Monday, March 11, 2013

Blockade-Runners Took Advantage of Florida's Coastline-- Part 3: CSS Florida

ATTACK ON TAMPA BAY

The Union sailors from the USS Tahoma and Adela surprised the crews of the Scottish Chief and Kate Dale, blockade-runners, and they quickly surrendered.  Both ships were loaded with cotton with plans to run out through the blockade.  Both were burned.

The Kate Dale lies where it sank near today's Lowry Park Zoo.  The Scottish Chief was refloated and being repaired for a return to service before it burned and sank near Tampa Heights where it rests today.


THE CSS FLORIDA

This ship was second only to the more famous CSS Alabama in number of ships destroyed and captured.  It was commissioned August 17, 1862, just four months after its namesake, the SS Florida was captured in St. Andrew's Bay (by Panama City) in north Florida.  Captain was Wilmington, NC's John Newland Maffitt.

In two years of service, the ship destroyed some $4 million worth of American commerce.

While in the neutral port of Bahia, Brazil, the USS Wachusett attacked and captured it (against international maritime law).  There arose a big dispute about the capture while the Florida was taken to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where it sank after being "accidentally" rammed by a Union ship.

Not Such a Backwater.  --Old B-Runner

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