Hoosac Valley News and Transcript, January 16, 1862

• April [1861].

  19. Presidential proclamation authorizing the blockade.
  27. Supplementary proclamation announcing the blockade of South Carolina and Virginia ports.

• May

  4. The British ship Hiawatha, twice fired at by the Cumberland, escapes and gets into Norfolk.
  6. The Monticello is blockading the mouth of the Elizabeth River, and the Quaker City is off the Virginia capes.
  8. Shipment of arms via the Mississippi prohibited.
  9. blockade of Charleston by the Niagara.
  11. Pensacola blockaded. The Pawnee, Monticello, Harriet Lane and Yankee are off Fortress Monroe.
  18. Prizes arrive at Philadelphia. Savannah blockaded.
  20. At this date six American flag ships, with full rank Commodores attached, belong to the blockading squadron.
  22. Complaints of the inefficiency of the blockade, particularly of Charleston. The Niagara captures the ship Gen. Parkhill off Charleston.
  25. blockade of the Mississippi established.
  27. Mobile blockaded.
  28. blockade of Pensacola considered thorough and effective. The Brooklyn blockading off the mouths of the Mississippi.

• June.

  1. At this date twelve ships, two barks, one brig and five schooners had been captured by the blockading squadron. We have at this date our first intimation of an attempt to raise a Confederate navy. Reports received from New Orleans, state that a flotilla of gunboats and a floating battery are being constructed there.
  4. Engagement between the Harriet Lane and a rebel battery, at the mouth of the Nansemund River.
  5. At this date, the Massachusetts had captured twenty five prizes at the Passes of the Mississippi.
  11. blockade of the Apalachicola by the Montgomery.
  35. blockade of Mississippi Sound.

• July.

  1. The Sumter privateer runs the blockade at New Orleans.
  4. It is announced that thirty-seven men-of-war and thirty-nine steam gunboats are engaged in the blockading service. blockade of Galveston established. Several prizes taken there by the South Carolina between the 4th and 7th of July.
  17. The pirate Sumter is supplied with coal at Curacoa.
  20. Reinforcement of the blockading squadron at the mouth of the Mississippi.

• August

  4. Destruction of the rebel privateer Petrel by the St. Lawrence.
  9. A steamer runs the blockade of Charleston. Great complaints of the inefficiency of the blockade at the port.
  16. Reports of privateers abound. Inefficiency of the blockade of North Carolina ports. Vessels from Wilmington and Beaufort arrive at Halifax and other British ports.
  17. Charleston blockading squadron increased. It consists now of the Roanoke, Vandalia, Seminole and Iroquois. Fernandina strictly blockaded. Vessels arrive at Havana from Savannah and New Orleans.
  26. The ship Finland burnt by the R.R. Cuyler off Apalachicola.
  25. Capture of the Hatteras forts by the United States squadron.

• September

  6. Charleston is blockaded by the Wabash and Vandalia.
  14. Destruction of the privateer Judah, by the United States frigate Colorado, off Pensacola harbor.

• October

  5. Great slaughter among the enemy at Hatteras, by the Monticello's guns.
  7. Unsuccessful attempt to get out a privateer at Beaufort, S.C.
  8. Mobile is said to be thoroughly blockaded.
  11. Escape of the Theodora from Charleston harbor with Mason and Slidell on board. A rebel squadron, under Hollins, engages the national fleet at the head of the Mississippi passes, and is driven off.
  15. The ship Thomas Watson, attempting to get in Charleston, is burnt to the waters edge by the blockading squadron. The schooner Emily Tenbrook runs the blockade at Savannah, and gets into St. Thomas.
  Engagement between the Seminole and rebel batteries at Quantico.
  17. The Nashville runs the blockade at Charleston.
  19. Engagement between the Massachusetts and a rebel steamboat at the mouth of the Mississippi.

• November.

  2. The rebel steamer Bermuda, laden with cotton for Liverpool, runs the blockade at Savannah.
  7. Capture by the United States squadron of the forts at Port Royal entrance. Destruction off Galveston of the privateer Royal Yacht by the frigate Santee.
  9. Capture of Mason and Slidell by the San Jacinto.
  19. American ship Harvey Birch burnt at sea by the pirate Nashville.
  20. Twenty-five vessels, laden with stone, sail from New Bedford, to be sunk at the mouth of Charleston harbor.
  21. The pirate Nashville enters the British port of Southampton.
  25. Capture by the Penguin of the schooner Albion, of Nassau, N.P., with a cargo valued at $100,000. The privateer Sumter escapes the Iroquois, which was watching for her off Martinique.

• December

  11. The Secretary of the Navy reports that 100 prizes have been captured since the commencement of the blockade by 43 vessels of the squadron.
  20. Sixteen vessels sunk at the mouth of Charleston harbor.

---

Provided courtesy of Tom Boudreau