150 Years Ago-- February 26th to 27th, 1864: CSS Muscogee

FEBRUARY 26-27TH, 1864: Boat expedition from the USS Tahoma destroyed a large Confederate government salt works on Goose Creek near St. Marks, Florida. //// FEBRUARY 27TH, 1864: The USS Roebuck seized British blockade-running sloop Nina with cargo of liquors and coffee and schooner Rebel with cargo of salt, liquor and cotton at Indian Inlet, Florida. //// Lt. David Porter McCorkle, CSN, wrote Catesby ap R. Jones about the progress on the CSS Muscogee at the Columbus, Georgia, naval station: "The Muscogee draws too much water; she has to be altered. It will be a long time before the Muscogee will be ready...." On 16 March, the editor of the Columbus, Georgia, Enquirer bitterly invited the public to "take a stroll below the wharf to see how much money has been wasted on a slanting 'discular looking craft." The Muscogee looked like an ark, and "nothing short of a flood will float it." //// --Old B-Runner