150 Years Ago-- March 28th-29th, 1864

MARCH 28TH, 1864: Secretary Welles ordered Commander John C. Carter to have the USS Michigan "prepared for active service as soon as the ice will permit." The Michigan was at Erie, Pennsylvania, and it was rumored that the Confederates were planning a naval raid from Canada against a city on the Great Lakes. //// MARCH 29TH, 1864: The CSS Florida, now commanded by Lt. Morris, captured the ship Avon with a cargo of 1600 tons of guano. After removing its crew, Morris used his prize for gunnery practice. I guess he was having problems finding a prize crew for a ship loaded with s___. //// --Old B-Runner