USS Iron Age-- Part 2: Joins NABS

The Iron Age was then assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 3 September 1863 and sailed for Wilmington, North Carolina, arriving off New Inlet 11 September 1863.  On the fifth day on station, the Iron Age discovered a blockade runner running out and drove it back where it grounded ashore at Fort Fisher.

On 21 October 1863 it assisted the USS Nansemond and USS Niphon in the destruction of the blockade runner Venus.

The Iron Age was then involved in a Christmas Eve raid of salt works at Bear Inlet and destroyed a large quantity of salt as well as totally smashed equipment.

--Old B-Runner