January 1, 1864: Great Blockade Running At Wilmington, N.C.-- Part 1: 397 Ships

JANUARY 1, 1864

As the new year opened, the Union once again focused its attention on Wilmington, North Carolina.  Since 1862, the Navy had pressed for a combined assault on this major east coast port, ideally located for blockade running less than 600 miles from Nassau and only 675 from Bermuda.

Despite the efforts of the Union fleet, the runners had continued to ply their trade successfully.  In the fall of 1863, a British observer reported that thirteen steamers ran into Wilmington between 10 and 29 September and that fourteen ships put to sea between 2 and 19 September.

In fact, James Randall, an employee of a Wilmington shipping firm, reported that 397 ships visited Wilmington during the first two and a half years of the war.

Old B-Runner