On Maffitt's Final Run Through the Blockade Into Galveston

From the 290 Foundation, taken from "High Seas Confederate:  The Life and Times of John N. Maffitt" by Royce Shingleton.

Now near the end of his Confederate naval career, he steamed to Havana where he planned the wars's last active blockade running attempt with a run to Galveston, Texas.

This port had seen a rather limited importance as point of entry and exit from the Confederacy.  It was a long way from Havana, requiring much extra coal for the run, had a rather shallow entrance and was poorly defended.  Any run into that port would require an extended stay because very little cotton was stored there.

Not to mention the distance anything brought in would have to travel to get to the rest of the Confederacy.

Even with all these obstacles, John Newland Maffitt took his chances and started off in his CSS Owl for this destination.

--Old B-Runner