Tuesday, January 31, 2017

January 31, 1862: Effectiveness of Union Blockade Depends Upon Whom You Ask-- Part 2.

The two questions posed to various European maritime powers:  Was the sinking of the Stone Fleet in Charleston Harbor an outrage and is the blockade effective?

FRANCE:    "Pronounces the destruction of the harbor ... 'vindictive vandalism' .. the blockade to be  'ineffective and illegal'

"PRUSSIA winds up by declaring the sinking of the stone fleet to be a crime and an outrage against civilization....

"SARDINIA agrees with France, but ... in even stronger terms ...

"AUSTRIA declares 'the blockade altogether illegal' ....

"SPAIN declares blockade ... 'altogether ineffective' ...."

On the other hand, Secretary of the Navy Welles strongly maintained that the effectiveness of the blockade did "destroy any pretext on the part of the foreign governments to aid the Confederacy."

--Old B-R'er


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