January 16, 1864: Blockade At Wilmington Getting Effective

These dates in history are from the Civil War Naval Chronology.

JANUARY 16TH, 1864:  The Richmond Enquirer reported that 26 shops on the blockading station off Wilmington, North Carolina, "guard all the avenues of approach with the most sleepless vigilance.  The consequences are that the chances of running the blockade (Hey, that's my title) have been greatly lessened,...

"...and it is apprehended by some that the day is not far distant when it will be an impossibility for a vessel to get into that port without incurring a hazard almost equivalent to positive loss.  Having secured nearly every seaport on our coast, the Yankees are enabled to keep a large force off Wilmington."

And one year later to this date, Fort Fisher had fallen and Wilmington, though still in Confederate hands, was closed for blockade running business.

Things Getting Tight at Wilmington.  --Old B-Runner