May 6-7, 1862: Action on the York and Pamunkey Rivers, Va.

MAY 6-7TH, 1862:  The USS Wachusett, Commander W. Smith, USS Chocura and Sebago escorted Army transports up the York River, supported the landing at West Point, Virginia, and countered a Confederate attack with accurate gunfire.

The USS Currituck, Acting master William F. Shankland, sent on a reconnaissance of the Pamunkey River by Smith on the 6th, captured the American Coaster and Planter the next day.

Shankland reported that some twenty schooners had been sunk and two gunboats burned by the Confederates above West Point.

--Old B-Runner

Blockade Runners Captured in Louisiana and Florida

JANUARY 22ND, 1865:  A boat expedition from the USS Chocura, Lt.Cmdr. Meade, Jr., captured blockade running schooner Delphina by boarding in Calcasieu River, Louisiana.  She was carrying a cargo of cotton.

JANUARY 23, 1865:  USS Fox seized British schooner Fannie McRae near the mouth of the Warrior River, Florida, where she was preparing to run the blockade.

O Boy, Prize Money!  --Old B-Runner

Confederate Steamers Granite City and Wave Run Louisiana Blockade

JANAUARY 17-19TH, 1865:  Confederate steamers Granite City and Wave (ex-U.S. Navy ships captured May 6, 1864) elude the USS Chocura, Lt.Cmdr. Richard W. Meade, Jr., on a "dark, foggy, and rainy" night and escaped from Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana.  The Granite City was reported to carry no cargo, but the Wave had a load of lumber for the Rio Grande.

Meade gave chase for 60 miles, "but our boilers being in disabled condition, and leaking badly, the speed of the ship was so much reduced that I reluctantly gave up hope of overtaking the Granite City before she could make a port."

Fix My Ship!!  --Old B-R'er

More Blockade Runners Seized

DECEMBER 6TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt.-Cmdr. Meade, seized blockade-running British schooner Lady Hurley off Velasco, Texas, with cargo including bar iron, steel, salt and medicines.  The Lady Hurley, according to Meade, was the consort of the Carrie Mair, captured by the USS Itasca a few days earlier.  She was the third prize taken by Meade in as few days as the Union blockade got tighter on the Texas coast.  Lots of crew prize money.

The USS Princess Royal captured blockade-running schooner Alabama after driving her aground near San Luis Pass, Texas.  Her crew abandoned ship and a boarding party worked her free and took the prize to Galveston.  Her cargo included iron bars, rope, flour and soda.

USS Sunflower seized blockade-running sloop Pickwick off St. George's Sound, Florida.

Confederates Capture Tug Lizzie Freeman in Virginia

DECEMBER 5, 2014,:  Confederate force under Acting Master William A. Hines, CSN, captured tug Lizzie Freeman by boarding near Smithfield, Virginia.  The daring raid took place shortly before midnight while the Union tug, with two Army officers on board, lay at anchor.

USS Chocura, Lt. Cmdr. Meade, seized blockade-running British schooner Julia south of Velasco, Texas, with cargo including bar iron, medicines, cotton bagging and rope.

DECEMBER 5-6TH, 1864:  Monitors USS Saugus, Onondaga, Mahopac and Canonicus (most of them at the Battle of Fort Fisher 19 days later) participated in a lively engagement with strong shore batteries at Howlett's, James River, Virginia.  The Saugus received a solid 7-inch shot which disabled her turret.

--Old B-Runner

Naval Activity Early December 1864

DECEMBER 3RD, 1864:  Boat expedition from USS Nita, Stars and Stripes, Hendrick Hudson, Ariel and Two Sisters destroyed a large salt work at Rocky Point, Tampa Bay, Florida.

USS Mackinaw captured schooner Mary at sea off Charleston with cargo of cotton, tobacco and turpentine.

DECEMBER 4TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt.Cmdr. Richard. Meade, captured schooner Lowood south of Velasco, Texas, with cargo of cotton.  Calling the Lowood "a notorious blockade runner", Meade said"  "We had been watching this schooner for some time and finally laid a trap for her, which had proved successful."

USS Pembina seized blockade running Dutch brig Geziena Hilligonda near Brazos Santiago, Texas, with cargo including medicines, iron and cloth.

Boats from the USS Pursuit captured Peep O'Day near Indian River, Florida, with cargo of cotton.

--Old B-Runner

Capturing Blockade-Runners

NOVEMBER 24TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt. Cmdr. Meade, sighted schooner Louisa and chased her ashore on the bar off San Bernard River, Texas.  A heavy gale totally destroyed the schooner before it could be boarded.

NOVEMBER 27TH, 1864:  USS Princess Royal seized blockade-running British schooner Flash in the Gulf of Mexico off Brazos Santiago with cargo of cotton.  Later that day, the Princess Royal also captured blockade-running schooner Neptune.

Lots of prize money for the Princess Royal, but Commander Woolsey reported: "The vessel was empty, having just a cargo of salt, said salt having, according to the master's statement, 'dissolved in her hold'."

The USS Metacomet, Lt.Cmdr. James Jouett, captured blockade-running steamer Susanna in the Gulf of Mexico off Campeche Banks.  Half her cargo of cotton was thrown overboard in the chase.  Rear Admiral Farragut had regarded the Susanna as "their fastest steamer."

NOVEMBER 30TH, 1864:  USS Itasca seized blockade-running British schooner Carrie Mair off Pass Cavallo, Texas.

--Old B-Runner

New Gulf Commander

OCTOBER 12TH, 1864:  Rear Admiral Cornelius K. Stribling relieved Captain Greene as commander of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron.  Captain Greene had assumed temporary command upon the departure of Rear Admiral Bailey in August 1864.

ALSO:  USS Chocura, Lt. Commander Richard W. Meade, Jr., captured blockade-running British schooner Louisa off Aransas Pass, Texas, wit cargo including iron and tools.

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago-- May 3rd, 1864: Capturing Runners in Texas

MAY 3RD, 1864:  The USS Chocura captured blockade-running British schooner Agnes off the mouth of the Brazos River, Texas, with cotton cargo.  Later that day, the Chocura also captured the Prussian schooner Frederick the Second, also with cotton, which had run out with the Agnes.

I did not know that the Prussians were involved in blockade-running.

The USS Virginia captured the schooner Experiment off the Texas coast with a cargo of cotton.  After removing the cotton, the Virginia destroyed it.

--Old B-Runner