September 26, 1864: Don't Send the CSS Tallahassee and Chickamauga Out to Sea

SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1864:  Major General Whiting, C.S.A., Army commander in Wilmington, wrote Governor Vance of North Carolina requesting that the CSS Tallahassee and Chickamauga be retained at Wilmington for the defense of that port.

"The Confederate steamers Tallahassee and Chickamauga are now nearly ready for sea, and will leave this port for the purpose of operating against the enemy's commerce.  Should they leave on this service the few vessels they might destroy would be of little advantage to our cause, while it would excite the enemy to increase the number of the blockading squadron to such an extent as to render it almost impossible for vessels running the blockade to escape them."

Notwithstanding these objections and those of General Lee two days earlier, the raiders were sent to sea.

--Old B-R'er