Playing With Fire off the Cuban Coast, October 1862

A route frequently used by Anglo-Confederate blockade runners went from Matamoros, Mexico to Havana, Cuba, ending at Mobile, Alabama.  The s...

Salt Works Raid at Cedar Key

Drawing of USS Ellen , a converted New York ferryboat; USS Somerset would likely have looked similar. Note that ship is firing on a target o...

CSS Florida's Mad Dash into Mobile

To say Confederate Lieutenant John Newland Maffitt had a tough decision to make would be an understatement.  After the  Florida's  relea...

St. Andrews Bay Salt Works Raid Event 21-22 April 2012

Salt works kettle/boiler display: Salt works historic marker: During the Civil War, St. Andrews Bay, Florida, was an immensely important are...

Salt Works Raids

Destruction of a salt works by the US Bark Kingfisher on the Florida Coast. Source: Fla. Dept. of State on-line photo archive. As the Civil...

Naval Actions at Seahorse Key, Florida 1862

The Cedar Keys, on the Gulf Coast of Florida (consisting of Way, Depot, Atsena Otie, Seahorse, Snake, and North Keys), was an important port...

Key West and the East Gulf Blockading Squadron

Sketch of Key West in Civil War period In a prior post (" The Blockade Begins "), I covered the formation of the Union Navy block...