The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Blockade of Wilminington Initiated This Day 150 Years Ago

According to the US Naval Chronology, July 14, 1861, the USS Daylight, Cmdr. Samuel Lockwood, initiated the blockade of the port of Wilmington, NC, by taking station off the coast and notifying the city.

In another source, I found the date for initiation listed at August 14th.

It was one of the last major Confederates to be blockaded, largely because of the late date of North Carolina's secession.

The USS Daylight was built for civilian use in 1859 and was called the Daylight. The US Navy acquired the Daylight in May of 1851 and commissioned it in June. The ship weighed 682 tons, was 170 feet long with a beam of 30.6 and 13 foot draught. Power was provided by a steam engine with screw propeller and top speed of 5 knots.

The crew numbered 57 and mounted four 32-pounder guns.

So, It Begins. --Old B-Runner

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