Let's see, 19 days, 26 enemy vessels destroyed, 7 captured, eluding Union ships, and getting away with it, despite a really close shave at Halifax. Even got enough coal. Not a bad two and a half weeks. Just imagine if they got prize money. But, nonetheless, the adrenalin rush. Quite the cruise.
Stats of the Tallahassee: 220 feet long, 24 foot beam; armament: 1 rifles 32-pdr forward, 1 rifled 100-pdr amidships, 1 heavy Parrot aft.
Ran out of Wilmington on August 6, 1864 and chased by the USS Nansemond and USS Huron. Almost caught at Halifax by the USS Pontoosuc. (I also read that the first two Union vessels followed the Tallahassee to Halifax and blocked the channel in one account, but didn't find any confirmation anywhere else.
Then, there was running the blockade twice, plenty of excitement in that all by itself.
Sail Ho!! --Old B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
