History Of the Nashville Part 2

The British government sought a careful course between the new Confederate government and that of the United States. Wanting to alienate neither, the British conflict of conscience is reflected in the following poem published in "Punch magazine" in 1861:

Commander Peagrim of the Confederate war steamer Nashville was chief officer of the United States steamer Powhatan in 1855, and rendered valuable service to British fleet in the Chinese waters in capturing pirates. Sir John Stirling in his dispatches to the Admiralty, makes the following mention of him-"It is impossible to speak too highly of the American co-operating party engaged, They were with the Rattler, emulating each other in the thickest of the attack. But my warmest thatnks in particular are due to Lieutenant Peagrim, the American senior officer; his encouragement of the men, and coolness under a heavy fire, and determined bravery when surrounded by a preserving and revengeful foe, was conspicuous to all."

To think of the row you may get us in now.
By your conduct, inopportune Peagrim.

The ship Harvey Birch on the sea grim
You might board and might burn, Captain Peagrim
And we only should say, in a casual way,
'Twas unlucky she met Captain Peagrim.

But when in Southampton you free, grim,
The prisoners you've caught, Captain Peagrim,
We are placed in a fix, to pronounce of your tricks
Are a hero's, or pirate's, oh Peagrim,

Thus placed betwixt two fires by Peagrim,
Mr. Punch is afflicted with meagrim,
He would fain be impartial in any court-martial
That's hell on the status of Peagrim

A lieutenant's commission holds Peagrim.
But that won't on the wall stick the flea, grim;
Though lieutenant he be, that's no warrant at sea
Giving powers of capture to Peagrim.

Yet as pirate we can't give up Peagrim,
At the yard-arm straight ran up to be, grim.
Which Adams, I fear, will declare 'tis quite clear,
Is the right sort of treatment for Peagrim.

Yet to make causus belli of Peagrim-
Loose the war-dogs, by land and by sea, grim;
For a man with that name! On the annals of fame
To inscribe, not Britannia, but Peagrim!

Then let's all pray for peace spite of Peagrim
May war fears pass off like a meagrim;
And by hook or by crook, may we live to rubuke,
Those who feel apprehensions from Peagrim!

The Captain of the Harvey Birch had no such problem characterizing the Nashville in a totally unfavorable light. Following his release at Southhampton, he reported in The London Times, November 25. 1861"
"the vessel was all out of repair; her officers were boys, who wanted as courage as much as experience; that the crew was a mixture of Irish and other foreigners, who were shipped at first on false pretenses, and then were compelled to sign other articles at the point of the bayonet. They openly talked of their discontent on the passage", and he (Captain Nelson) "did not believe they would have fought. Both officers and crew were in great fear lest they should meet some American war-ship on the ocean, and their armament was so poor that they could have made no resistance to speak of." In short, he expressed that it was plain that the Nashville was "badly fitted out, badly armed, poorly officered and badly manned, and that if she was a specimen of the southern privateer, it must be either in capacity or treachery that prevented our vessels from catching them."

On February 3, 1862 the Nashville received a hearty send off from large and cheering crowds as she slipped her English moorings and headed for open waters. It was reported that the Tuscatota, a Union vessel watched the departure. Apparently, the presence of the British frigate Shannon dampened any intent of the vessel to sail after the Nashville before its appointed departure time. England had again walked a neutral road by careful enforcement of maritime regulations requiring specific staggered departure of belligerent vessels from her ports.

CSS NASHVILLE'S FIRST CREW

Lt. Robert Baker Pegram, Captain from VA
2nd Lt. J.W. Bennet, Executive Officer from MD
3rd Lt. William C. Whittle, Engineer from VA
Lt. John J. Ingraham, Sailing Master from SC
1st Lt. Charles M. Fauntleroy

James Hood, Chief Engineer fromCanada
Lewis Hill, Master at Arms
Richard Taylor, Paymaster from VA
Dr. John L. Aucrum, Asst. Surgeon From SC
Edward Hassell, Captain's Clerk from SC
William Smith, 1st Asst. Engineer from SC
John Spidell, 2nd Asst. Engineer from AL
John C. Murry, 3rd Asst. Engineer from SC
Mr. Johnson, Quatermaster
James Evans, Pilot form SC
Thomas Jones, Pilot from SC
John Nacon, Pilot from GA

Francis Sawyer, Boatswain
James West Pegram, Midshipman from VA
F.M. Thomas, Midshipman from SC
W.R. Inge Dalton, Midshipman from MI
H.G. McClintock, Midshipman from AL
Clarence Cary, Midshipman from VA
I.S. Bulloch, Midshipman from GA
W.B. Sinclair, Midshipman from GA
Francis Warrington Dawson, Midshipman from England
W.P. Hamilton, Midshipman from SC
Mr. Ramson, Seaman and Acting Boatswain

Frederick Williams, 2nd Cook
Mr. Sampson, Seaman
Mr. Caulks, Seaman
George P. McIndo, Water Tender
William Jones, Fireman
Thomas Casey, Fireman
Paul Bogan, Coal Passer
John Seeley, Water Tender
Jno Carral, Boy
McCarthy, Boy
Sculli, Boy
Mr. Lussen, Position Unknown

An Irishman
A Belgian
A North Carolinan
A Frenchman
A Scotchman
A Spaniard
A Swede
A Fat Cockney Englishman