Verne, as always, is an expert at adventure stories. View all View all photos (852) In 1863 Bulloch contracted with the Laird shipyard for the construction of two ironclad rams to be used against the Union blockade. By getting them in line, the blockade-runner could ascertain her position, and in a few moments, she would be raider the guns of the fort. These last were required to carry out cotton on Government account, as part of their cargo, and to bring in supplies. Wilmington, North Carolina, was not blockaded until July 14, 1861, three months after Lincoln's proclamation. To get through the blockade these ships had to cruise by undetected, usually at night. I found this particular novelette too bland to annotate, but it greatly preserves timely discourse on American civil conflict and the weaponization of anti-racism. Under Gorgas' direction, Huse, a West Point graduate, recently commissioned a captain in the newly established Confederate army,[45] served as an arms procurement agent and purchasing specialist, well known for his successful acquisition of weapons contracts with various European nations. Please bring exact change to expedite entry. Doubtless there were few of these last; but the incognito which they preserved has been respected, and neither their names nor their number have been generally made known. The Blockade Runners from Jules Verne. [72], The first Confederate ship to put to sea was the CSS Sumter, a former Spanish screw steamer of 500 tons, that was outfitted with cannons and other provisions for war time use. . A vessel or two might avoid being sunk by pretending to surrender, but a blockader would hardly be caught twice by such a trick. In the meantime, Huse continued to search for sellers of military supplies. Nothing particularly extraordinary about this story, but a good, solid tale of adventure and romance, nonetheless. Communicating with the forces in the neighborhood, he would obtain the co-operation of a detachment of infantry, often accompanied by one or two pieces of artillery, which would harass the parties sent from the blockading vessels to get the steamer off. Later they were transferred to the Confederate flag, and caused on a regular trade between Nassau or Bermuda and Wilmington or some other blockaded port. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. [73][74], Soon after Lincoln's proclamation, lighter vessels specifically designed to evade and outrun Union ships on blockade patrol, called blockade runners, were being produced. He developed an appropriate naval strategy that would be decisive to the war's outcome. James Playfair, Scottish Merchant, who hates abolitionists and feels rather meh about Americans in general, changes his mind and risks everything because apparently this young woman is pretty. Verne's material has aged incredibly well, retaining its excitement all these years since its first publication. Certainly worth the effort to read! What was called his Anaconda Plan established a naval blockade around the coastline of the Confederacy to limit its economy and supply lines. In a moment, his boarders were over the rail and on the deck of the blockade-runner; and a few seconds made her a prize. It was weird reading a non-sci fi story from the Mr. Verne as his stories were some of the first science fiction I read as a child. One night in October of the same year the Venus, one of the finest and fastest of the vessels in the Nassau-Wilmington trade, made the blockading fleet off New Inlet. A few ships were painted white to help obscure their profile against the daytime horizon. From "The Navy in the Civil War, Vol. He first appears as a cold and ever-calculating businessman with only an eye for profitable trade. Powder supplies in Florida were so low that, in April 1861, General John B. Grayson warned President Jefferson Davis in Richmond: As sure as the sun rises, unless cannon, powder, etc., be sent to Florida in the next thirty days, she will fall into the hands of the North. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. Confederate States presidential election of 1861, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blockade_runners_of_the_American_Civil_War&oldid=1147919617, Economic history of the American Civil War, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 April 2023, at 01:09. A party was sent in from the Penobscot to get her off; but this failing, she was set on fire, and the officer in charge of the boat-party reported that he had disabled her so effectually that she would be of no further use. Welcome to your free, online resource on Alabama history, culture, geography, and natural environment. Verne certainly knows how to employ all manner of literary devices to keep his readers entertained. Never underestimate the persuasive powers of a beautiful woman! [56][57], On April 11, 1862, George W. Randolph, the new Confederate Secretary of War appointed John Newland Maffitt, an officer of the Confederate Navy[58] and a notorious privateer with a long success record, to be the acting agent in Nassau for the Confederacy. [14][15] Lincoln's proclamation said that any actions against the Union by crews of ships acting under a Confederate letter of marque would be treated as piracy, subject to prosecution, which usually called for the death penalty. By 1863 Union attacks along the Confederate coast made running the blockade more difficult, forcing blockade runners to use other ports besides those at Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah. It is pretty cool to read meaningful political debates in an adventure story, however, especially since there are still people in the USA who think our Civil War was about "states' rights" and not about slavery. Even if his pursuer had the advantage of him in speed, which was rarely the case, he still kept on, and, by protracting the chase for a few hours, he could be sure that a squall, or a fog, or the approach of night would enable him to escape. This was at best an uncertain guide, as the blockaders could only make a rough guess at the stranger's position. He always had steam up when it was wanted. The plot feels rushed, as though situations would have been much more exciting if only . Three weeks later, however, she was floated off by the Confederates, and anchored under the batteries; a position from which she was cut out with some difficulty. Very short story by Jules Verne, about a british merchant captain (James Playfair) that tries to make a huge profit during the American civil war, by delivering guns & supplies to the confederates in exchange of cotton. Sometimes vessels would remain in this way unobserved for a whole day. Davis, Charles S. Colin J. McRae: Confederate Financial Agent. pounds of meat, 1,507,000 pounds of lead, 1,933,000 pounds of saltpeter, 546,000 pairs of shoes, 316,000 pairs of blankets, half a million pounds of coffee, 69,000 rifles, and 43 cannon reached the Confederates through the port of Wilmington alone, while cotton sufficient to pay for these purchases was exported. [55] Following that turn of events Bulloch then commissioned a shipbuilder in France to construct the Stonewall, another armored ram. [59] Maffitt would later be given command of the CSS Albemarle. [19], Soon after Lincoln announced the blockade, the profitable business of running supplies through the blockade to the Confederacy began. Maffitt's duties included selecting ports of entry and discharging and replacing officers and crews as needed. Late in 1863 the Confederate government began selling cotton to various buyers in Europe, especially Britain, while it also passed a law requiring blockade runners to reserve one-third of their cargo space for shipping cotton. The treasure was being shipped to Spain to help finance the war of the Spanish succession. The plan was implemented in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, but was largely ignored along the Gulf. Calcium lights were burned, and shot and shell flew thickly over and around the entering vessel, but they did not often hit the mark. Vessels passed so often between the squadron and the shore that special inclosures were taken to stop it. When the practice of blockade-framing was reduced to a system, a signal-service was organized on shore, and signal officers and pilots were regularly detailed for each vessel. [ Blockade Runner Biography ] [ Map & Directions to the store ] [ Upcoming Re-enactment Events] [ The Very Best In Original Relics ] [ L. Virginia French's Journal ] We Ship Around The World Everyday Phone (voice): 931-389-6294 24 Hr Fax: 931-389-9111 Questions about our products? The Cuba was burned to prevent her capture on May 19, 1863, while heading toward Mobile; the Alabama was captured on September 12, 1863 by the Union blockade; and the Fanny was burned that same day to prevent her capture. Imports shipped to Galveston were also sent by rail to Houston. When Wilmington fell in February, 1865, the Confederacy's major supply line was cut, and Union victory was assured.[70]. When abeam he opened fire on her. Speed, invisibility, and handiness, with a certain space for stowage, were the essentials; to these all other qualities were sacrificed. Cochran, Hamilton. Large sailing ships that could carry a profitable cargo were easily captured, so the mainstay of the trade quickly became specialized, steam-propelled blockade-runners that could outrun enemy gunboats and carry 500 to 2,000 bales of cotton. English, Andrew R. Chasing the Fox: The Chronology of a Blockade Runner. [22], Soon Federal forces began to more effectively enforce the coastal blockade and established squadrons at the various Southern ports. She was first discovered by the Nansemond, commanded by Lieutenant Lamson. This was in large part the result of the increased numbers of ships that the Union brought into service and placed on blockade duty. It comes across as an escape from the usual writing of the time. While the fleet of 125 Men-of-war and transports were blockading the harbor, an incoming blockade runner passed through the fleet and took refuge upriver. After a short chase, he overhauled the Venus. He also has to take on the . This coal came from the United States, and when, in consequence of the prohibition upon its exportation enforced by the Government, it could not be obtained, the semi-bituminous Welsh coal was used as a substitute. The term blockade runner also referred to smugglers who worked blockades . Verne's tale was inspired by reality as many ships were actually lost while acting as blockade runners in and around Charleston in the early 1860s. On April 19, 1861, one week after Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln ordered the blockade. This guerilla form of contraband traffic gradually decreased after the first year, though there was always a little going on from the Bahamas, and on the coast of Texas. I" by James Russell Soley, USN. He gets more than he bargains for when he sets sail and employs a last minute sailor and his nephew. Vessels adapted to the purpose were bought by agents in England, and loaded with munitions of war, and Confederate naval officers under orders from the Department were placed in command. [27], In the midst of the blockade, the Confederacy received a supply of arms and other goods from private firms and munitions factories in Britain, and exchanged mail. Neutral merchant ships in turn carried these cargoes, usually coming from or destined to Great Britain or other points abroad. Temporary lights were used at some of the ports to aid the blockade-runners. [62][63] and the CSS Advance that completed more than 20 successful runs before being captured. Four well-directed shells played havoc with the blockade-runner. It required a cool head, strong nerve, and ready resource. But the chances, both outside and inshore, were all in his favor. Certainly, if destruction and not capture had always been the object, fewer blockade-runners would have escaped, and possibly fewer would have undertaken the business. was not officially recognized by the various foreign powers, a situation that led the seceded states to seek the aid of various private shipping companies and other businesses, especially overseas where there was interest and willing compliance to sell and ship the much-needed supplies and ordnance to the Confederacy. It had feathering paddles, and one or two raking telescopic funnels, which might be lowered close to the deck. If they found the place too hot and the cruisers too active, one of the inlets at a little distance from the port of destination would give the needful shelter. Owners who refused to accept a fair rate to transport cotton for sale by the government would have their vessels confiscated. Lamson was always on the alert, and his work was always done quickly and thoroughly. I've never rated a Jules Verne story so low, but this one was pretty underwhelming. He had only to make a port and run in, and he could choose time, and weather, and circumstances. But while Diver explores the Lynx sunk in 25 feet of water. [21], An enormous naval industry evolved which brought great profits for shipbuilders, shippers, and suppliers alike. The Confederate government, in dire need of munitions and other supplies subsequently lifted their embargo on cotton and began selling it at reduced prices to win back British trading. Now, however, when half-crowns could be turned into sovereigns at a single venture, capitalists could afford to run almost any risk; and as it happened, at the very time when the profits increased, a plan was devised to lessen the danger. [43], Blockade runners became the chief means to supply the Confederacy. A few days later the large vessels of the squadron came in, silenced the battery, and finally sent in a landing-party, and brought off the guns. Enjoy good, clean, fun at Bubble Run. The city's three centuries of history have been inextricably tied to the development of its port and the economic prosperity of the adjoining area. In 1862 a British blockade running firm, Alexander Collie and Company, purchased a fast steam packet which had been operating on the Glasgow to Belfast route. She had on board three hundred cases of Austrian rifles and a quantity of saltpetre; and the prize-sale netted $180,000. [52] Bulloch then established a relationship with the shipping firm of Fraser, Trenholm & Company, where he set up a conference with the Fraser-Trenholm officials who were the designated financial agents of the new Confederate government. supplying the Confederate Army. Make a Reservation Enhancements Paperback - February 28, 2017. 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