The Blockade of Brazos River; CAPTURE OF BLOCKADE-RUNNERS

USS ALASKA

Captain
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
The Blockade of Brazos River; CAPTURE OF BLOCKADE-RUNNERS
April 3, 1864, Page 3 The New York Times Archives

A correspondent of the New-Bedford Standard (" H.D.E.") gives the following spirited account of the capture of blockade-runners in Brazos River by the United States steamer Penobscot:

"The Brazos River, about forty miles from Galveston, is a fine river when once inside, but with a shoal bar. We have lately made it the scene of one of the most successful exploits in destroying and capturing blockade-runners. The Penobscot, relieved from the Galveston station in the latter part of last month, was ordered to watch the entrance to this river. On our arrival there we saw several schooners inside, protected by a strong battery; but, though we kept vigilant watch night after night, we could discover nothing running. But at last our patience was rewarded. On the 28th of February, in the early gray of morning, two vessels were discovered endeavoring to get in. We were quickly in chase. The first one we drove on shore and she soon became a hopeless wreck. The other one was further off and became our prize. She was a fine schooner, loaded with powder, arms, medicine, &c. I think her Captain was a down East Yankee, though, of course, claiming to be a 'British subject.' A more miserable, dirty-looking set than her crew I think I never saw. It wouldn't be worth the sacrifice of a good rope to hang them. Well, we put a prize crew on board and took possession. That night came on a 'norther' -- a fresh gale, with rain and fog. The next day the storm still continued, and we lay hid in a dense fog. At noon it suddenly cleared, when, to our surprise, we discovered a fleet of eight vessels underway and coming over the Brazos Bar. At the same time they discovered us. But four of them had come too far to go back. The men had just gone to dinner, but they came tumbling up the hatchway, and the capstan ran around as it never went before. We were quickly underway, and the chase began. In less time than I can write it, we were at the river bar, and two schooners with full loads of cotton, driven on the sands and dashed by the breakers, became shattered wrecks. The long guns of the rebel batteries poured forth a storm of fire. Rifle shells whistled above the gale, and round shot came plunging from wave to wave. But the Penobscot has a charm that never deserts her. Hurling defiance, our 11-inch thunders back. We watch the huge shell as it flies through the air, and almost feel like kissing the old gun as we see its missile burst in the fort. The 'Parrott' sends its compliments, too. But we cannot stop to fight, and so while the rebels chafe with impotent rage, we speed on for the doomed vessels. A shell brings the nearest one to, and while a prize crew takes charge of her we steer for the other, the only remaining one that got outside. The tenth shell stops her, and we soon have her in tow. We let them lie off the river with us that night for the rebs to look at, and the next day all three prizes started for New-Orleans. They are all tied up here now. Ensign MILLER (a New-Bedford boy) and your correspondent had the pleasure of bringing them down. They are all fine vessels. One had a cargo of powder, arms, &c., another had 100 bales of cotton worth about $40,090, and $13,000 in Confederate notes, and the other had a cargo of 140 bales of cotton, worth about $60,000, $3,000 in gold coin, and about $40,000 in gold watches, diamonds, &c. On the whole quite a good day's work for one gunboat. The rebel captains have already condemned their vessels by written depositions, and they don't steal half here as they do in New-York."

https://www.nytimes.com/1864/04/03/...-brazos-river-capture-of-blockaderunners.html

Given some other threads discussing this, I found the bold, italic, underlined portion interesting. In spring of '64 and quite the haul of luxury items. Question though - the article seems to imply that the vessels were coming OUT of the Confederacy. Unless they were trying to make it to another Southern port, why would anyone be exporting '...gold watches, diamonds...' from the Confederacy?

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
The Blockade of Brazos River; CAPTURE OF BLOCKADE-RUNNERS
April 3, 1864, Page 3 The New York Times Archives

A correspondent of the New-Bedford Standard (" H.D.E.") gives the following spirited account of the capture of blockade-runners in Brazos River by the United States steamer Penobscot:

"The Brazos River, about forty miles from Galveston, is a fine river when once inside, but with a shoal bar. We have lately made it the scene of one of the most successful exploits in destroying and capturing blockade-runners. The Penobscot, relieved from the Galveston station in the latter part of last month, was ordered to watch the entrance to this river. On our arrival there we saw several schooners inside, protected by a strong battery; but, though we kept vigilant watch night after night, we could discover nothing running. But at last our patience was rewarded. On the 28th of February, in the early gray of morning, two vessels were discovered endeavoring to get in. We were quickly in chase. The first one we drove on shore and she soon became a hopeless wreck. The other one was further off and became our prize. She was a fine schooner, loaded with powder, arms, medicine, &c. I think her Captain was a down East Yankee, though, of course, claiming to be a 'British subject.' A more miserable, dirty-looking set than her crew I think I never saw. It wouldn't be worth the sacrifice of a good rope to hang them. Well, we put a prize crew on board and took possession. That night came on a 'norther' -- a fresh gale, with rain and fog. The next day the storm still continued, and we lay hid in a dense fog. At noon it suddenly cleared, when, to our surprise, we discovered a fleet of eight vessels underway and coming over the Brazos Bar. At the same time they discovered us. But four of them had come too far to go back. The men had just gone to dinner, but they came tumbling up the hatchway, and the capstan ran around as it never went before. We were quickly underway, and the chase began. In less time than I can write it, we were at the river bar, and two schooners with full loads of cotton, driven on the sands and dashed by the breakers, became shattered wrecks. The long guns of the rebel batteries poured forth a storm of fire. Rifle shells whistled above the gale, and round shot came plunging from wave to wave. But the Penobscot has a charm that never deserts her. Hurling defiance, our 11-inch thunders back. We watch the huge shell as it flies through the air, and almost feel like kissing the old gun as we see its missile burst in the fort. The 'Parrott' sends its compliments, too. But we cannot stop to fight, and so while the rebels chafe with impotent rage, we speed on for the doomed vessels. A shell brings the nearest one to, and while a prize crew takes charge of her we steer for the other, the only remaining one that got outside. The tenth shell stops her, and we soon have her in tow. We let them lie off the river with us that night for the rebs to look at, and the next day all three prizes started for New-Orleans. They are all tied up here now. Ensign MILLER (a New-Bedford boy) and your correspondent had the pleasure of bringing them down. They are all fine vessels. One had a cargo of powder, arms, &c., another had 100 bales of cotton worth about $40,090, and $13,000 in Confederate notes, and the other had a cargo of 140 bales of cotton, worth about $60,000, $3,000 in gold coin, and about $40,000 in gold watches, diamonds, &c. On the whole quite a good day's work for one gunboat. The rebel captains have already condemned their vessels by written depositions, and they don't steal half here as they do in New-York."

https://www.nytimes.com/1864/04/03/...-brazos-river-capture-of-blockaderunners.html

Given some other threads discussing this, I found the bold, italic, underlined portion interesting. In spring of '64 and quite the haul of luxury items. Question though - the article seems to imply that the vessels were coming OUT of the Confederacy. Unless they were trying to make it to another Southern port, why would anyone be exporting '...gold watches, diamonds...' from the Confederacy?

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
There were probably merchants in Havana and Mexico who refused to accept Confederate money. Private importers had to use the only currency they had (gold and watches, not everyone owned bales of cotton) that the merchants would accept.
 
The Blockade of Brazos River; CAPTURE OF BLOCKADE-RUNNERS
April 3, 1864, Page 3 The New York Times Archives

A correspondent of the New-Bedford Standard (" H.D.E.") gives the following spirited account of the capture of blockade-runners in Brazos River by the United States steamer Penobscot:

"The Brazos River, about forty miles from Galveston, is a fine river when once inside, but with a shoal bar. We have lately made it the scene of one of the most successful exploits in destroying and capturing blockade-runners. The Penobscot, relieved from the Galveston station in the latter part of last month, was ordered to watch the entrance to this river. On our arrival there we saw several schooners inside, protected by a strong battery; but, though we kept vigilant watch night after night, we could discover nothing running. But at last our patience was rewarded. On the 28th of February, in the early gray of morning, two vessels were discovered endeavoring to get in. We were quickly in chase. The first one we drove on shore and she soon became a hopeless wreck. The other one was further off and became our prize. She was a fine schooner, loaded with powder, arms, medicine, &c. I think her Captain was a down East Yankee, though, of course, claiming to be a 'British subject.' A more miserable, dirty-looking set than her crew I think I never saw. It wouldn't be worth the sacrifice of a good rope to hang them. Well, we put a prize crew on board and took possession. That night came on a 'norther' -- a fresh gale, with rain and fog. The next day the storm still continued, and we lay hid in a dense fog. At noon it suddenly cleared, when, to our surprise, we discovered a fleet of eight vessels underway and coming over the Brazos Bar. At the same time they discovered us. But four of them had come too far to go back. The men had just gone to dinner, but they came tumbling up the hatchway, and the capstan ran around as it never went before. We were quickly underway, and the chase began. In less time than I can write it, we were at the river bar, and two schooners with full loads of cotton, driven on the sands and dashed by the breakers, became shattered wrecks. The long guns of the rebel batteries poured forth a storm of fire. Rifle shells whistled above the gale, and round shot came plunging from wave to wave. But the Penobscot has a charm that never deserts her. Hurling defiance, our 11-inch thunders back. We watch the huge shell as it flies through the air, and almost feel like kissing the old gun as we see its missile burst in the fort. The 'Parrott' sends its compliments, too. But we cannot stop to fight, and so while the rebels chafe with impotent rage, we speed on for the doomed vessels. A shell brings the nearest one to, and while a prize crew takes charge of her we steer for the other, the only remaining one that got outside. The tenth shell stops her, and we soon have her in tow. We let them lie off the river with us that night for the rebs to look at, and the next day all three prizes started for New-Orleans. They are all tied up here now. Ensign MILLER (a New-Bedford boy) and your correspondent had the pleasure of bringing them down. They are all fine vessels. One had a cargo of powder, arms, &c., another had 100 bales of cotton worth about $40,090, and $13,000 in Confederate notes, and the other had a cargo of 140 bales of cotton, worth about $60,000, $3,000 in gold coin, and about $40,000 in gold watches, diamonds, &c. On the whole quite a good day's work for one gunboat. The rebel captains have already condemned their vessels by written depositions, and they don't steal half here as they do in New-York."

https://www.nytimes.com/1864/04/03/...-brazos-river-capture-of-blockaderunners.html

Given some other threads discussing this, I found the bold, italic, underlined portion interesting. In spring of '64 and quite the haul of luxury items. Question though - the article seems to imply that the vessels were coming OUT of the Confederacy. Unless they were trying to make it to another Southern port, why would anyone be exporting '...gold watches, diamonds...' from the Confederacy?

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
Sorry for the belated input, but I'm new to this site. The first vessel mentioned was the Lily (aka Lilly ), a 43-ton British schooner on its way from Belize to the Brazos River. The Captain was William S. Cooper, mate Charles Kerr, plus 5 crew. She was carrying 45 packages of dry goods and powder, and was eventually condemned for a total of $5995.66. The other two were the 40-ton John Douglas (Capt Joseph A. Kenney) with 125 bales of cotton & the 42-ton Stingray (Capt George W. Little) with 82 bales. The John Douglas was condemned for $41011.62 and the Stingray for $33988.04. This is newspaper article is the only account that I found that mentions the valuables. The Admiralty Court records don't say anything about watches or diamonds. It's possible that the crew simply looted the jewels and valuables, but it's more likely that the crewman/correspondent had a vivid imagination, as seen by his inflated estimates of the values of his prizes.
 
Exerpts from @AndyHall's Civil War Blockade Running on the Texas Coast...

"Austin's Colony built a small port settlement at the mouth of the Brazos River called Velasco, but it left much to be desired. Access to the river itself was limited to only the lightest-draft vessels, and there was no sheltered anchorage there at all. Ships calling at Velasco were obliged to anchor off the beach, exposed to the currents and surf of the Gulf of Mexico." p. 14

And after some really great stuff about the Rob Roy, a small sailing runner used during the War..."The Brazos River and the settlement at Velasco were a destination for many small sailing runners. The bar at the mouth of the river was treacherous, but once across, vessels were well protected. Small craft could be towed up to the river port of Columbia (now East Columbia), the terminus of the Houston Tap and Brazoria Railroad. By that route, through Houston, the lower reaches of the Brazos connected to the more densely settled eastern parts of the state, making the shipment of cotton and other cargoes almost as easy as at Galveston. The mouth of the Brazos River was narrow, as well, guarded by fortifications on either side...

"A lack of available ships prevented the U.S. Navy from maintaining an around-the-clock watch off the Brazos until the latter part of 1863, but attempts to get in and out of Velasco continued right through the end of the war." (p. 38)

There's much more, of course, including the famous "It's a BAAARGE," but you had to be there to hear that and hear Andy's Scots accent. :D
 
The Blockade of Brazos River; CAPTURE OF BLOCKADE-RUNNERS
April 3, 1864, Page 3 The New York Times Archives

A correspondent of the New-Bedford Standard (" H.D.E.") gives the following spirited account of the capture of blockade-runners in Brazos River by the United States steamer Penobscot:

"The Brazos River, about forty miles from Galveston, is a fine river when once inside, but with a shoal bar. We have lately made it the scene of one of the most successful exploits in destroying and capturing blockade-runners. The Penobscot, relieved from the Galveston station in the latter part of last month, was ordered to watch the entrance to this river. On our arrival there we saw several schooners inside, protected by a strong battery; but, though we kept vigilant watch night after night, we could discover nothing running. But at last our patience was rewarded. On the 28th of February, in the early gray of morning, two vessels were discovered endeavoring to get in. We were quickly in chase. The first one we drove on shore and she soon became a hopeless wreck. The other one was further off and became our prize. She was a fine schooner, loaded with powder, arms, medicine, &c. I think her Captain was a down East Yankee, though, of course, claiming to be a 'British subject.' A more miserable, dirty-looking set than her crew I think I never saw. It wouldn't be worth the sacrifice of a good rope to hang them. Well, we put a prize crew on board and took possession. That night came on a 'norther' -- a fresh gale, with rain and fog. The next day the storm still continued, and we lay hid in a dense fog. At noon it suddenly cleared, when, to our surprise, we discovered a fleet of eight vessels underway and coming over the Brazos Bar. At the same time they discovered us. But four of them had come too far to go back. The men had just gone to dinner, but they came tumbling up the hatchway, and the capstan ran around as it never went before. We were quickly underway, and the chase began. In less time than I can write it, we were at the river bar, and two schooners with full loads of cotton, driven on the sands and dashed by the breakers, became shattered wrecks. The long guns of the rebel batteries poured forth a storm of fire. Rifle shells whistled above the gale, and round shot came plunging from wave to wave. But the Penobscot has a charm that never deserts her. Hurling defiance, our 11-inch thunders back. We watch the huge shell as it flies through the air, and almost feel like kissing the old gun as we see its missile burst in the fort. The 'Parrott' sends its compliments, too. But we cannot stop to fight, and so while the rebels chafe with impotent rage, we speed on for the doomed vessels. A shell brings the nearest one to, and while a prize crew takes charge of her we steer for the other, the only remaining one that got outside. The tenth shell stops her, and we soon have her in tow. We let them lie off the river with us that night for the rebs to look at, and the next day all three prizes started for New-Orleans. They are all tied up here now. Ensign MILLER (a New-Bedford boy) and your correspondent had the pleasure of bringing them down. They are all fine vessels. One had a cargo of powder, arms, &c., another had 100 bales of cotton worth about $40,090, and $13,000 in Confederate notes, and the other had a cargo of 140 bales of cotton, worth about $60,000, $3,000 in gold coin, and about $40,000 in gold watches, diamonds, &c. On the whole quite a good day's work for one gunboat. The rebel captains have already condemned their vessels by written depositions, and they don't steal half here as they do in New-York."

https://www.nytimes.com/1864/04/03/...-brazos-river-capture-of-blockaderunners.html

Given some other threads discussing this, I found the bold, italic, underlined portion interesting. In spring of '64 and quite the haul of luxury items. Question though - the article seems to imply that the vessels were coming OUT of the Confederacy. Unless they were trying to make it to another Southern port, why would anyone be exporting '...gold watches, diamonds...' from the Confederacy?

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Getting what you had out of the Confederacy to someplace you could bank it--and possibly change it into gold for yourself or the Confederacy, of course (and I'm betting on the former).
 
Sorry for the belated input, but I'm new to this site. The first vessel mentioned was the Lily (aka Lilly ), a 43-ton British schooner on its way from Belize to the Brazos River. The Captain was William S. Cooper, mate Charles Kerr, plus 5 crew. She was carrying 45 packages of dry goods and powder, and was eventually condemned for a total of $5995.66. The other two were the 40-ton John Douglas (Capt Joseph A. Kenney) with 125 bales of cotton & the 42-ton Stingray (Capt George W. Little) with 82 bales. The John Douglas was condemned for $41011.62 and the Stingray for $33988.04. This is newspaper article is the only account that I found that mentions the valuables. The Admiralty Court records don't say anything about watches or diamonds. It's possible that the crew simply looted the jewels and valuables, but it's more likely that the crewman/correspondent had a vivid imagination, as seen by his inflated estimates of the values of his prizes.

One thing I had not known until I got involved in discussions here was how many of the blockade runners were small sailing craft like these. People tend to think of the blockade in terms of sleek steamers, but that's not the whole story.
 
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