APRIL 30TH, 1865: Confederate blockade runners Harriet Lane, Alice (also called Matagorda) and Isabel run the blockade at Galveston under cover of darkness and rain squalls
The Harriet Lane was sighted at 9:15 p.m. at Southwest Channel by the USS Katahdin but didn't alert other blockaders so they would remain at the Main Channel. The Harriet Lane passed withing 100 yards of the Union ship but was not seen clearly because of the heavy rain.
The Katahdin gave chase and in the early morning saw four ships trying to elude him. It gained on the ships and fired all its Parrott shells, but they eventually pulled away and escaped. All were carrying cotton, but the Alice had to throw 300 bales overboard to gain speed.
The Harriet Lane had been closely watched and its escape raised indignation in Washington.
--Old B-Runner
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