August 14, 1863: Union Keeping Up With Blockade Runners

AUGUST 14TH, 1863:  Timely intelligence reports played an important role in alerting Union blockaders.

This date, Rear Admiral Bailey advised Lt.Cmdr. McCauley in the USS Fort Henry:  "I have information that the steamers Alabama and Nita sailed from Havana on the 12th, with a view of running the blockade, probably at Mobile, but possibly between Tampa Bay and St. Marks [Florida]; also that the steamers Montgomery (formerly Habanero), the Isabel, the Fannie, the Warrior, and the Little Lily were nearly ready to sail, with like intent....

"The Isabel, which sailed on the 7th, has undoubtedly gone to either Bayport, the Waccasassa, or the Suwanee River.

"You will therefore keep a sharp lookout for any of these vessels...."

 Four of these seven ships were captured by the blockading forces within a month.

A Run-Run Here, A Run-Run There.  --Old B-R'er