Blockade Runner Banshee

From Wikipedia.

Built in Liverpool, England, and launched in 1862, built specifically for the blockade-running trade, 210 feet long with a speed of 11.5 knots and 1200 tons. Steel-hulled and its maiden voyage across the Atlantic was a "first" for a steel-hulled ship.

In the next seven months, it made seven round trip runs through the blockade from either Bermuda or the Bahamas to Wilmington, NC. Future New York shipping magnate F.W.J. Hurst was second in command on all of those voyages.

Captured en route to Wilmington on November 21, 1863 by the USS Grand Gulf and Army transport Fulton.

The Navy bought the ship and converted it into a gunboat mounting one 100-pdr gun and two 30-pdr. guns. Commissioned June 1864 and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Took part in the first attack on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and later assigned to the Potomac Flotilla in mid-January. Decommissioned and sold November 1865.

Began commercial service and renamed the T.L. Smallwoord (or J.L. Smallwoood). Sold to British interests in 1868, renamed and continued service into the 1890s.

--Old B-Runner

Salter Path, NC

In the earlier post of today, I wrote about the USS Grand Gulf and Army transport Fulton capturing the blockade-runner Banshee on November 21, 1863 by Salter Path, NC. I have never heard of Salter Path, but it being in NC, figured it must have something to do with Wilmington.

Salter Path is an unincorporated community in Carteret County, part of NC's Crystal Coast. It is located on Bogue Banks and is part of Indian Beach.

History has it as a frequent refuge of the pirate Blackbeard.

--Old B-R'er

End of the Career of the Blockade Runner Margaret and Jessie

This date 150 years ago, the blockade runner Margaret and Jessie was captured at sea east of Myrtle Beach, SC, after a prolonged chase by Army transport Fulton and USS Nansemnd, Lt. R.H. Lamson.

The chase had started the previous evening by the USS Howquah near Wilmington, NC. The Howquah kept the steamer in sight all through the night. The USS Keystone State joined the chase in the morning and was on hand when the capture was made.

The Margaret and Jessie had run the blockade 15 times, one of the more successful runners. The steamer was then bought by the Navy and renamed the USS Gettysburg.

--Old B-R'er