From The New-York Times September 16, 1861:
RETURN OF THE AFRICAN SQUADRON.
The United States steam gun-boat Sumter arrived in this port yesterday morning, from St. Paul de Loando, Africa. She is the avant-courier of the African squadron, the whole of which has been summoned home. Seven other vessels composing the squadron had sailed, or were about to sail, so that the Navy Department will soon have an effective force of eight vessels to add to the blockading force, or to cooperate in offensive operations along the Southern coast. The oath of allegiance will no doubt be immediately administered to the officers and crews of these ships, and their services be put in prompt use.
The returning officers report a couple of years of very active coast cruising after slavers. Indeed, the English have recently been felicitating themselves on the unwonted activity and vigilance of the American squadron. But we have now other pirates to look after, and the British Government may receive recompense for its sympathy with the Slave rebellion by having itself the whole slave coast to guard.
There is evidence that the USS Sumpter did return from the Africa Squadron on September 15th. It had an active part in the blockade until about mid-1863. I don’t think all eight ships that the article refers to actually bolstered the blockade of the South.
