Rebel Privateer “Firefly” off New England: August 1861

John Hartwell

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An excited Capt. Daniel Herrick brought his schooner, Agricola, into Boston Harbor early on the morning of August 26, 1861. He rushed immediately to the harbormaster’s office, and reported that he had been overhauled 20 miles off Cape Ann by a rebel privateer. The incident had occurred about 7:15 the previous evening, when “a fore-and-aft schooner of 140 tons, ran alongside and hailed” the Agricola, inquiring her name, port of departure, port of destination, and the particulars of her cargo. Herrick told them he was out of Ellsworth, Maine with a load of lumber, bound for Boston.

The commander of the other ship identified her as the private armed vessel Firefly, sailing from Charleston, S.C., under a letter of marque from the Confederate government, “on a cruise for Yankee treasure-ships.” As the Agricola’s lumber did not qualify as “treasure,” the Firefly’s captain said, they would let her go, and she promptly sailed away. Strange proceedings for any privateersman. The rebel vessel was “armed,” (the reports don’t specify to what extent), and appeared, in Capt. Herrick’s estimation, to have about 40 "rough-looking men" aboard. Curiously, on letting them go, the rebel captain, gave his name as "___ Porter, late of the U.S. Navy," and requested that the Firefly's presence be reported in Boston as soon as the Agricola arrived.

The report, to say the least, caused no little stir in the Old Bay State. This was far the closest rebel cruisers had thus far been reported to the New England coast. Commodore Hudson, in command at the Charlestown Navy Yard, reassured the public, “as we have a first class frigate and two fine armed schooners in port, we need not be apprehensive that the Firefly will attack Boston.” And shortly, two revenue cutters and the "newly-armed government ship Fearnaught were sent on a cruise for the daring rover."

The first reports out of Boston were been copied by newspapers all across the country (sometimes mis-reporting the rebel as the “Freely”). Long before the story appeared in SanFrancisco (Sept. 6), the excitement was well over. Back in Massachusetts on the 29th of August, the true tale of the privateer Firefly was revealed:


fireflyaaa.png

[Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph, Aug. 31, 1861]
As the Boston Herald reported, "The captain of the Agricola was imposed upon by a crowd of young men who apparently thought a hoax of this kind was a very clever joke. The ruling spirit of this reckless crowd is said to have been one 'Captain Decanter.'"

The last I find on the matter is the Sept. 3, Boston Traveller note:

ewf.png
I'm surprised if somebody didn't wind up with a heavy fine.
 
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Report of Commander Glisson, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Mount Vernon, of the seizure of the sloop Wild Pigeon.

U. S. S. Mount Vernon, Rappahannock [River], July30,1861. Sir: I have to report that last night at 3.30 a. m. a sloop attempted to run past us, the night being quite dark. Called all hands to quarters and fired a shot across her bow. Fired a second shot at the hull of the vessel, which caused her to come to an anchor; sent an armed boat on board for the captain and crew. At 4 a. m. the boat returned with Howard Gamage, who stated that he was the owner and only person on board of the vessel, which proved to be the sloop Wild Pigeon, of Accomac, and that he was running away from the rebels, as they were going to impress every person on Monday, the 22d instant. He was bound to Chesapeake City [Md.] to take the canal through to the North. He has no cargo, but has with him $108.86 in gold and silver. N w R—Vol 6 2

I will send the vessel and the man down to you, subject to your order, by the first United States steamer that comes up. We are all well on board, and everything is quiet here. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. S. Glisson, Commander, U. S. Navy.

OR Series 1 Vol 6 Congressional Serial Set. US GPO. 1897. p.17
https://books.google.com/books?id=f...#v=onepage&q="Wild Pigeon" Yacht 1861&f=false

Since Accomac VA is down by Chincoteague Island, this *might* be the beginning of the story - if Gamage was allowed to travel north.
 
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