Comrade R. F. Armstrong of
Halifax, Nova Scotia, paid tribute to Captain J. D.
Bulloch, who died at
Liverpool, Eng., January 7, 1901. It was for copies of the Confederate Veteran, containing
that sketch that President Roosevelt wrote cordial acknowledgement.
Mr. Armstrong again writes on this subject:
In the September Veteran
you describe an `Outing with the President,` in which you make illusion to
his esteemed and very worthy uncle, Capt. James D. Bulloch. President
Roosevelt had two uncles in the Confederate navy, both distinguished, but you
mistake the one for the orher. Permit me to set you right as to the services
performed by these gallant officers.
In 1861 Capt Bulloch was sent to England to purchase arms and ammunition
for the army. He accomplished his mission successfully, aand with the
steamship Fingal (afterwards the Ironclad Atlanta) pointed the way to that
illicit commerce, blockade running, which afterwards became such a factor
in our unequal struggle. Mr. Davis knew the man, and Captain Bulloch was
again sent abroad, to build and equip Confederate cruisers. The Alexandria,
Florida, Alabama, Shenandoah and the ironclad Stonewall, all built and
equipped by him, show his indefatigable perseverance; and these ships were
eminently suited for their purposes. Their successfull careers reflect great
credit upon the superior abilities of this great naval officer. The most
meager details of the work performed by Capt. Bulloch would occupy too much
space in your magazine, but when the history of the Confederate Navy comes
to be written no name shall stand higher on the roll of fame than that of
James Dunwoody Bulloch.
Irvine Stephen Bulloch, a younger brother,
entered the Confederate navy as midshipman, and in 1862 reported on board
the Alabama as one of the junior officers. By strict attention to duty, he rose
rapidly, and acted as master or navigator during most of the cruise of that ship.
After the fight off Cherbourg, and upon the fitting out of the Shenadoah,
young Bulloch was commissioned master, and performed the duties of
navigating officer during that eventful (and immortal) cruise. Where you make
the mistake is in confounding the elder bulloch with the younger, who it
was that served with Semmes on the Alabama.
About Captain Bulloch there was not a weak point, and I believe him to have
been the best all round naval officer brought on by the stress of the times
in either navy, and I doubt if any other officer could have accomplished so
much for the Confederate cause, which he loved so well."
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