George Henry Preble-- Part 4: In Defense of the CSS Florida Escape

However, Preble had his supporters in the incident.
Even the commander of the CSS Florida, John Newland Maffitt, testified that it was his ship's superior speed that enabled him to run into Mobile Bay.

Other Oneida officers testified that Preble had done no wrong.

The CSS Florida appeared around 5 p.m. on September 4, 1862, flying the ensign of an English warship to confuse the blockaders.  Preble was in command of the Mobile blockade at the time in  his USS Oneida along with the the USS Winona because the other blockading ships were away for repairs.  So instead of the usual six ships, there were just two.

--Old B-Runner