iverpool.--The End. 244

NARRATIVE
OF A
BLOCKADE-RUNNER.

CHAPTER I.

Secession of Virginia.--Service at Fort Powhatan.--Volunteers at
the Big Guns.--"Wide Awake" Clubs.--Want of preparation in
Virginia.--Fort Powhatan abandoned.--Service at Acquia Creek.--The
"Tigers."--Coal Mining on the Potomac.

When the State of Virginia seceded from the Union, on the 17th day of
April, 1861, most of her citizens, belonging to the United States Navy,
resigned their commissions, and offered their services to the State of
their birth. Many of them had meddled so little with politics as never
even to have cast a vote; but having been educated in the belief that
their allegiance was due to their State, they did not hesitate to act as
honor and patriotism seemed to demand. They were compelled to choose
whether they would aid in subjugating their State, or in defending it
against invasion; for it was already evident that coercion would be used
by the General Government, and that war was inevitable. In reply to the
accusation of perjury in breaking their oath of allegiance, since
brought against the officers of the Army and Navy who resigned their
commissions to render aid to the South, it need only be stated that, in
their belief, the resignation of their commissions absolved them from
any special obligation. They then occupied the same position towards the
Government as other classes of citizens. But this charge was never
brought against them till the war was ended. The resignation of their
commissions was accepted when their purpose was well known. As to the
charge of ingratitude, they reply, their respective States had
contributed their full share towards the expenses of the General
Government, acting as their disbursing agent; and when these States
withdrew from the Union, their citizens belonging to the two branches of
the public service did not, and do not, consider themselves amenable to
this charge for abandoning their official positions to cast their lot
with their kindred and friends. But yielding as they did to necessity,
it was nevertheless a painful act to separate themselves from
companions with whom they had been long and intimately associated, and
from the flag under which they had been proud to serve.

During the brief interval which elapsed between the act of secession and
the admission of the State into the Confederacy, the Virgini