And Hoping to Store the Prisoners at Fort Taylor at Key West
USS Connecticut
150 years ago today the USS Connecticut captured the Adeline off Cape Canaveral as part of the Union blockade. The Adeline “hoisted English colors”. Here’s a couple letters from the Connecticut’s commander, Maxwell Woodhull. From Official records of the Union and Confederate navies in the War of the Rebellion:
Report of Commander Woodhull, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Connecticut, of the capture of the schooner Adeline.
U. S. S. Connecticut,
At Sea, November 18, 1861.
Sir: Yesterday (Sunday), at about 3 o’clock p. m., we fell in with a schooner under all sail, standing inshore on the starboard tack. We gave chase. When within half a mile of her the schooner hoisted English colors. I ordered her to be hove to and boarded her. She proved to be the schooner Adeline, of Nassau, being of American build and otherwise suspicious, besides being rather too much out of her course for her destination (said to be New York). I concluded to make an examination of her papers and letters. We found in possession of one of the nominal crew, a citizen of Georgia (although really the owner of the cargo), sufficient indications of her purpose of running the blockade. I therefore took her in charge, brought the crew on board the Connecticut, and placed an officer and prize crew on board. When we took possession of her, at 3:15 p. m., Cape Canaveral bore W. S. W. 15 miles, in 18 fathoms water.
Mapping Florida - 1584 style
You will find among the papers and letters sufficient evidences of the intentions of those who were controlling her movements.
Accompanying this you will find the papers and the letters above mentioned.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. Woodhull, Commander, U. S. Navy.
Judge Marvin, U, S. District Judge, Key West.
______________________________________________
Fort Taylor at Key West
Letter from Commander Woodhull, U. S. Navy, to Major Hill, U. S.
Army, regarding custody of prisoners captured in the schooner
Adeline.
U. S. S. Connecticut,
Key West, November 19,1861.
Sir: I captured in the schooner Adeline three persons, who, I think, should be carried to the North and retained as prisoners of war. One is a captain in the service of Georgia; the other is the master of the schooner and an old offender, who nas been running the blockade for some time; the third person is a Bahama pilot, too well acquainted with our Southern coast to continue much longer at large. I find I must leave these men at this port, to be examined as witnesses, or I should keep them on board under my own care.
Will you do me the favor to take charge of these persons and retain them as prisoners in the fort until I return to reclaim them, permitting, however, the civil authorities, through the proper officials, to take their testimony?
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. Woodhull, Commander, U. S. Navy.
Major B. H. Hill, U. S. Army,
Commanding Fort Taylor, Key West,
Fort Taylor, 1864
