July 27, 2010: In honor of the approaching Sesquicentennial (150 year) anniversary of the Civil War, our Rotary Civil War series presenter, Dr. Stephen R. Wise discussed the fascinating history of Blockade Running.
Dr. Wise, director of the museum and the Cultural Resource Manager for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot located at Parris Island, began his presentation with a quick tourist pitch for the Parris Island Museum. He noted the hours of operation and free access to not only the museum, but the walking history tours and golf course as well.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Wise was drawn to the University of South Carolina to study under the noted Civil War historian, Thomas Connelly. Dr. Wise explained that it was Mr. Connelly who assigned him the Blockade Running topic, a topic of which he “had no idea would be so interesting!”
Throughout his presentation, Dr. Wise remarked blockade running as a Confederate tactic that “gave the South the opportunity to win the war.” The success of the blockades was partially due to the “motivating factor of profit” derived from their supply system of cotton out and supplies in. Cotton prices skyrocketed during the war as Dr. Wise gave the example of one vessel with 1,000 bales of cotton could produce 9 million dollar in profit. In addition to profit, success in blockade running was also due to the steam powered vessels, such as Calhoun, Colonel Lamb and Clyde steamers such as Let Her Rip. These “sleek steamers” easily avoided federal Union vessels and sustained the logistical supply line.
Dr. Wise explained that Charleston’s rail connections and proximity to popular trade routes, such as Naussau, made it the first choice of the blockade runners early in the war. George Trenholm, a Charleston native, who called Ashley Hall home, was the head of largest blockade running fleet.
Dr. Wise remarked that through blockade running, the South “developed the means to fight.” As cotton was exported, vital war supplies such as weapons, accessories, cloth for uniforms, leather for shoes and medicine were imported to popular blockade running ports such as Charleston, Galveston, Wilmington, Savannah, New Orleans and Mobile. Blockade running provided the necessary materials for the Confederate army to meet their adversaries and a “chance for victory.”