I decided to do a shot story that takes place during the Civil War. I guess you can say this is the unofficial Historical Preface for the Kurt Austin adventure that is going on in the Fan fiction section. Enjoy everyone! beer:

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May 23rd 1864: Charleston, South Carolina


Captain Leigh Hunt nervously checked his gilded watch in the dim light of a lampost and gazed at the horizon where the bulk of the Union blockading fleet was stationed. He felt that the following months would be the last for himself and his 235 crewmwmbers which were stationed on the Confederate raider Chancellorsville. He vaguely remembered the confrence him and his Executive Officer,Lt. Cmdr Catsby Jones attended a few weeks earlier in Richmond, the Capital of the Confederacy.

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"Like I said Captain your mission is of the utmost importance," Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America stood at a bay window overlooking the city of Richmond. The sounds of cannon fire could be heard distantly on the horizon.

"Beggin you pardon Mr. President," Catsby Jones muttered "Why is our ship tasked withg this burden? The bulk of our treasury should be moved by blockade runners. They're faster than our ship."

"Thats true," said Stephen Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate Navy. "But the Chancellorsville has massive firepower, wheras our blockade runners have little or no protection. Besides the Alabama, the Chancellorsville is all we have left of our raiding fleet as well. Your ship will sneak out of Charleston harbor and make its way to Japan. We have some sympathetic people there from the British Embassy who are willing to help us."

"What about Europe sir?" Captain Hunt asked.

"No its too dangerous," Davis replied. "The Yankees have ships and spies guarding the harbors along the English and French coast. The political consequences of your ship laden with our gold being captured by a enemy warship is too great." Davis sighed, "You and Mr. Jones report back to Charleston ready your ship, and be prepared to leave when we send word."

Jones and Hunt stood up and saluted. "Thank you sir." And that was that...

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The Chancellorsville slipped quietly through the blockade like a wraith in the night . The forts of Sumter, Moultrie, Wagner, and Battery Marshall provided cover fire for the ship as she slipped past the amazed and shocked faces of the Blockading ship's crews. Hunt proudly raised his hat to the crew and officers manning the guns and the Engines

"Hurrah to the Confederacy!!!"

Cheers erupted from the crew as they gave three cheers for their ship and broke out into a chorus of "Dixie" and "The Bonny Blue Flag."

Leigh Hunt was proud of his ship. Constructed in secret BEFORE the war began in 1860, the Chancellorsville was originally named Vengeance, but had its named changed in honor of the Confederate victory at Chancellorsville in 1863. The ship was a massive 180 feet long 78 feet in the beam, and was powered by a single steam engine generating enough horsepower to drive the raider at an unheard of speed of 25 knots. She was almost as fast as the luxury liner RMS Lusitania. The Chancellorsville packed an impressive bite as well. Nine 9-inch Dalghren smoothbore cannon mounted in broadside gun ports, and a two rifled Blakley guns one fore and one aft. Her propeller could be retracted into the hull to increase speed and decrease watter resistance, and her two smokestacks and masts were raked at a 25 degree angle to increase speed. The smokestacks also telescoped into the deck.

Hunt's thoughts were interuppted by the voice of Catsby Jones.

"All guns are stowed and ship is ready for sea sir."

'Very well Mr. Jones carry on."

"Aye sir." Jones Replied. Catsby Jones was a very capable officer. In 1862 he took command of the Ironclad CSS Virginia, and led her to safety after sinking one Union frigate and burning another one to the waterline. After that, Jones signed on as executive officer of this ship in order to write his name into the history books. After a 3 month cruise, the Chancellorsville sank or captured 38 merchant ships. Not a very large amount, but it put Hunt and Jones up the ladder with names like
Benjamin Maffit of the Florida, and Raphael Semmes of the Alabama.

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Two months later...
The South Pacific Island of Tonga


"Ship on the starboard beam sir!"

"Good god!" Captain Hunt exclaimed. "The Yankees have found us!"

The steam frigates Chicago and Philadelphia had just arrived over the horizon. The Chancellorsville was refueling from the Blockade runner Stuart, when the Chicago and her consort fired their guns.Hunt was enraged.

"Mr. Jones!"

"Sir!"

"STOP TAKING ON COAL AND BEAT TO QUARTERS!!!"

"Aye sir!" Jones jumped from the open bridge and stated issuing orders to get the guns primed and ready. men stripped to the waist and began loading and priming the Chancellorsville's armament. Pistols and Cutlasses were issued. Marines took station in the ship's yards, their Enfield and Sharp's rifles cocked and loaded. The Blakley's were swung out on their pivots, and readied. The Chancellorsville got up a full head of stem and headed for her final battle. The Chicago and Philadelphia had swung broadside and began raking the Chancellorsville with cannon and musket fire. A 9-inch dalgren round impacted the forward blakley mount and totaly destroyed it. Bodies, limbs, arms, heads, and internal organs rained down on the deck. The decks were furiously sanded to soak up blood. A shot from Philadelphia oblierated two broadside mounts and killed their entire crews.

"My god in heaven!" Jones yelled above the chaos "We're being eviscerated!"

Hunt did not answer. He furiously banged on the muzzles of the cannons screaming until his face was beet red. He took his Navy issue revolver and opened fire on the Marines perched in the enemy ship's rigging.

"You can't stop me you scum!!!" He yelled. He unsheathed his cutlass and carefully stepped over the mangled corpses of the dead until he came across a sailor holding the headless torso of a crewmember.

"What are you doing sailor!? Get back to your station! NOW!!!" The gunfire was deafening. Like the thunder of gods.

"I can't sir!" The boy screamed. Tears streamed down his blackened face. "I cant leave him! He's my brother!!!

"Goddammit man get a bloody hold of yourself!" Hunt yelled. He saw it was pointless. He left the man alone. The Confederate gunfire was accurate. The Philadelphia was raked by heavy gunfire, and drifted away burning. It later exploded and sank after the flames ignited the powder magazines. There were no survivors.

Two hours later it was over. The Chancellorsville was finished. Of the 200+ crew, only 96 would survive. The ship's magazines were empty. The guns fell silent. Hunt reluctantly struck his colors and sadly ordered Lt. Jones to scuttle the ship. As the final boatload of men left for the Chicago, and captivity, the Chancellorsville's bulkheads collapsed, and the battered hulk of the South's last raider and the mangled bodies of her crew dissapeared into the sea to her grave. Hunt looked at his Executive officer and the dissapearing remains of his command. Gone with ship was also the $ 4 million dollars in Confederate gold, which would be buried by the remorseless sea.

"So long Chancellorsville. You were a great ship"

"Excuse me sir?" Jones asked.

"Hmm? Oh nothing Catsby. Nothing at all. Hunt then began humming the first few bars of "Dixie" as his remaining crew boarded the Chicago.


The End

Damn Big Red you are one hell of an author!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, what can I say? I read lots of Dr. Cussler's novels and historical texts for inspiration.

Thanks for the comments Mostly Heep.

th: WOW I can't find the words (and that never happens..hehe)

YEE HAW!!! Big red Strikes again!!!

Wow Big Red. Awesome job. th:

Great Story!!!! w: Bloody Marvelous!!!!

Fantastic para:

Simply great snor:

This would make an authentic beginning to a CC book. Great story.

I like it a lot!! :lol: