- Joined
- Mar 31, 2012
- Location
- Central Ohio
Or perhaps not... but here's the story, straight from the ORN (Series I, Volume 19, pp. 491-3):
My DEAR ADMIRAL: The English steamer Vesuvius arrived here on Saturday, [January 3]. Captain Croke came on board and stated that he wished to communicate with their consul. Yesterday they sent a boat in over the bar, which was met by a boat from Fort Morgan, and an arrangement made for the consul to come off.
To-day the Crescent came out with a flag of truce. We hoisted a white flag at the fore. They came alongside of us, saying that the English consul was on board and wished to communicate with the English ship, to which. I replied, "Certainly." At 3 p.m. they went on board the Vesuvius, which was some 500 yards west of us. Half an hour before sundown one of their steamers (supposed to be the Morgan) came out. At first I thought she was on the lookout for the Crescent, but the Crescent passed her off the light-house on Sand Island, with the flag of truce still flying. I then ordered the Cuyler, Kennebec, Pocahontas, and Pinola underway, slipped our chain, directing the Cuyler to place herself inshore of the rebel steamer. At this time the English captain was on board of us. He said, "What do you make of this?" I replied, "Let her come on" (she was standing directly for us). At 500 yards I will give her our broadside." He said, "I will leave," and did so. When about 500 yards from us, I gave the order "Stand by." Mr. Freeman, the pilot, said to me, "I think I see a flag at her fore." True enough, it was a very small white flag. She came within hail. Twice they endeavored to make us hear something, but not succeeding, asked if they should send a boat. I replied yes. A young officer came alongside and said that their admiral had directed them to take the English consul on board the Vesuvius, but as the Crescent had taken him off, they thought it but right that they should come off to us and say so, to which I replied, "It was unnecessary; but please say to your commander, if he approaches us again with a flag of truce, a larger one may prevent the unpleasant occurrence of our firing upon a vessel with a white flag." He said, "We did not see you hoist a flag." "That," I replied, "should have prevented your approaching us." We hoisted a white flag when we discovered his; this was just at sundown. As soon as his boat returned he ran back to Fort Morgan.
I am truly thankful that I did not fire. Nothing but the pilot saved me from it.
No. 25.]
SIR: I have to inform the Department of an occurrence which took place on the 5th instant off Mobile, which I have neglected until this moment, supposing it to be of but little consequence, and a mere piece of impertinence on the part of Admiral Buchanan.
H. B. M. S. Vesuvius having gone off Mobile to communicate with the British consul at that place, on the 5th instant he came off in a small steamer called the Crescent. When the Crescent, returning, had reached the light-house, the Morgan met her coming out, and Commodore Hitchcock got his vessels underway. The Morgan came slowly out, and finally passed within hail of the Susquehanna. The English commander, who was on board the Susquehanna, asked Commodore Hitchcock what he proposed doing. He replied, "fire into him," and the Englishman returned to his own vessel. Just at this instant, however, a small white flag was discovered to be flying at the Morgan's fore, evidently a handkerchief; he hailed, but could not make himself understood; he then said he would send a boat, which he did.
When Commodore Hitchcock enquired of the officer what they were doing out so far, he replied that they had come out to convoy the Crescent, which vessel was already nearly in the harbor. Commodore Hitchcock then told him to get immediately from under his guns, or he would fire into him, and the Morgan steamed back to Fort Morgan.
Now, sir, mark the following extract from a deposition taken before Colonel [John S.] Clark, provost-marshal-general of this Department:
Thus it will be seen that, if this report be true, Commodore Hitchcock had Jefferson Davis and his suite within his grasp, and was deprived of his prize by a scrupulous regard for the sacred respect due a flag of truce on the one side and by the prostitution of it on the other side.
P. S.--January 26, 1863: From recent information, I have every reason to doubt the truth of the deposition made before Colonel Clark.
-----
Communication under flag of truce with Confederate vessel off Mobile, January 5, 1863.
Report of Commodore Hitchcock, U. S. Navy.
U. S. S. SUSQUEHANNA,
Off Mobile, January 5, 1863--8 p.m.
My DEAR ADMIRAL: The English steamer Vesuvius arrived here on Saturday, [January 3]. Captain Croke came on board and stated that he wished to communicate with their consul. Yesterday they sent a boat in over the bar, which was met by a boat from Fort Morgan, and an arrangement made for the consul to come off.
To-day the Crescent came out with a flag of truce. We hoisted a white flag at the fore. They came alongside of us, saying that the English consul was on board and wished to communicate with the English ship, to which. I replied, "Certainly." At 3 p.m. they went on board the Vesuvius, which was some 500 yards west of us. Half an hour before sundown one of their steamers (supposed to be the Morgan) came out. At first I thought she was on the lookout for the Crescent, but the Crescent passed her off the light-house on Sand Island, with the flag of truce still flying. I then ordered the Cuyler, Kennebec, Pocahontas, and Pinola underway, slipped our chain, directing the Cuyler to place herself inshore of the rebel steamer. At this time the English captain was on board of us. He said, "What do you make of this?" I replied, "Let her come on" (she was standing directly for us). At 500 yards I will give her our broadside." He said, "I will leave," and did so. When about 500 yards from us, I gave the order "Stand by." Mr. Freeman, the pilot, said to me, "I think I see a flag at her fore." True enough, it was a very small white flag. She came within hail. Twice they endeavored to make us hear something, but not succeeding, asked if they should send a boat. I replied yes. A young officer came alongside and said that their admiral had directed them to take the English consul on board the Vesuvius, but as the Crescent had taken him off, they thought it but right that they should come off to us and say so, to which I replied, "It was unnecessary; but please say to your commander, if he approaches us again with a flag of truce, a larger one may prevent the unpleasant occurrence of our firing upon a vessel with a white flag." He said, "We did not see you hoist a flag." "That," I replied, "should have prevented your approaching us." We hoisted a white flag when we discovered his; this was just at sundown. As soon as his boat returned he ran back to Fort Morgan.
I am truly thankful that I did not fire. Nothing but the pilot saved me from it.
In haste, very respectfully and truly, yours,
R. B. HITCHCOCK,
Commodore.
Rear-Admiral D. G. FARRAGUT,Commanding West Gull Blockading Squadron.
-----
Report of Rear-Admiral Farragut, U. S. Navy.
No. 25.]
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD,
New Orleans, January 23, 1863.
SIR: I have to inform the Department of an occurrence which took place on the 5th instant off Mobile, which I have neglected until this moment, supposing it to be of but little consequence, and a mere piece of impertinence on the part of Admiral Buchanan.
H. B. M. S. Vesuvius having gone off Mobile to communicate with the British consul at that place, on the 5th instant he came off in a small steamer called the Crescent. When the Crescent, returning, had reached the light-house, the Morgan met her coming out, and Commodore Hitchcock got his vessels underway. The Morgan came slowly out, and finally passed within hail of the Susquehanna. The English commander, who was on board the Susquehanna, asked Commodore Hitchcock what he proposed doing. He replied, "fire into him," and the Englishman returned to his own vessel. Just at this instant, however, a small white flag was discovered to be flying at the Morgan's fore, evidently a handkerchief; he hailed, but could not make himself understood; he then said he would send a boat, which he did.
When Commodore Hitchcock enquired of the officer what they were doing out so far, he replied that they had come out to convoy the Crescent, which vessel was already nearly in the harbor. Commodore Hitchcock then told him to get immediately from under his guns, or he would fire into him, and the Morgan steamed back to Fort Morgan.
Now, sir, mark the following extract from a deposition taken before Colonel [John S.] Clark, provost-marshal-general of this Department:
President Davis and many important personages came nigh being captured on New Years. Were on a trip visiting the fortifications and Forts Morgan and Gaines; machinery of steamer becoming temporarily disabled, she drifted out to sea, and within hailing distance of the blockading squadron. You may remember hearing an account of a strange occurrence of a steamer about that time.
Thus it will be seen that, if this report be true, Commodore Hitchcock had Jefferson Davis and his suite within his grasp, and was deprived of his prize by a scrupulous regard for the sacred respect due a flag of truce on the one side and by the prostitution of it on the other side.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. G. FARRAGUT,
Rear-Admiral.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
P. S.--January 26, 1863: From recent information, I have every reason to doubt the truth of the deposition made before Colonel Clark.
D. G. F.
-----
Now... aside from Farragut's postscript, casting doubt on the Jeff Davis connection, I think that if Jefferson Davis was truly spotted just about everywhere in the Confederacy (as sometimes seems to be the case), he must have spent precious little time in Richmond! 
Bringing the