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Southern Historical Society papers.
Vol.
I. Richmond, Va., may, 1876. no. 5.
[The following is one of what we hope to make a series of sketches of the Confederate States navy.
We are anxious that no branch of our service shall be neglected, and that those who made the history shall record it.]
When I received intelligence that my native State, Mississippi, had by the sovereign will of her people, severed her connection with the American Union, I was serving as a midshipman on board the
United States steam frigate “Powhatan,” then stationed at
Vera Cruz, Mexico.
I immediately tendered my resignation, which was duly forwarded by the
Commodore to the
Secretary of the Navy at
Washington.
By the steamer from New Orleans, which arrived at
Vera Cruz about the last of February, 1861, I received private advices that my resignation had been accepted, but no official information to that effect reached me. The day after the arrival of the mail steamer the
United States sloop-of-war “MacEDONIANdonian” joined the squadron, and brought orders for the
Powhatan to proceed to the
United States.
On the 13th of March we arrived and anchored off the
Battery, in the harbor of
New York.
The following day I started for the
South, and was soon in
Montgomery, the capital of the
Confederate States.
I called on
Mr. Mallory, the
Secretary of the Navy, who received me kindly, and informed me that no doubt my services would soon be needed by the
Government.
I also called on
Mr. Davis, with whom I was acquainted.
He asked me many questions about the Naval Academy, and the naval service, and seemed anxious to know how the officers of the navy from the
South regarded the secession of the States.
He said he hoped there would be no war, but if coercion was attempted, that the army of the
South would be the place for a young man with a military education.
I met several naval officers in
Montgomery who, like myself, had
