there when New Bern was captured by BurnsldeF I remember distinctly the hanging of the sixteen "Bufialos" at" Kinston. I think t'ney were all hanged on one gal lows. I also remember the Confederate Gun boat "Neuse," which was an iron clad and built at Kinston for the pur pose of co-operating with Pickett In his attempt to recapture New Bern. But unfortunately the Neuse drew too much water and never could get over the shoal at Klnston. She was abandoned and burned there by the Confederates. The wreck can be seen on the sandpolnt of the river even now, just below the town, if Captain Wood with you all could have gone down the Neuse to New Bern on that craft you would have silenced the forts and recaptured New Bern without the aid of Pickett. Of course you know Pickett'a advance was made In a half hearted sort of manner not pressing forward with any vigor and really running before he was whip ped. That night If he had attacked Hew Bern by land simultaneously with you all at the Underwriter, the city would have undoubtedly been taken. When yon were down there my father was Ordinance Officer of North Caroli na and active in the State for the Con federate States. He was also President of the Rsilrosd that carried your boats to Klnston from Goldsboro, and was genersl superintendent of transporta tion of troops snd munitions of war through North Carolina (snd wss in a few miles of New Bern when the Under writer was blown up. Was with Cspt Wood that afternoon before for some time. Ed.) He Is still living at New Bern and though getting old Is in good condition mentally and physically. If you decide to go to New Bern, I will be glsd to give you a letter of Introduction to him. I hope I may have the pleasure of meeting you myself. Again thanking you and assuring you that I will always be glad to hear from you, I am, Sincerely youra, REID WBITFORD. P S My underttandlng wat that when Pickett made hit advance on New Bern, the city was garrisoned at that time by only about six hundred troops. Whst s mlatake it was thought at that time he made by turning back. RW. Florence, S. O , July 26, 1904 Reld Whltford, U. S. Att't Engineer, Georgetown, S. C, DlAB SlK:- It affords me much pleasure to comply with your request for psrtlculars of the capture of the U. S. Gunboat Under writer, at New Bern, N. 0., As I only got a glimpse of New Bern, by the glare of tho burning ship and the flash of the Fort guns. I have an Incli nation to visit the place and see the surroundings of one of the meet deeper ate hand to hand fights, of a desperate war. Perhaps some day I may seethe city, at least that Is my hope. The expedition left the School Ship "Patrick Henry" the last day of January 1884., io co-operate with General Pickett I In his attempt to regain eastern North Carolina., which hart been a granary for the Jonfederscy. As Richmond wat 1 infested with spies, we had to act with caution, 'lest our piers be disclosed. None of us knew where we were bound, save CommtnUtr Wood. There were tea boats, each carrying twelve oaumen and two marines, besides two officers, s LleuleLant and a Midshipman. There was one boat that had only s Midship man, that boat I bad the honor of com manding, being the senior Midshipman present. When the sun wss about an hour high, we let go, and pulled down the James as though our mission lay In that direction; when darkness had clothed the earth we Increased our apeed and entering Appomatox at City Point, we reached Petersburg before daylight, and putting oar boats on flat cars, were well away In the direction of Goldsboro before day dawned. Arriving at Golds boio we were switched on I he road to Klnston, and passed through that town In the wee sma hours, launched our boati In the Neuse River, an 1 pulled down tome ten miles below the town where we halted and took a rest. At this point Captain Wood made known hit plans, and called upon any who were not willing to take the risk to return, not a man spoke, but la each face was seen a determination that meant victory or death. It was Captain Wood's Idea that we would probably find two U. S. Gunboats at New Bern, these he expect ed to oapture, probably get their signal book, and run down with the captured crafts at once to Morehead City and capture the rest of the U. 8. fleet In those waters. The scheme was feasible, and the plans well laid, but the sequel will show that while man proposes, God dis poses. We expected to bo joined at Kinston, by Lieutenant Gift with two launches, carrying a six pound howitzer each, with ctews made up from Charles ton and Wilmington, but as they had not arrived we left without them about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and contin ued our coarse leisurely down the river, reaching New Bern about 3 o clock in the morning; we pulled about in front of the town for some lltte time and finding no gunboats, entered the mouth of Trent River, and still finding no enemy, and being warned that day-light was not far off, we pulled back Into Batchelors Creek and hid for the day. At the dawn we could hear Picketts guns, and we knew that the land fight had begun, and as the sound drew near er and nearer towards New Bern, we felt assurel that he waB driving the enemy, but as we were inside of the Federal lines, and only about six miles from New Bern, we had to lie close. Occasionally sending an officer up into a tree top to view the surroundings and report, thus the day wore away. When about an hour to sun, smoke was dis cerned by the lookout, down the Bay, and soon a steamer hove In sight and steamed rapidly for the city, where she soon moored alongside (Stevenson's Pond Fort wharf ss stated by Col John D. Whltford of New Bern, N. C, In a letter dated Aug 5th 1904 Ed), so that her port battery could sweep the road loading from the direction of tho fight ing Into the city. She had a line from her quarter to ono f the wharves, her starboard anchor down, and thus swung across the stream and was moored directly below a Fort. Oar Pilot, who was a New Bern man largo man with long black whiskers whose name has escaped me, made her out to be the Underwriter, and then we knew what a formidable craft we had to tackle, the mounting four heavy guns and carrying a crew all told of about 135 men and officers, but some fifty of this complement were away, either In the hospital or on special duty, thtf we did not at the time know. While resting In camp awaiting a propltous hour, the sentry reported the pproach from up the river of two boats which proved to be "Gift" and the Launches. Between twelve and one m.. Cantaln Wood outlined his plan of attack as follows; e were to attack In two columns, Wood leading the star board and Lieutenant Ben Loyall lead ing the port column, each column com prised five boats, and Gift was to scf a support for either, and if the steamer succeeded in getting under- weigh uae hit howitzers on her, and attempt to disable her machinery. Pull Ing out of the creek, Wood assembled all the boats and offered np a fervent prayer, then with muffled oars we went on our way. The moon, about half on the wane from full, was well oyer to the west ward and high up In ihe heavens, show ing herself as the rifts of cloud for a moment parted and the phosphorescent light In our wake so brilliant as to csuse fear of detection, but silently we pro ceeded. When the bell of the Underwriter spoke five, "half past 2 o'clock" In the morning, and as the Quartermaster turned irom me Mil his attention was drawn to the phosphorescent light and he hailed, "Boat Ahoy 1 Silence prevail ed. Again Boat Ahoy 1 Still no reply. When he sounds the rattle which sum mons his crew to quarters. Then It was that Wood rose to his full height and gave the command, "Give way with a will boys," and with a will did those hearty sailors bend to their oars. When the first hall rang eut over the Bay, we were about 900 yards away aad In a short time this space bad been covered ana tne nrst and second boats were alongside, where they were met by email arm fire that Illumed the waters (Continued on 4th page.) Fall Peas For Truckers. First and Best and Alaska for Fall Planting at C. B. HILL'S 35 Middle St. New Bern, N. C A fine tract of land suitable for pas ture of all kinds of live stock. Apply to J. A. ASKIN, R. F. D. No. 8 Does Your Razor Hurt ! If so, you have not the right kind. You should try OURS, which we guar antee to be one of the best razors ever put on the American market. It Is made of finely tempered steel, full-hollow ground, of attractive appearance, aad shaves without hurting. Sent postpaid upon receipt of ONE DOLLAR to H. Cook & Co., 161 Potter Building, New York. Folly guaranteed , money refunded if unsatisfactory. TRINITY COLLEGE One hundred and seventy grad uate and undergraduate courses of study In departments of Litera ture. History, Science and Philos ophy. Well equipped laborato ries in a!l departments of science. Large library facilities. Gymnas ium furnished with best apparatus Expenses very moderate. Aid for worthy young men. Broad and national spirit. TRINITY COLLEGE HAS THE LARGEST ENDOW MENT OF ANY COL LEGE IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES- For catalogue and further Infor mation, address D. W. Newsom, Registrar, DURHAM, N. O. For Sale ! On Oct 15th, 1904, a valuaole house and lot will be sold. Apply to E. S. CHARLOTTE, 141 Pollack St EVNTKBN CAROLINA DISPATCH LOU AND Old Domioion Steamship Co The steamer Neuse will be withdrawn temporarily from the route on July 15th' for her annual repairs. During her absence the tteamer Oora coke is tcheduled to sail from New Bern for Belhaven, (lnttead of Elizabeth City) at 8 p m on Monday, Wednetday and Friday. Until further notice there will be no steamer sailing on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturdays. GEO, HENDERSON, Aft p. TRENWITH, Blacksmith & Wheelright. Manufacturer of Buggies, Wagons, Carts and Drays.always a good rap ply in stock. Repairing neatly done on quick notice. Shop on South Front St. Near Railroad Seed Potatoes, Land Lease. Early Rose, Bovee " ' ml White m-4 Stock true to name, Write or Phone 6.T. a Kodol Dyspepsia Gum QlflMta what yen flfe
The Semi-Weekly Sun-Journal (New Bern, N.C.)
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Aug. 16, 1904, edition 1
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