The Best Station of Them All: The Savannah Squadron, 1861-1865

10. Enter the Fingal

10 enter the Fingal now that Bulloch had his first ship contracts (and understood something of the tactics and political resources of the u.s. ambassador, charles francis adams), the need for a quick return to the confederacy for consultation and a reconsideration of his instructions seemed imperative. and he had a major arms shipment to bring home to Dixie.1 a man better schooled in the traditions of the old navy might not have acted beyond his orders. But Bulloch had trained in the school of business too, where independent thinking, creative solutions, and decisive action were essential. so he had bought a vessel and was preparing to run her home to savannah. There was considerable personal risk. should the vessel and its cargo be captured , founder at sea, or be detained by authorities, Bulloch would be liable to censure. To protect himself, he reported his decision, and his reasoning, to the confederate commissioner to europe, a. Dudley Mann. “you are aware of the difficulties that beset us and i trust you will find it consistent with your views to say hereafter that in this matter we acted for the best.”2 Bulloch bought the Fingal, a new scottish-built iron freighter. she was to have been a joint army-navy purchase, but huse’s funds were exhausted. so the navy Department paid the cost of the ship—£17,500—plus drayage for the cargo, transportation expenses for officers, and crew’s wages.3 since u.s. agents were shadowing all the confederates, neither Bulloch, anderson , huse, nor lieutenant north could be seen in Greenock, scotland, where the ship was berthed. Bulloch assigned a new confederate operative, John low, as the Fingal’s second officer. Born in aberdeen, scotland, and raised by relatives in liverpool, low joined enter the Fingal / 75 the merchant marine at age sixteen. in the 1850s family ties brought him to Georgia. his uncle andrew, son of a former British consul to savannah, partnered with charles Green in a prosperous savannah cotton brokerage. he helped John establish a ship chandlery on West Broad street. young John took on an older partner , robert hardy, and moved the business, hardy & low, to Jones Wharf on the riverfront. in savannah low became friendly with the Bullochs. and his uncle andrew, whose cotton business required ample entertaining at his mansion on lafayette square, was well acquainted with edward anderson. at the beginning of the war John low joined the Georgia hussars, a cavalry regiment whose origins dated back to the american revolution. he was about to leave for virginia when the confederate government recruited him to act as another of its agents in europe. uncle andrew and his second wife made annual visits to his two daughters in england. Given the announced blockade, they felt that the summer of 1861 might be their last chance to visit, and they departed for england in July. John low accompanied them. low came aboard the Fingal, under the command of Briton John anderson (no relation to the major), as the ship was loading its cargo of weaponry, sent up from london. Two charleston men, foster and Moffat, bought passage aboard her at Greenock, and on october 11, 1861, captain anderson cleared her for British honduras.4 across the sea in savannah, Tattnall was already prepared to receive her. at the 12. The Fingal, as drawn by u.s. consul f. h. Morse’s agent in Greenock, scotland, and sent to u.s. secretary of the navy Gideon Welles. (Official Records, Navies.) 76 / chapter 10 beginning of october he sent charles Morris in the Huntress to ossabaw sound to arrange for pilots and await Bulloch’s appearance. a few days later he sent Kennard and the Sampson to relieve Morris, make contact with the pilots, “and take charge of the whole business.” he told Kennard to hold a position “as near the Bar as may be prudent, both as regards the enemy, and the weather, and should capt. Bulloch make his appearance, render him all the aid in your power.”5 Kennard wouldn’t be there long. as confederate spies identified Port royal as the invasion fleet’s target, Tattnall took his flotilla north, into Wright river behind Daufuskie island, through skull creek, and into Port royal sound. Bulloch would have to fend for himself. Bulloch and anderson were waiting in holyhead, where the Fingal would make port to pick them up...