Follow-Up On the Last Post, CSS Florida Destroys the Commonwealth

In the last post, I wrote about the CSS Florida, under Lt. Maffitt, capturing and destroying the ship Commonwealth off Brazil.

From Wikipedia.

The CSS Florida had run out of Mobile Bay on January 16, 1863.  It then coaled in Nassau then spent six months off the coasts of North and South America making calls at neutral ports, making captures and eluding a large Federal squadron pursuing her.  It was during this period when she captured the Commonwealth.

From Ahoy  Mac's Log.

The Florida was chased by four Union ships:  USS Wachusett, Santiago de Cuba, San Jacinto and Sonoma.  they were under the overall command of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.  Charles Wilkes had commanded the USS San Jacinto in the famed Trent Affair.

The Commonwealth was a 1,300 ton clipper ship of New York.  She was put to the torch.  Its cargo had been insured for $370,000.

--Old B-R'er