Commander Wood
150 years ago this month the CSS Tallahassee, commanded by Zachary Taylor’s grandson John Taylor Wood, was disrupting Yankee commerce off the northern coast. Here’s a summary from the Navy:
After she was commissioned and prepared for sea Tallahassee was placed under Comdr. J. T. Wood, CSN, who took her through the blockade on 6 August 1864 and made a brilliant 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as Halifax, N.S. Being unable to procure enough coal to continue, Cdr. John Taylor Wood was forced to return to Wilmington where he arrived safely on the 26th. During this short cruise Tallahassee destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others which were bonded or released.
From The New-York Times August 15, 1864:
NY Times 8-15-1864
SANDY HOOK, Sunday Noon, Aug. 14.
The boatman of the Associated Press of this point has landed here and furnishes the following report:
I have boarded the bark Suliote, of Belfast. Me., from Cow Bay for New-York. She was captured on the 12th inst., off Montank Point, thirty-five miles distant, by the pirate Tallahassee. The pirate bonded the bark for $5,000, and put on board of her 300 passengers from the ship Adriatic, the latter having been burned by the pirate. No water or provisions were given them. The Suliote also has on board Mr. CALLAHAN and crew of the pilot-boat Wm. Bell, No. 24, which vessel was burned on the 12th, off Mantauk Point by the pirates. Several other persons from destroyed vessels are on board the Suliote. The Suliote reports seeing a vessel burning on the night of the 12th. The pirate stated to some of the captured persons that he was coming into New-York harbor. When last seen the Tallahassee was steering southeast. The pilot-boat James Funck is her tender.
The Suliote passed the frigate Susquehanna Sunday morning, lying still south of Sandy Hook.
The Suliote has no provisions or water on board. …
CSS Tallahassee
