Francis Warrington Dawson 1861-1865 Page 3

Although Capt. Pegram was very kind and patient, he told me frankly that it was impossible for him to do what I wanted.  He said:

 "I have no office which I can give you, and this being a Government vessel, I cannot take you as a passenger." 

Later I learned that some of the officers had suggested that I might be a "Yankee spy"  trying to get into a position where I would be able to report the movements of the Nashville  to her friends on the other side.

Among other things Capt. Pegram told me was that there would be plenty of opportunities of reaching the South, as the United States would certainly refuse to surrender Messrs. Mason and Slidell by Capt. Wilkes of the San Jacinte, on Nov. 8, 1861, and that England's first act after declaring war would be to raise the blockade of the Southern ports.  In spite of Capt. Pegram's refusal, I persisted in urging him to take me, and at last he said:

 "There is only one thing that can be done; if you like to go as a sailor before the mast I will take you, but of course you will not dream of doing that." 

My answer was I will do it. and I hope that you will let me know when you are about to sail, in order that I may be here in time."

Capt. Pegram told me that he would do this, but either forgot it or supposed that my intentions must have changed when I realized what I had undertaken.    But I didn't realize it, and I did not change my mind.  I ought to say here that, although I was 21 years old at this time, I did not look more than 17  or 18, which will account for the habit that Capt. Pegram has had of saying that I was a mere boy at the time that he made my acquaintance.

I returned to London and made plans for my departure; my friend from Arkansas told me that the one indispensable thing was a bowie-knife, and he explained the many uses to which this weapon could be put, assuring me that I would have no difficulty in seizing the gun of a Yankee soldier by the muzzle and, with one dexterous blow, severing the barrel in twain.  Another way of using it was to attach a cord to the handle of this bowie-knife and, with a skillful throw, to drive the blade into the heart of the advancing foeman, and when he should have fallen, to haul it back by the string, and repeat the operation on another of the enemy.  I didn't have much faith in my ability to use the bowie-knife in this fashion, but I ordered one to be made by a surgical instrument maker,according to a pattern given me by my Arkansas friend.  An awesome looking weapon it was.  The blade was fifteen inches long and about three inches wide, at the broadest part, & a third of an inch thick at the back.

I got myself a sea chest, which, according to Marryatt's novels, was indispensable to a sea-faring man, caused my name to be painted on it in big white letters, and held myself in readiness to start.  But no summons came.  Tired of waiting, I said good-bye to my people at home, and went down to Southampton, determined to remain there until the time for going aboard should come.

There I bought a sailor's outfit, and, when I had rigged myself out in what I considered  the proper style, I went down to the vessel.  I wore a blue woolen shirt open at the neck; blue trousers, made very tight at the knee and 22 inches in circumference at the bottom, and on my head a flat cloth cap ornamented with long black ribbons.  I had besides, in the famous sea-chest, a pea jacket, sea boots, and the necessary underclothing.  As a reminder of my former estate, I retained a suit of dress clothes, and a black Inverness cape which I had been in the habit of wearing.

PIE

Nice post about Francis Warrington Dawson piewacket1861. I wonder if you want me to do a page that are about Francis and put him with the other letters a have on the page.
Ann