The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

ECU Grad Students Explore Blockade-Runner-- Part 1

March 20th Greenvile (NC) Daily Reflector.

Graduate students in East Carolina University's maritime history program used part of Spring Break to "rediscover" artifacts from the blockade-runner Modern Greece. They did this in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, and the Friends of Fort Fisher. This took place March 7th to 9th.

On the morning of June 27, 1862, the 210-foot Modern Greece had evaded Federal blockading ships on its way to the eastern entrance to the Cape Fear River, called New Inlet back then.

It was spotted by the USS Cambridge, which opened fire and gave chase and then joined in by the USS Stars and Stripes. The blockade-runner was chased ashore.

Fort Fisher opened fire on the stricken ship to keep its cargo of clothing, cutlery, rifles and ammunition out of Union hands.

More to Come. --Old B-R'er

No comments: