Richmond Dispatch.
Saturday morning. . . . . . . . . . Feb.2, 1861.
An Armstrong gun → landed.
--An ← Armstrong gun of large calibre arrived here to-day from Europe via Savannah. Its destination is Georgetown, and it comes to the order of Mr. Weston, a wealthy planter, who resides in that locality. He has also imported one hundred and fifty muskets, at his own expense, for a volunteer corps in his own neighborhood. Charleston Cor. Phil Press.
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Richmond, Oct. 17, 1861.
One of the Armstrong steel guns brought over in the Bermuda passed through the city yesterday. It is a tremendous piece of ordnance and excited great attention as it was drawn though the streets.
Athens Tennessee Post, Oct. 18, 1861.
Washington, Oct. 7.-
"The cargo of the Bermuda (the vessel which run the Blockade at Savannah...eighteen rifled cannon (thirty-two and forty two pounders), and two one hundred and sixty-eight pounders Armstrong guns, with all the necessary shot and shell ready for immediate use; also...etc. etc."
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"Charles Francis Adams formally notified the British government on August 15 that Bermuda was ready for sea and added that, the merchants who claim to be the owners have no intention of dispatching her on any errand of mercy or peace. Edward Haigh of Liverpool, the cotton broker of Fraser, Trenholm, became the nominal owner, but in a few days, a bill of sale was made out to Allan Stuart Hanckel and George A. Trenholm of Charleston. Captain Eugene Tessier, formerly master of Emily St. Pierre and other John Fraser & Co. ships, took command. John Fraser & Co. sent from Charleston their experienced pilot, Captain Penn Peck. Bermuda came from Fraser, Trenholm & Co., consigned to John Fraser and Co.
A million dollar cargo was on board: eighteen rifled cannon, a thirty-two pounder, a forty-two pounder, two 168 pounder Lancaster guns, with carriages and equipment, including powder and shot, 6500 Enfield rifles, 200,000 cartridges, 60,000 pairs army shoes, 20,000 blankets, 180 barrels gunpowder, large amounts of morphine, quinine, and other medical stores. In September, acting Secretary of War, Benjamin, acknowledged that John Fraser &Co. had placed the Bermuda at the service of the government and after conferring with the Navy, the Army was using the whole tonnage.
Bermuda arrived safely at Savannah, Ga., September 18, 1861, and returned to Liverpool with a large cargo of cotton. Southerners in Liverpool rejoiced over the success. Fraser, Trenholm had been apprised of her arrival by telegram and letter by way of Quebec.
http://www.arete-designs.com/southernprimer/commerce.html
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Series I - Volume 6: Atlantic Blockading Squadron (July 16, 1861 - October 29, 1861) page 279
THOMPSON, CONN., September 30, 1861.
From information perfectly reliable in my possession, a new screw steamer, Bermuda, ironclad, from Liverpool, about 1,500 tons, Peck, master, arrived at Savannah September 16, 1861. Her cargo, 18 rifle cannon, 32-pounder, 42-pounder, and two 168-pound [er] Lancaster guns, with all necessary carriages and equipments, powder, shot, etc., for action, 6,500 Enfield guns, some 200,000 or 300,000 cartridges for these guns, 60,000 pair army shoes, 20,000 blankets, 180 barrels gun- powder, large quantity of morphine an(1 quinine, and other medical stores, together with many other articles of more thati money value to the rebel Army. fler cargo in Liverpool cost $1,000,000. Her armament was two 12-pounder rifled guiis on a side, and she is fitting for active service. She is destined for capturing California steamers, Commander Totten [Tattuall] in command. She was twenty-nine days on passage from Liverpool and touched at Falmouth and Madeira for coal. Two more steam ironclad frigates are expected on the coast by the 13th October. When the Bermuda was loading and when she cleared she was sup- posed to be a supply boat for the royal navy, and cleared for some port iu the West liidies. She was owned by Englishmen, but her cargo principally in South Carolina; private speculation. My informant had this fi-om the mate of the vessel by word of month. He has just arrived from the South to his home from a years sojourn on the Georgia coast, and knows something of its defenses. Much inure information is doubtless in his possession. Telegraph to General Pratt, of this place, to know who I am, if this information is of value. In haste, etc.,
JEREMIAH OLNEY.
Hon. GiDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.