155 Years Ago, October 18, 1861: A Blockade Runner Captured Off Wilmington

OCTOBER 18TH, 1861:  The USS Gemsbock, Acting Master Cavendy, captured brig Ariel off Wilmington, North Carolina, with a cargo of salt.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 22, 1861: Action Off Federal Point, N.C.

SEPTEMBER 22, 1861:  USS Gemsbock, Acting Master Cavendy, captured schooner Mary E. Pindar off Federal Point, North Carolina, attempting to run the blockade with cargo of lime.

Federal Point was renamed Confederate Point by the Southerners and was where Fort Fisher would be built guarding New Inlet of the Cape Fear River and Wilmington.

**  Flag Officer William McKean assumed command of the Gulf Blockading Squadron.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 18-19, 1861: More Confederate Ships Captured

SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1861:  The USS Rescue, Master Edward L. Haines, captured Confederate schooner Harford with cargo of wheat and tobacco on the Potomac River.

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1861:  The USS Gemsbock, Acting Master Cavendy, captured blockade running schooner Harmony en route Nova Scotia to Ocracoke, N.C..

--Old B-Runer

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 26th to 28th: Fall of Fort Macon

APRIL 26TH

Farragut issues orders for fleet to give thanks to God for the victory at New Orleans.

Fort Macon, NC, surrenders to combined land-sea forces under Commander Lockwood and Brigadier General John G. Parke.  The USS Daylight, State of Georgia, Chippewa and Gemsbok heavily bombard the fort and two blockade-runners, the Alliance and Gondar were captured after the fort's surrender.


APRIL 27TH

Fort Livingston, Bastian By, Louisiana, surrenders to Navy.    Boat crew from the USS Kittatinny raised the U.S. flag over the fort.


APRIL 28TH

Forts Jackson and St. Philip, isolated since the fleet ran past them, surrender to Navy aboard USS Harriet Lane, Commander David D. Porter's flagship.

The CSS Louisiana, Defiance and McRae destroyed to prevent capture.

Another Really Bad Three Days for the Confederacy.  --Old B-Runner