Movements of Blockade Runners September 1864

From the September 24, 1864, New York Times  "Movements of Blockade-Runners."

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Thursday , Sept. 22

The blockade-runners Lady Sterling and Armstrong cleared for Bermuda yesterday.

The blockade-runner Little Hattie, which sailed  a few days since, returned to-day.

Run It In, Run It Our.  --Old B-R'er

CSS Tallahassee-- Part 3: A Successful Cruise With 23 Union Ships Destroyed and 7 Bonded or Released

After the CSS Tallahassee was commissioned and prepared for her new role as a commerce raider, it was placed under the command of John Taylor Wood, CSN.  He was the grandson of President Zachary Taylor.

The officers and crew were all officers and enlisted men from the Confederate squadrons on the James River and North Carolina waters.

The Tallahassee ran through the blockade on August 6, 1864, from her home port of Wilmington, N.C. and evaded four Union blockaders on her way out.  She made a spectacular 19-day raid along the Atlantic coast up to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  During that time, it destroyed 26 vessels and bonded or released 7 more.

Wood sailed his ship into Halifax Harbor on August 18 to take on bunker coal and water.  But neutrality law only gave him 24 hours to do so.

--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

August 20, 1864: Close, But No Tallahassee

AUGUST 20TH, 1864:  The USS Pontoosuc, Lieutenant Commander Stevens, entered Halifax.  Stevens learned that the Tallahassee had sailed late the night before and that he had failed to intercept her by only seven hours.

The Pontoosuc departed immediately in pursuit.  based on information reported by by Consul Jackson, Stevens steamed north into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while Wood (the Tallahassee's commander) feeling that he did not have sufficient fuel to actively pursue his raids, had set course for Wilmington.

This date, the Tallahassee captured the brig Roan and burned her.  She was the last prize taken on this brief but most effective cruise.

--Old B-Runner

USS Maumee-- Part 2: Wilmington and Richmond

The USS Maumee was launched at New York Navy Yard  2 July 1863, and commissioned September 29, 1864, under command of Lt.Cmdr. Ralph Chandler.

It sailed to Norfolk, Va., October 2 and jointed the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  On the 26th, she got underway searching for the Confederate raider CSS Tallahassee as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia.  By 8 November, she was back in Norfolk preparing for  the attack on Fort Fisher, which guarded the port of Wilmington, N.C..

ATTACKS ON FORT FISHER

The first attempt to take the fort December 24-25, 1864, was unsuccessful, but the fleet (and Maumee) returned January 13-15, 1865, and this time succeeded.

On February 15, the Maumee was ordered into the Cape Fear River to support Union movement toward Wilmington.  When that port city fell, the Maumee was ordered to the James River and after Richmond fell, the Maumee was one of the vessels operating off that city.

After the war, she went to Philadelphia and was decommissioned 17 June 1865 and sold 15 December.

--Old B-Runner

200 Years As a State for Illinois; Medal of Honor Recipient Charles Asten-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

(September 14, 1834  to September 14, 1885)

Was a quarter gunner born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada,  He entered the U.S. Navy in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1864, he was serving on board the USS Signal, a U.S. Navy tinclad on the Red River during that campaign.On May 4, 1864, the Signal was ordered to proceed up the Red River with dispatches from Major General Nathaniel Banks.

After going about twenty miles the ship encountered large numbers of Confederates along the banks of the river and a hot action ensued.  The Signal was also with the USS Covington and the Army transport  John Warner.  The action continued into the night.  On May 5, 1864, the Signal was disabled and the crew, including Asten reluctantly abandoned their ship.

They were captured on land.

--Old B-R'er

Blockade Runner Revere-- Part 2: Had Arrived in Halifax After Running Blockade

On August 3, 1861, it was reported from Halifax that the Revere had arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after running the blockade off Beaufort, N.C..

Tracking the Revere.  --Old B-Runner

The New York Times Reports Blockade-Running-- Part 2: September 1864

From Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 12th, 1864.

***  They report that the pirate Tallahassee was to leave on a piratical plundering cruise on Tuesday night.  They also report that two more blockade-runners were to leave the same night.

***  The famous Alexandra, now called the Mary, arrived here on Saturday, it is said, for repairs.

***  The following blockade-runners are also in port: steamers Little Hattie and Heath, repairing; Constance, Flamingo, Lady Shirley and Condor.  Beside the above, is the steamer Asia, tender to the rebel fleet.

Lots Going on in Halifax.  --Old B-R'er

The New York Times Reports Blockade-Running-- Part 1: September 1864

From the September 13, 1864, New York Times.

Along with information about the capture of the blockade-runner Elsie, the paper also had these tidbits:

***  The prize steamer Georgia arrived at Beaufort, N.C., on the 9th, and would proceed to Boston.

***  It was reported at Beaufort that the Confederate steamer Edith was about to leave Wilmington, heavily armed.

From Halifax, N.S., Monday, Sept. 12.

***  The blockade-runners Old Dominion arrived here on Saturday night and the City of Petersburgh on Sunday morning.  They have about eighteen hundred bales of cotton on board, destined for England, said to be payment of the interest for the rebel loan.  They left Wilmington last Monday night.

The Georgia was on its way to prize court.  It was feared that the Confederates would send another raider, the Edith,  out to plunder the coast of the U.S. as the Tallahassee had recently done.  Evidently, the Confederate government could get loans from England (govt. or private?) as long as they paid interest in cotton.

Lots of Activity.  --Old B-R'er

Pontoosuc Misses the Tallahasse By Just Seven Hours

AUGUST 20TH, 1864:  The USS Pontoosuc entered Halifax and learned that the Tallahassee had sailed late the night before and that he had failed to intercept her by only seven hours.  The Pontoosuc departed immediately in pursuit.

Based on information reported by Consul Jackson, the Pontoosuc steamed north into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while Wood, feeling that he did not have sufficient coal to actively pursue his raid, had set a course for Wilmington, N.C..

This date, the Tallahassee captured the brig Roan and burned her.  She  was the last prize taken on this brief bur most effective raid.

--Old B-R'er

The CSS Tallahassee Puts in Halifax-- Part 2: Getting More Coal

Nova Scotia's Lt. Gov. Richard G. MacDonnell, did, however, ask Admiral Sir James Hope to advise him on the amount of coal he considered sufficient to reach Wilmington, N.C.,   The next day, MacDonnell advised Wood, who had put into port with just 40 tons of coal, that he could depart with no more than 100 tons.

However, the Confederate cruiser, which put to sea on the night of the 19th, sailed with more than that quantity.

Wood later reported: "I am under many obligations to our agent, Mr. Wier, for transacting our business, and through his management about 120 tons of coal were put aboard, instead of half that quantity."

Sliding Right On Out of There.  --Old B-Runner

CSS Tallahassee Puts Into Halifax, Nova Scotia-- Part 1

AUGUST 18TH, 1864:  The CSS Tallahassee, Commander Wood, put into Halifax to replenish its coal supply.  U.S. Consul Mortimer M. Jackson wire Secretary Welles:  "Tallahassee has just come into port.  Will protest against her being coaled here."

Welles in turn, wired the USS Pontoosuc which had put into port at Eastport, Maine, the preceding day to steam to Halifax without delay.

Consul Jackson protested the sale of coal, but was informed that "...his excellency does not consider it his duty to detain the Tallahassee, or any man-of-war of a belligerent state, on the chance of evidence being hereafter found of her having violated international law, and in the absence of proof to that effect he cannot withhold from her commander the privilege of obtaining  as much coal as may be necessary to carry him to a port in the Confederate  States...."

--Old B-R'er

CSS Tallahassee Running Short of Coal

AUGUST 17TH, 1864:  The CSS Tallahassee, Commander Wood, was by now running short of coal and headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he hoped to refuel in order to continue his devastating attack on Federal commerce.

En route, the Tallahassee destroyed the schooners North America and Josiah Ashom and released the brig Neva on bond.

--Old B-Runner