Effective Work Done by Southern Naval Officers who Continued to Wear the National Uniform that they might the more Readily Betray the National Government--The Secretary of the Navy was Deceived and the Commandant at Norfolk Demoralized--William Mahone’s Tricks Added to the Demoralization at the Yard, and it was Abandoned at Last in a Shameful Panic--Property that was Worth Millions of Dollars, and Guns that Took Thousands of Lives, Fell into the Confederates’ Hands--The First Naval Battle of the War--Three Little Wooden Vessels with Seven Small Guns Sent against a Well-built Fort Mounting Thirteen Guns--The Hazardous Work of Patrolling the Potomac. CHAPTER IV. A STORY OF CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS 84 They Did Plenty of Damage for a Time, but their Career was Brief-- Capture of the First of the Class, and Trial of her Crew on a Charge of Piracy--Reasons why they could not be Held as Criminals--Luck of the _Jefferson Davis_--A Negro who Recaptured a Confederate Prize to Escape the Terrors of Slavery--A Skipper who Thought a Government Frigate was a Merchantman--The “Nest” behind Cape Hatteras. CHAPTER V. THE FORT OF HATTERAS INLET TAKEN 99 An Expedition Planned by the Navy Department that Resulted in the First Federal Victory of the Civil War--An Awkward Landing Followed by Ineffectual Fire from Ships under Way--One Fort Taken and Abandoned--Anchored beyond Range of the Fort and Compelled Surrender by Means of the Big Pivot Guns--A Wearisome Race from Chicamicomico to Hatteras Lighthouse Won by the Federals--Capture of Roanoke Island--Origin of the American Medal of Honor. CHAPTER VI. ALONG SHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO 112 The Shameful Story of Pensacola and Fort Pickens--When Lieutenant Russell Burned the _Judah_--A British Consul’s Actions when Confederate Forts were Attacked at Galveston--Extraordinary Panic at the Head of the Passes in the Mississippi when Four Great Warships, Carrying Forty-five of the Best Guns Afloat, Fled from a Disabled Tugboat that was Really Unarmed--Once more in Galveston--Lieutenant Jouett’s Fierce Fight when he Destroyed the _Royal Yacht_. CHAPTER VII. STORY OF THE TRENT AFFAIR 140 Capt. Charles Wilkes, of the American Navy, Took Four Confederate Diplomatic Agents from a British Ship Bound on a Regular Voyage between Neutral Parts, and without any Judicial Proceeding Cast them into a Military Prison--A Case that Created Great Excitement Throughout the Civilized World--A Swift Demand, with a Threat of War Added, Made by the British--Comparing this Case with another of Like Nature--The United States once Went to War to Establish the Principle which Captain Wilkes Ignored--The British Officially Acknowledge that the Americans were Justified in Declaring War in 1812.