Blockade Runner Annie-- Part 2: Facing the Hurricane

"I made a second voyage through the blockade in the Annie, passing within a cable length of two of the Federal fleet, who failed to observe us.

We again loaded the Annie in Nassau and cleared for Wilmington, but fell in with a hurricane shortly afterwards and were obliged to heave to for about forty hours, during which we lost our reckoning, and failing to get observations for three days, waited until the gale subsided and then anchored the ship in smooth water, by kedge, until the captain succeeded in getting an observation of the North Star, by which he worked out his position, we then shaped our course straight for the blockade fleet off Fort Fisher.

At that time, and subsequently, it was the custom for the Flag Ship of the blockading squadron to carry a large light, and, this being the only one visible, served the purpose of guiding the blockade runners until they get the bearing of the Mound Light...."

This was his last voyage on the Annie.

Thanks Blockaders, For That Light.--Old B-Runner

Blockade Runner Annie-- Part 1

This ship had quite an active October 1864, when it was almost captured running into Wilmington and captured at the end of the month on its way out of that port.  This was the ship the USS Aster was chasing when it ran aground and was lost, that the USS Berberry was trying to pull off when it to ran aground before being rescued by the USS Niphon.  I have been writing about these ships the last several weeks.

On October 31, 1864, the Annie was captured by the USS Niphon and Wilderness.

The following pilot shipped aboard the Annie several times through the blockade at Wilmington.

From James William Craig, A Veteran Cape Fear River Pilot."

After successfully piloting several runners into and out of Wilmington, he was ordered to go to Nassau in the blockade runner Fanny, (former Orion), and report to Captain Watters in the blockade runner Annie.

"I remember we left [Wilmington] in the Fanny on a Saturday night and arrived in Nassau before daylight of Tuesday morning, where I found the Annie loaded and ready for sea and waiting for me.  We accordingly left about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and arrived without incident inside the Cape Fear Bar on the Friday night following."

More Adventures in the Annie Next.  --Old B-Runner

The USS Niphon's Involvement in the Loss of the USS Aster

From Wikipedia.

The USS Niphon was a ship to be feared by blockade runners.  Click on the label USS Niphon below to see how much she was involved in captures.  It is an impressive list.

The USS Aster ran aground and was lost chasing the blockade runner Annie on October 7.  The Niphon came to her aid.  The Niphon then assisted in the capture of the Annie when she ran out od Wilmington on October 31.

On October 1, 1864, the Niphon ran the blockade runner Condor aground, now a N.C. State Dive Spot, and this shipwreck was where famed Congederate spy Rose O'Neal Greenhow drowned.

Then on October 7 the Niphon rescued the crew of the USS Aster under the guns of Fort Fisher.  It was able to tow the USS Berberry after it had become disabled trying to tow the Aster off the shoals.

On the last day of October, the Niphon and USS Wilderness captured the Annie on her way out.

A Busy October.  --Old B-Runner

Picture of the Capture of the Blockade Runner Annie, Oct. 31, 1864

From the New York City Library Digital Collections.

A drawing of the capture of this ship under fire from Union vessels, whose names are given:  How-quah, the Alabama's launch, Wilderness, Niphon, Kansas and Alabama.

Drawn in 1864 by Charles F. Ellmore.

--Old B-Runner

USS Aster, Steam Tugboat Lost Off New Inlet

Earlier this month, I wrote about the loss of the USS Aster to the Union blockading squadron off Wilmington, North Carolina on October 8, 1864.

From Wikipedia.

Originally the tugboat Alice and acquired by the U.S. Navy 25 July 1864. at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and placed in commission 12 August 1864.    It was ordered to duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Wilmington.  She joined that squadron but was soon in Norfolk, Virginia for repairs.

She arrived back off New Inlet on  7 October and almost immediately spied a blockade runner making for the entrance and gave chase to cut it off.  The blockade runner turned out to be the Anne, from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Just as the Aster was about to catch up with the Annie, it grounded on the Carolina Shoals.  Every effort was made to refloat the ship, but failed.  The USS Berberry came to her aide but was also unsuccessful.

The Aster's crew was transferred to the Berberry and the tug put to the torch causing it to blow up.

The Annie managed to slip into the Cape Fear River and make her way to Wilmington, but was captured on her way out on October 31.

--Old B-Runner

N.C. Timeline, October 1864-- Part 2: Sinking of CSS Albemarle By Cushing

OCTOBER 22--  Capture of Confederate steamer Hope.

OCTOBER 27--  Destruction of CSS Albemarle at Plymouth by William B. Cushing.

OCTOBER 28--   Capture of British steamer Lady Sterling

OCTOBER 29-31--  Union re-occupation of Plymouth.  Naval operations as well.

OCTOBER 31--  Capture of British steamer Annie.

--Old B-Runner

Blockade-Runner Annie Seized Off New Inlet, N.C.: Some Question About Procedure

OCTOBER 31ST, 1864:  The USS Wilderness and USS Niphon seized British blockade-runner steamer Annie off New Inlet, N.C..  New Inlet was one of the two entrances to the Cape Fear River and Wilmington.  The Annie was outward bound with a cargo of tobacco, cotton and turpentine

Concerned by reports that the officers of the two ships had not properly signaled other Union blockaders during the chase in order to obtain a larger share of the prize money, Rear Admiral Porter wrote: "This war is not being conducted for the benefit of officers to enrich them by the capture of prizes, and every commander is deficient in the high moral character which has always been inherent in the Navy who for a moment consults his private interests in preference to the public good, hesitates to destroy what is the property of the enemy, or attempts to benefit himself at the expense of others... Honor and glory should be the watchword of the Navy, and not for profit."

A steamer such as the Annie brought in large prize money from all ships within sight of its capture.  The fewer the ships, the more the shares of money for its captors.  I have to wonder how many blockade-runners avoided capture when a blockader "neglected" to alert others about its presence?

--Yea, Right!  --Old B-R'er