Evacuation of Charleston-- Part 3: Capture of Blockade-Runners, "Strange We Did Not Smell a Rat"

FEBRUARY 17-18TH, 1865"  The steamers Lady Davis, Mab and Transport were taken after evacuation.  The USS Catskill seized the Confederate blockade-runner Celt, which had run aground trying to get out of Charleston on the night of the 14th.

The Catskill also took the British blockade-runner Deer.  The steamer had been decoyed into Charleston that night by the same ruse--   keeping the Confederate signals lighted--employed at Wilmington the previous month.

The deer ran aground and on being boarded her master told Lt.Cmdr. Edward Barrett"  "Well, we give it up; she is your prize.  Strange we did not smell a rat, as we could not make out your signal at Fort Marshall."

Also in the aftermath of Charleston's fall, the USS Gladiolus captured blockade-runner Syren in the Ashley River which had successfully run in through the blockade the night before.

And, i was always under the notion that blockade-running at Charleston was a done deal by 1864.  Evidently I was wrong.

--Old B-Runner