rrilla sympathizers. The densely
wooded shores could conceal sharp-shooters, who could easily pick off
every man stationed on the steamer's deck. At any point of the entire
distance a masked battery might be stationed, that could blow the
invading craft out of water, and leave none of her crew uncaptured to
tell the tale. Nevertheless, the intrepid young commander determined
to make the attempt. His vessel was a small steamer, mounting one
heavy gun amidships and two smaller cannon on each side. Without any
mishap the "Ellis" and her crew reached the town about noon. On the
way up the river a dense column of black smoke appeared ahead, rising
above the forest. All thought that the Confederates, hearing of their
approach, had evacuated the town, firing it as they retreated. All
possible steam was put on, and the little gunboat dashed up the river
in the hope of saving some of the property of the inhabitants. But, on
rounding an abrupt curve in the river, the mystery was solved by the
appearance of a fine schooner, loaded with cotton and turpentine, and
drifting helplessly, a mass of crackling flames, down the stream. She
was clearly a blockade-runner, freighted with the chief products of
the country, and had been waiting a chance to slip out past the
blockader, and run for some friendly port. Cushing's bold move up the
river had entrapped her neatly, and her owners had fired her and fled.
The fire was a magnificent sight. The inflammable cargo, the tarry
ropes and cordage, fed the flames, which leaped from hull to
main-truck. The cotton burned sullenly, giving forth immense clouds of
dense, black smoke. To save her was hopeless, and the "Ellis" kept out
of the way of the flying fire-brands and continued on. The expected
salt-works were not found, however; and the only trophies to be
obtained at the town were about twenty-five stand of arms and two
schooners, evidently blockade-runners. The post-office was also
visited, and a large mail captured and removed, in the hope of finding
therein some valuable information regarding the movements of the
enemy. The town itself was one of the sleepy little Southern villages,
with wide streets, grass-grown and lined with live-oaks. Children, and
boys too young to have been drafted into the Southern army, followed
the sailors and marines curiously as they strolled up and down the
silent streets. The war had robbed the little city of its men; the
blockade had robbed it of its little coa