CSS Owl-- Part 5: The End of the Confederacy

On this last trip to Wilmington, the Owl was almost captured by a federal cruiser and had to jettison valuable mail as well as sustained 12 casualties.

When Maffitt tried to run into Galveston in May 1865, he grounded on Bird Island Shoals at the entrance to the harbor, within easy cannon range of sixteen blockaders.   Captain James H. MacGarvey, CSN, , of the CSS Diana, just barely got the Owl off in time before the Union ships got the range and Maffitt got into the port.

He later also successfully ran out of it.

There is some evidence that during the Owl's last  two runs through the blockade that it was doing so under the name of Foam.

With the end of the war and no more ports to run into, Maffitt took the Owl/Foam to Liverpool and delivered it to the firm of Fraser, Trenholm & Company and deciding to stay in England, Maffitt took the British Board of Trade examinations and  commanded British ships going between that island and South America.

--Old B-Runner