Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 Excerpt:...I got ashore. No harm was done and I backed off easily with the engine and waited till the Hudson came out, when I followed that steamer in. The buoy had drifted in the gale more than a mile to the westward. I have replaced the bar buoy in its original and proper position and have put down also the casks of the Amanda, slung with stout chain and anchored with from 500 to 600 pounds of kentledge, in the positions of those buoys placed here by the Coast Survey and still marked upon the chart. I enclose a tracing of the pass, the position of the wreck, with a buoy marking the spot where the Somerset lay, which was placed there by me for future guidance. The morning of the 12th L sent my executive officer, Mr. Chatfield, in the launch upon a reconnoitering trip to the eastward, with instrucfcions to sound along the channel, and upon the reefs and shoals, ascertain the precise locality of the salt works, which have been in operation since the commencement of this rebellion, and were said to be situated in the vicinity of Alligator Bay Harbor, and note upon the sketch I gave him, the soundings and positions of the various establishments. On the morning of the 13th, got underway, picked my boat off the east end of Dog Island, stood to the eastward, felt my way with the lead carefully, and came to anchor opposite the mouth of Alligator Bay Harbor within 1,100 yardsof the snore, and having within easT range of my guns the most extensive set of salt works I have yet seen upon the coast. I shelled the woods and sent Mr. Chatfield, the executive officer in command of all the boats and small-arms men, ashore to destroy the works. My boats were protected with iron plating. Two contrabands came down, were picked up by a boat I sent on shore after them, and gave me some in...