CS Navy parole

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/18/2020

Confederate naval parole, 1p. Quarto, August 11, 1864 "C.S. Str. Tallahassee at Sea Lat. 40-19 N. Long 72-27 w" and reads "I the undersigned Chas. H. Sprague Master of Schooner Carroll, do hereby agree, that in consideration of being released as a prisoner of War, by Commander J.T. Wood C.S.N. not to take up arms ; nor serve against the Confederate States of America, either by land or sea, until regularly exchanged…" Signed by Charles Sprague and witnessed by C. Lucian Jones Asst. Paymaster C.S.N. and James F. Greene 2nd Ass. Engr. C.S.N. Repaired, else VG. Scarce. The TALLAHASSEE was a splendid twin-screw, 14-knot blockade-runner built on the Thames, and after she made several successful trips through the blockades at Wilmington her name was changed from the Atlanta to the Tallahassee, and she was commissioned as a C.S. ship-of war under command of Com. J.T. Wood, with a crew of 110 men. The battery of this great vessel consisted of a 32-pounder rifle, a lighter rifle, and a brass howitzer. On August 6, 1864, the Tallahassee went to sea from Wilmington under the fire of the blockaders, when the speedy ship soon left behind. Her hunting ground was the Atlantic coast, and when within 80 miles of Sandy Hook, on Aug. 11th, she took her first prize, the schooner "Sarah A. Boyce", of Egg Harbor, N.J. which she scuttled. In two days in these waters, the pilot-boat "James Funk", brig "Carrie Estelle", pilot-boat "Wm. Bell" and schooner "Atlantic" were captured. The "Funk" was converted into a tender under command of Acting Master Davis and captured the bark "Bay State", brig "A.Richards" and schooner "Carroll". All but the tender and "Carroll" were burned, and the latter was bonded and sent to New York with prisoners. Her captain broke his oath and reported the Tallahassee to Federal authorities who sent six or seven gunboats in pursuit. The Tallahassee then ran to the east, captured and burned the "Adriatic" off Long Island, on the 12th they captured and ransomed the "Suliote" Later that same day the Tallahassee captured the schooner "Spokane", the brig "Billow" and the schooner "Robert E. Parker", which latter was sent off with prisoners. Within the next few days the captures were the "Mercy A. Howes", "Glenavo", "Lamont Dupont", "Howard", "Floral Wreath", "Restless", "Sarah B. Harris", "Etta Caroline", "P.C. Alexander", "Leopard", "Pearl", "Sarah Louisa", and "Magnolia". Wood made his way up along the coast of Maine and played havoc on the New England fishing trade, and a full dozen gunboats were added to the fleet already in pursuit of him. Wood then captured the "North America", "Neva", "Josiah Achoren", "Ellis", and "Diadem." All were destroyed except those that were to take prisoners to the nearest ports. After refueling the Tallahassee captured the "Rowan" and on the 25th of August she dropped anchor under the guns of Fort Fisher. She had burned 16 vessels, scuttled 10, bonded 5, and released 2. Quite a record.

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