The Vesta had outrun the blockaders, one of which was the USS Keystone State. According to the Confederate officer, the captain and first officer Mr. Tickler, in celebration, proceeded to get "outrageously drunk after the affair was over and the night had fallen."
At 2 am, the captain directed the pilot to take the ship into the Cape Fear River, telling the pilot the Vesta was ten miles above Fort Fisher, when, in actuality, it was 40 miles south of Frying Pan Shoals.
Fifteen minutes later, the ship was hard aground at Little River Inlet (I've seen it called Tubbs Inlet). All attempts to get it off failed and the passengers were landed without their luggage.
Even though there were no Union vessels in sight, Captain Eustace ordered the ship burned without trying to get the cargo off, three-fourths of which was on government account including army supplies and shoes. Also, there was a "splendid uniform, intended as a present for General Lee from some admirers in London."
The first blockaders to the scene did not arrive until 2 pm, attracted by the smoke from the burning.
I haven't been able to find out if Captain Eustace was ever brought up on charges, which, if this account is true, he surely should have been. The blockaders were unable to get anything off the Vesta.
It is pretty remarkable that the New York Times would be publishing this account from the enemy, but such was the nature of the war.
Running That Blockade, Sometimes. --Old B-Runner
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