One of the earliest strandings of friendly steamers near New Inlet, or Cape Fear main bar, was that of the _Modern Greece_, which was also the most important and interesting. On the morning of the 27th of June, 1862, at 4.15 o'clock the _Modern Greece_ had safely evaded many Federal cruisers and was within three miles of Fort Fisher, headed for New Inlet, when she was seen by one of the Federal blockaders, the _Cambridge_, which immediately gave chase and pelted the _Modern Greece_ with bombshells. The _Cambridge_ was joined by the Federal cruiser _Stars and Stripes_, which also opened fire on the _Modern Greece_, the latter being then run ashore to avoid capture, her crew escaping in their boats to the shore. In the meantime Fort Fisher was firing at the enemy and also at the _Modern Greece_ where she was stranded, in order to prevent the Federals from hauling her off. The crew of the _Modern Greece_ was in great peril during this bombardment, as part of her valuable cargo consisted of a thousand tons of powder for the Confederacy and many guns. The garrison at Fort Fisher subsequently landed a large amount of clothing and barrels of spirits, and the spirits flowed like water for several weeks to the scandal of the fort and its defenders. Its potent influence was also felt in Wilmington. The _Modern Greece_ was a large British propeller of about 1,000 tons net register, one of the largest blockade runners of the war. She now lies deep in the sand near Fort Fisher. The "Elizabeth." One of the regular passenger and freight boats which ran between New Orleans and Galveston before the war was named _Atlantic_. She became a famous blockade runner under her original name, which was changed later to _Elizabeth_. I think she was commanded for several voyages by the celebrated Capt. Thomas J. Lockwood of Southport and Charleston, whose capable brother-in-law, George C. McDougal, was her chief engineer. Mr. McDougal was a man of fine qualities, quiet and retiring in his demeanor. He made in various steamers sixty successful runs through the blockade. For more than twenty-five years after the war I enjoyed the privilege of his intimate confidences, and I have no hesitation in saying that he was to my mind the most remarkable man who had been engaged in blockade running.