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
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