Escape of the Nashville

FORT MONORE, March 25. – The U. S. Steamer Cambridge arrived here this morning from the blockade off Beaufort, having left Sunday evening last.

The rebel steamer Nashville escaped from the harbor of Beaufort on Tuesday night, the 18th inst., having run the blockade.  The U. S. vessels at the place were the Cambridge and Barrant Gemstock [sic], a sailing vessel.  The blockading vessels had news of the capture of Newberne and were on the lookout for the Nashville, but they were not numerous enough to prevent her escape.  The Gembrook [sic] first saw the Nashville and immediately telegraphed to the Cambridge that she was coming out.  The Cambridge followed the Nashville and fired a number of shots at her with the hope of getting her into a fight, but the superior speed of the Nashville soon put her at a safe distance.  Two of the shots from the Cambridge were supposed to have struck the Nashville.

The bark Glenn, which has been blockaded in the harbor of Beaufort for some time, was set on fire by the rebels on Sunday, and was still burning when the Cambridge left, in the evening.  The Glenn was supposed to be fitting out as a privateer.  The burning of this vessel was doubtless preparatory to an evacuation of the place.

Fort Macon had not been blown up by the rebels at the last advices.

The bark Gembrook and steamer State of Georgia were left at the station by the Cambridge.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3