February 5, 1865: The Chameleon Tries to Run the Blockade at Charleston, But Fails-- Part 1

FEBRUARY 5TH, 1865:  Blockade runner Chameleon (formerly CSS Tallahassee and CSS Olustee), Lieutenant Wilkinson, attempted to run through the blockade of Charleston (after its near capture running into the Cape Fear River in January) to deliver desperately needed by General Lee's troops, but was unsuccessful.

After his near capture at Wilmington on January 19, Wilkinson had returned to Nassau and had learned on January 30, that Charleston was still in Confederate hands.  He departed Nassau on February 1 and evaded the USS Vanderbilt after a lengthy chase.

But he found that Charleston's blockade had been augmented by so many ships from the Wilmington station that he could not get into the harbor while the tide was high.

--Old B-Runner