CSS Oconee (Savannah)-- Part 3: From Gun Boat to Blockade Runner

Continued from September 15th.

From November 5-6th, 1861, Tattnall's "Mosquito Fleet" sailed to Port Royal, SC, to help oppose Flag Officer Du Pont's 51-ship fleet attacking there at Port Royal Sound, but didn't accomplish anything.

On November 26, 1861, , the Savannah fought Union ships at the mouth of the Savannah River and then ran supplies to Fort Pulaski in January 1862. After that, the Savannah served as a receiving ship at Savannah.

With the construction of the new ironclad to be named CSS Savannah, the wooden Savannah's became the CSS Oconee and was transformed into a blockade-runner. In June 1863 it was loaded with cotton and headed for England. After running the blockade, the Oconee ran into a big storm and sank August 18, 1863, before reaching its destination.

--Old B-Runner