The following is a discription of events that happened on January 20, 1864.

It is an excert taken from Diplomatic Correspondence, papers relating to Foreign Affairs, printed in Washington at the covernment printing office in 1865

This is No.833 From Mr. Seaward to Mr. Adams, on Feb.5, the subject; Case of the Vesta. Pg. 128

I have recreated the events as they are written so as you and others would understand the event as it was told in that period of time.

There are other events that are as enjoyable to read within these 2 volumes of American History, and I would suggest that you and all other history buff's look them up. Be amased at some of the not so large battles that were fought, not only at the home front, but also with England, Spain, Cuba, and even the conflicts with Canada.

Read about the "navel action between the Alabama and the Kearsarge". Volume 2 page 176 is the beginning of the fight, but it continues on for several pages, giving several different accounts of the battle.

See where convicts were brought in the US to fight, and read about the surrender of the pirates who seized the Joseph L. Gerrity.

There are only a few of the exciting "adventures" that await you within these 2 volumes. The names, Grant, Lee, Sherman, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quency Adams, and yes even George Washington.

I hope you enjoy the small amount of American History that I have written done for you, and it is my hope that you let other's know.

PS Feel free to Email me at kpfletch@fundy.net

Sir: I inclose copies of the Morning Chronicle, of this city, of yesterday, which contains an article from the Richmond Examiner, of the 25th ultimo, relativeto the stranding and destruction of the blockade-runner Vesta, near Wilmington. The article confesses that at least a part of the cargo of the steamer was the property of the insurgent government, so called. You may consequently find it useful as cumulative proof of the fact that their resistance is prolonged by the introduction of such supplies in that way. It is not unlikely that the vessel itself was also really owned by the same party.

I am, sir, your obedient servent,

We have the partieulars of another desaster off the Carolina coast the wreck of the Vesta, one of the finest steamers in the blockade running line. The incidents are obtained from a confederate officer, who was a passenger from Bermuda. The following is a list of the Vesta's passengers; Mrs. JohnMitchell, Miss Minnie Mitchel, Miss Isabel Mitchel, Mr. T. J. Leed, England; Mr. Perrin, Confederate States navy; Lieut. J. H. Gardiner, Confederate States navy; Dr. William Shepherdson, Confederate States navy; Paymaster Moses, Confederate States navy; Mr.Kirlebane, Bermuda.

This was the first trip of the Vesta from England. She was a double –screw steamer, perfect in all appointments, and commanded by Captian R. H. Eustaco, an Englishman.

The Vesta left Bermuda on the 3d instant. For seven days she was chased over the seas by a number of Yankee cruisers, but succeded in eluding them, and on the 10th instant made the coast in the vicity of Wilmington. Being compelled to lay to, she was descried bya Yankee cruiser, which gave chase, and in half an hour more than eleven Yankee vessels were pouncing down upon the suddenly descovered prey. The Vesta, although apparently surrounded, ran the gauntlet in splendid style, through one of the most stirring scenes which the war has yet witnessed on the water. Some of the cruisers attempted to cross her bows and cut her off, but she was too rapid for the manoeuver, and at half a mile's distance some of the cruisers opended their broadsides upon her, while five others in chase were constantly using their bow guns, exploding shells right over the decks of the devoted vessel. Fortunately no one was hurt, and the vessel ran the gauntlet, raising her flag in defiance, suffering only from a single shot, though it passed amidships, above the water-line, happili escaped the machinery.

But the trouble seems to have commenced with the passengers anticipated to be the triumphant escape from their captors; for the captian and the first officer, Tickler, are reported to have become outrageously drunk after the affair was over and the night had fallen. It is said that the captain was asleep on th quarter-deck, stupefied with drink, when he should have put the ship on land; and that at 2 o'clock in the morning he directed the pilot to take the ship ashore, telling him that the ship was ten miles above Fort Fisher, when the fact was that she was about forty miles to the southward of Fryingpan shoals.

Fifteen minutes afterwards the Vesta made land, the pilot having run her so far ashore that it was impossible to get her off. She was run aground at Littlr River inlet; the passengers landed in boats minus their baggage; and, although there were no cruisers in sight, and not the least occasion for precipitation, the vessel, with all her cargo, was fired before daylight, by the order of Captian Eustace, and burned to the water's edge. The cruisers did not get up to the wreck untel two o'clock on the afternoon of the next day, and then they were attracted to it by the smoke from the conflagration.

The cargo of the Vesta wae of the most valuable description; three-forths of it on government account, consisting of army supplies, and including a very extebsive lot of English shoes. There was also lost by the wreck a splebdid uniform, intended as a present to General Lee, from some of his admirers in London. Nothing of any account was saved.