CSS Nashville making it back to Fort Macon
The same week that the city of Nashville fell to Union forces the CSS Nashville successfully ran the blockade after a trip to England. Apparently Captain Robert Baker Pegram used some deception to evade the blockading ship off the North Carolina coast. The ship was safe and sound at Fort Macon in Beaufort, North Carolina when this story was published.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 3, 1862:
The shipsteamer Nashville.
Decidedly an improvement in the condition of the public mind was manifested Saturday by the report that the
C. S. steamer
Nashville had arrived in a Confederate port, and that her commander, Capt. Pegram, was in this city. The extensive and mischievous rumors which for some days have been busily circulated for the especial benefit of timid men and alarmists, caused this statement to be received with distrust; but when it was proven true beyond the possibility of a doubt the news was hulled with general pleasure. The news published but a few days ago was, that the Nashville had left the port of Southampton, and that twenty-four hours after the Tuscarora had started in pursuit.–The next information concerning her is that she lies safely moored under the guns of Fort Macon, Beaufort harbor, and that the gallant Pegram is in the Confederate capital. It seems that the Nashville, after leaving Southampton, steamed directly across the Atlantic. After passing Bermuda she fell in with a U. S. merchant vessel, which she captured, taking on board the stores and the crew as prisoners. On approaching the coast of Carolina came the most serious moment of the whole trip. Raising the U. S. flag and also a signal of distress, he steamed up to the blockading ship, seemingly preparing to run alongside. After coming within musket shot the Nashville changed her course, raised the Confederate flag, and soon ran out of the reach of danger. That night she lay safely under the guns of Fort Mason.
Loading stamps, bank notes, weapons?
It is generally understood that the Nashville brought over several million dollars worth of Post-Office stamps, bank-note paper, dies, etc. The report that fifteen thousand stand of arms were on board is undoubtedly untrue. The Nashville was admitted into the English ports on an equality with the ships of any nation, and her officers were treated with great consideration on shore — Arms and munitions of war must have been smuggled on board in violation of the English law. To have received them would have been a breach of courtesy on the part of Captain Pegram. Besides, she is a national vessel, and would be used for fighting purposes, instead of a transport.
Capt. Pegram and Paymaster Taylor arrived in Richmond on Saturday, and have delivered the invoices and ship papers to the Treasury Department. Capt. Pegram speaks in high terms of the hospitality of the English people, and thinks the general feeling of the people is decidedly in favor of the Confederate States.
He thinks Belgium will be the first Government to recognize the South, where her interest chiefly lie.
The Sumter was at Gibraltar, and had been very active in her operations among the Federal shipping. At last accounts she had captured and destroyed twenty-one Yankee vessels.
Running out of a Confederate port, making a voyage to Europe and returning safely, Capt. Pegram has demonstrated the fact that the blockade is simply of no account and decidedly in effective.
Fort Macon 1940
