MAY 15TH, 1861: Secretary of Navy Weklles appointed Lt. Thomas M. Brasher to command the USS Bainbridge and ordered him to proceed to Aspinwall, New Granada (Panama), to protect California steamers against "vessels sailing under pretended letters of marque issued by the insurrectionary States."
California steamers transported large amounts of gold from Aspinwall to New York. Confederate ships were constantly on the alert for these vessels as the blockade tightened and the need for specie became increasingly desperate.
--Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label California Gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California Gold. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2016
Friday, March 14, 2014
Union West Indies Squadron
MARCH 16TH, 1864: Rear Admiral James L. Lardner, commander of the West Indies Squadron (and I didn't know there was a West Indies Squadron) ordered the USS Neptune and USS Galatea to convoy California steamers across the Caribbean. //// The California ships often carried much-needed gold for the Union war effort. And, there was a big fear of Confederate cruisers. //// --Old B-Runner
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