From an engraving of the painting by Chappel.
Landing of Troops on Roanoke Island.
From an engraving by Perine of a drawing by Momberger.
CHAPTER VI
ALONG SHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
THE SHAMEFUL STORY OF PENSACOLA AND FORT PICKENS—WHEN LIEUTENANT RUSSELL BURNED THE JUDAH—A BRITISH CONSUL’S ACTIONS WHEN CONFEDERATE FORTS WERE ATTACKED AT GALVESTON—EXTRAORDINARY PANIC AT THE HEAD OF THE PASSES IN THE MISSISSIPPI WHEN FOUR GREAT WARSHIPS, CARRYING FORTY-FIVE OF THE BEST GUNS AFLOAT, FLED FROM A DISABLED TUGBOAT THAT WAS REALLY UNARMED—ONCE MORE IN GALVESTON—LIEUTENANT JOUETT’S FIERCE FIGHT WHEN HE DESTROYED THE ROYAL YACHT.
There were stirring events in and around the Gulf of Mexico during the year 1861—some of them stirring the naval sailors in one way and some in another. The trouble began there very early in the year—on January 12th, in fact, when Colonel Lomax and Major W. H. Chase, with some Florida and Alabama troops, surrounded the navy yard at Pensacola and compelled Commodore James Armstrong to surrender it to the Confederates. It was very well known that an attack impended a long time before it actually happened, but no effort was made by any one in the yard to preserve any of the government property for government use. Armstrong was not, indeed, disloyal, but he was very properly suspended from the navy for five years for his failure at Pensacola. The executive officer under him, Commander Ebenezer Farrand, and Lieut. Francis B. Renshaw had already decided to join the Confederate forces, and it should not be forgotten that they were among the men willing to serve the Confederates while still wearing the uniform of the government. Renshaw himself, while in national uniform, had the old flag hauled down and the Confederate flag sent up in its place. Farrand did still worse. He refused to allow the powder to be removed from the magazine when a loyal officer, Commander Henry Walke, proposed removing it. He kept it in the magazine unguarded in order that the Confederates might get it. When he could do no more for the Confederates by remaining in the pay of the government, he sent in his resignation.
Surrender of the Navy Yard at Pensacola.
From a painting by Admiral Walke.