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The
Galveston Blockade (Correspondence
of the New York Times)
U.S. Ship Bienville, off
Galveston, Texas
November 6th, 1864
Much has been said and written
about, and many have experienced the dreary monotony of blockading duty, especially on
isolated stations, but for a fuller experience this is the place, above all others, where
it may be acquired. The same uninteresting view greets the vision morning, noon and night.
All around is "wide waste of waters," relieved only by a narrow strip of low,
sandy shore, sprinkled with a few white, deserted looking houses. Seagulls hover round us
all day, longing to pick up the crumbs from the refuse thrown overboard, uttering
continuously their discordantly plaintive notes. Our sole occupation is drilling with the
big guns and small arms, and getting up anchor twice a day, morning and evening, to take
our "station" - each vessel having a day station and a night station. A lookout
is kept at the masthead, night and day, who, with a powerful spyglass, scans the horizon,
but rarely, indeed, is the welcome sound of "sail ho! " to be heard, but when
such is the case it seems to infuse new life and animation into our humdrum, listless
community, and, should it prove to be a mail or supply boat, the effect is electric.
All minor grievances are
temporarily ignored and cheerful countenances and pleasant greetings are the order of the
day, for it rarely happens, however humble or obscure the individual, but he has not some
friend or acquaintance to correspond with; and then all are anxious to hear the
"news" -- perhaps a month old by the time we receive it, but yet news to us.
Very few prizes have been captured
by this fleet; and yet, judgi ng from appearances, and from what deserters, whom we
occasionally pick up tell us, quite a brisk trade is carried on, and that, too, with a
regularity and precision of arrival and departure of which not every Northern city can
boast; and I must say, managed with much tact and skill, as our vessels form a cordon
round the channel through which they have to pass. Nevertheless, it seems they
systematically elude our utmost vigilance if we are to believe those who have been here
residing since the blockade was institued. Very often the night signal is made from some
vessels of the enemy running out, and then as we are the fastest, we invariably slip
cable, and in the darkness of the night, following in their course, but so far, we have
not been successful in confiscating them. Why an effectual stopper is not put to their
proceedings by the occupation of the city or forts, of course it is not for me to judge,
but that such could be easily accomplished is perceptible to all, as it is only defended
by a few small batteries.
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