Blockaderunning to Ponchatoula?

[DaveBrt]

"HQ Dept Miss & E. La
Jackson Miss Oct 23, 1862

Gen S. Cooper
AIG

I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter of instructions to Col. A. R. Witte comdg at Ponchatoula La. in reference to the expected arrival of vessels loaded with salt petre and other stores, direct from Havanna.
I also enclose the statement of S. K. Gilman, the party proposing to detain the saltpetre.
I request instructions as to the disposition to be made of it. I have every reason to believe this a bona fide transaction.
Pemberton"

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Interesting.

Ponchatoula . . . while very close to Lake Pontchartrain . . . was an inland village during this time.
Although not on any water route to lake, it was on the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern railroad.

By the date of this letter, New Orleans had fallen. The Confederates were organizing at Camp Moore (north of Ponchatoula) for a possible attempt to retake New Orleans.

Here's are link that may provide some insight to the letter:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4231181?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Quite a bit of the blockade running in the Gulf was carried on using very small sailing craft. While they couldn't carry much on a single trip, they could get into places the larger runners couldn't.

 

[DaveBrt]

I've found additional letters indicating that schooners were running from Ponchatoula to New Orleans. Quinine was specifically mentioned in one document. There were orders to ship some 500 bales of cotton to P. in two different shipments. There was Lt. Col. and a company of cavalry stationed there in late 1862.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Once again, I find this very interesting.

I'm aware that it was common, if not the norm in many cases . . . for blockade runners to off load cargo on to smaller vessels for the final dash into secluded locations along the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm not doubting the authenticity of these letters at all.
I would only like to read them.

Is there a online source where these letters can be accessed ?

Thanks.

 

[DaveBrt]

Once again, I find this very interesting.

I'm aware that it was common, if not the norm in many cases . . . for blockade runners to off load cargo on to smaller vessels for the final dash into secluded locations along the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm not doubting the authenticity of these letters at all.
I would only like to read them.

Is there a online source where these letters can be accessed ?

Thanks.

The source I was using was Volume 57; I have not started Volume 56, but there should be a lot there:


Military Departments -- Letters Sent Relating to Trade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, 1862-1863

National Archives Identifier: 16881218 Local Identifier: Chapter II, Volume 56



Military Departments -- Letters and Telegrams Sent, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, 1862-1863

National Archives Identifier: 18220719 Local Identifier: Chapter II, Volume 57

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Thanks !

 

[DaveBrt]

Thanks !

BTW, you can down load the entire ledger book by scrolling down to the PDF icon. Click it, then when the image in the window changes, click on the blue icon on the left bottom of the window. The entire book will take only moments to download and is FAAAAAAR smaller than downloading each page as an image.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

BTW, you can down load the entire ledger book by scrolling down to the PDF icon. Click it, then when the image in the window changes, click on the blue icon on the left bottom of the window. The entire book will take only moments to download and is FAAAAAAR smaller than downloading each page as an image.

Thanks again !

I've been reading the correspondence. These letter and telegrams are fascinating.

 

[DaveBrt]

Thanks again !

I've been reading the correspondence. These letter and telegrams are fascinating.

Somewhere around image 205 (Feb '63) is a listing of the contents of a captured sloop you will find interesting.