From the August 5, 1864, New York Times.
In the last post, I mentioned Capt. Joseph Fry taking command of the Virginius which was involved in running the Spanish blockade of Cuba in 1873. The Virginius had been a Civil War blockade-runner as well named Virgin at the time.
This article from the New York Times mentions the ship's destruction.
"FROM HAVANA.; ARRIVAL OF STEAMER LIBERTY: BLOCKADE RUNNERS FROM MOBILE AT HAVANA, CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF BLOCKADE RUNNERS.
"The United States mail steamer Liberty, [???] our days from Havana arrived at this port yesterday, with dates to the 30th of July. She brings the following intelligence.
"Havana, Saturday, July 30.
"Nothing of interest has transpired since the sailing of the Roanoke. The rebel steamer Denbigh arrived here this morning from Mobile the 26th last, with 470 bales of cotton."
--Old B-Runner
Showing posts with label Blockade-Runner Denbigh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blockade-Runner Denbigh. Show all posts
Friday, April 1, 2016
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Farragut's Denbigh Finally Destroyed-- Part 2
William Watson, a Confederate blockade runner who shipped on the Rob Roy and other elusive runners, later wrote of the Denbigh: "I may safely say that one of the most successful, and certainly one of the most profitable, steamers that sailed out of Havana to the Confederate States was a somewhat old, and by no means a fast, steamer, named the Denbigh.
"This vessel ran for a considerable time between Havana and Mobile, but when the latter port was captured by the Federals, she ran to Galveston, to and from which port she made such regular trips that she was called the packet. She was small in size, and not high above water, and painted in such a way as not to be readily seen at a distance.
"She was light on coal, made but little smoke, and depended more upon strategy than speed. She carried large cargoes of cotton, and it was generally allowed that the little Denbigh was a more profitable boat than any of the larger and swifter crafts."
Nevertheless, in the end she met the same fate as hundreds of her sister runners.
In Short, the Perfect Blockade-Runner. just Ask David G.. -- Old B-R'er
"This vessel ran for a considerable time between Havana and Mobile, but when the latter port was captured by the Federals, she ran to Galveston, to and from which port she made such regular trips that she was called the packet. She was small in size, and not high above water, and painted in such a way as not to be readily seen at a distance.
"She was light on coal, made but little smoke, and depended more upon strategy than speed. She carried large cargoes of cotton, and it was generally allowed that the little Denbigh was a more profitable boat than any of the larger and swifter crafts."
Nevertheless, in the end she met the same fate as hundreds of her sister runners.
In Short, the Perfect Blockade-Runner. just Ask David G.. -- Old B-R'er
Farragut's Old Nemesis, the Blockade-Runner Denbigh Is Finally Destroyed-- Oart 1
MAY 24TH, 1865: The blockade-runner Denbigh, once described by Admiral farragut as "too quick for us", was found aground at daylight at Bird Key Spit, near Galveston. She had attempted to run into the Texas port once again under cover of darkness.
She was destroyed during the day by gunfire from the USS Cornubia and Princess Royal, and later boarding parties from the USS Kennebec and Seminole set her aflame.
Prior to the capture of Mobile Bay, the Denbigh had plagued Farragut by running regularly from Mobile to Havana. He narrowly missed capturing it on 7 June 1864, and Farragut expressed his feelings in a letter to Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey: "We nearly had the Denbigh; she has not moved from the fort [Morgan] yet, so she must have been hit by some of the shots fired at her, but he is a bold rascal, and well he may be, for if I get him he will see the rest of his days of the war in the Tortugas," The Tortugas was a prison.
What a Spoilsport. --Old B-Runner
She was destroyed during the day by gunfire from the USS Cornubia and Princess Royal, and later boarding parties from the USS Kennebec and Seminole set her aflame.
Prior to the capture of Mobile Bay, the Denbigh had plagued Farragut by running regularly from Mobile to Havana. He narrowly missed capturing it on 7 June 1864, and Farragut expressed his feelings in a letter to Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey: "We nearly had the Denbigh; she has not moved from the fort [Morgan] yet, so she must have been hit by some of the shots fired at her, but he is a bold rascal, and well he may be, for if I get him he will see the rest of his days of the war in the Tortugas," The Tortugas was a prison.
What a Spoilsport. --Old B-Runner
Friday, May 15, 2015
Pesky Blockade-Runners Still Using Galveston
MAY 15, 1865: Secretary Welles wrote Rear Admiral Thatcher of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron that "it appears that blockade running at Galveston is still being carried on with much success."
between 15 April and 1 May, six runners, including the elusive Denbigh, were reported to have put into Havana with cargoes of cotton, all from Galveston.
In other words, you'd best stop this business.
--Old B-Runner
between 15 April and 1 May, six runners, including the elusive Denbigh, were reported to have put into Havana with cargoes of cotton, all from Galveston.
In other words, you'd best stop this business.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Blockade Runner Denbigh Runs Aground at Galveston, But gets Off
APRIL 19TH, 1865: Captain Benjamin F. Sands, commanding ships of the West Gulf Blockading squadron stationed off Galveston, Texas, reported that the blockade runner Denbigh had grounded on the Galveston bar attempting to put to sea under the cover of night.
"She succeeded in getting off by throwing over some 200 bales of cotton, about 140 which were recovered by the Cornubia and Gertrude...." Sands added that Denbigh was "next seen under Fort Point and returned to the city."
However, the well-known blockade runner, which Admiral Farragut had been especially anxious to capture prior to the fall of Mobile when the Denbigh shifted operations to Galveston, shortly succeeded in running through the blockade and put into Havana May 1st.
--Old B-R'er
"She succeeded in getting off by throwing over some 200 bales of cotton, about 140 which were recovered by the Cornubia and Gertrude...." Sands added that Denbigh was "next seen under Fort Point and returned to the city."
However, the well-known blockade runner, which Admiral Farragut had been especially anxious to capture prior to the fall of Mobile when the Denbigh shifted operations to Galveston, shortly succeeded in running through the blockade and put into Havana May 1st.
--Old B-R'er
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