The State of Affairs at Wilmington, NC-- Part 5: Lots of Runners and Pilots

\Speaking on the pilots.

Still on the October 5, 1863, letter of Benjamin Lewis Blackford to his parents.

"...and inhabited exclusively by amphibious pilots; ignorant, stupid and disloyal. They had always earned an easy living by pilotage, and they are rebels against any Govt which interferes with it.

I never had any idea till I came to Wilmington of the number of steamers engaged in the blockade trade. Fifteen fine steamers came safely into the river, and two or there were run aground during the two weeks I was camped near Fort Fisher."

--Old B-R'er