Running the blockade at Mobile
It’s month old news but a fresh source of Confederate pride for the Dispatch editors. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 8, 1862:
Brilliant Naval exploit.
We doubt whether the late exploit of the Confederate shipsteamer Florida, in running the blockade of Mobile, has ever had, in all its features, any parallel in naval annals. Manned by a crew of laborers, unable to fire a gun, and commanded by a captain sick with yellow fever, she run the gauntlet of four Federal steamers, and was chased and pounded by them for four mortal hours, and yet, through the masterly handling of her sick captain, escaped.–Capt. Moffit has made himself a name by this remarkable achievement. If he can do such things without guns or seamen and down himself with the yellow fever, what may we not expect of him when the Florida is ready for a fight and her commander is restored to health? May the hour be near!
damn the yellow fever, …
The CSS Florida was not able to fight back when it ran the blockade on September 4 because much of the crew, including its commanding officer, John Newland Maffitt, was sick with yellow fever and because it was not properly outfitted to use its guns.
You’d have to say the editors were right to expect a lot. On January 16, 1863 the repaired and properly outfitted ship escaped Mobile. From then until August the Florida with Maffitt at the helm captured 22 prizes.
Commander Maffitt, who joined the U.S. navy as a 13 year old midshipman, resigned his commission in 1861 to join the Confederate navy. Maffitt had to relinquish command of the Florida because of ill-health later in 1863; later in the war he commanded the Albemarle. In 1886 Maffitt died in Wilmington, North Carolina – a city that was afflicted with yellow fever 150 years ago this month (from the same issue of the Dispatch):
Progress of the yellow fever at Wilmington.
A telegram from a friend informs us that, on the 6th instant, there were 63 new cases of fever in Wilmington, N. C., and the physicians there estimated the number of cases now in the city at 400. For the week ending with the 3d instant, there were 267 new cases, and 82 deaths, showing a mortality equal to 30 per cent. The weather on Saturday was very hot, and the nights during the week had been foggy with heavy dews. Efforts for the relief of the plague-stricken city are being made in various cities. From Petersburg, Va., 20 barrels of flour have been sent, and Goldsboro’, N. C., has appointed a committee to forward provisions. The gloom of the plague is not regarded by the thieves. Three stores were broken open in Wilmington on Friday night.
‘Prince of Privateers’
At rest at Brest
