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Blockade runner's diary

Blockade runner's diary

Descriptive Summary

Title: Blockade runner's diary
Creator: Dickson, James, 1836-1874
Inclusive Dates: 1861-1862, 1956-1958
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet (8 folders)
Collection Number: ms791
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

During the American Civil War, the Union enacted a military tactic known as the Anaconda Plan, which cut off the Confederacy's considerable trade overseas. Located along twelve major ports and covering over 3,500 miles of coastline, this blockade crippled the Confederate economy and thus helped the Union to victory. Blockade running was a major enterprise for Confederates until the end of the war, by which time over 1,000 blockade runners and hundreds of ships had been captured by the Union Navy.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of the diary of a blockade runner during the Civil War from December 1861 through February 1862. The diary describes the voyage from New York to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the return voyage on the brigantine the Standard of Windsor, loaded with dry goods, food, and medicine for the Confederate government. The author describes in detail the weather, sea conditions, eating habits, and life aboard ship; fears of capture by Union forces; maneuvers used to run the blockade; and off loading the cargo. Also contained in the collection are research notes, speeches, and correspondence of William Porter Kellam pertaining to his research of the diary. Kellam attributes the diary to James Dickson in Savannah, Georgia.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Blockade runner's diary, ms791, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

General Notes

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online as part of America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Blockade.
Confederate States of America. Army -- Supplies and stores
Diaries.
Kellam, William Porter, 1905-1993
Merchant mariners.
Shipping -- Confederate States of America.
Standard of Windsor (Brig)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Blockades.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11W. P. Kellum speech regarding diary, 1956 Access Online
 
12W. P. Kellum notes regarding diary
 
13W. P. Kellum correspondence regarding diary
 
14Printed material related to other diaries
 
15Miscellaneous
 
16Diary Access Online
 
17Transcript Access Online
 
18Transcript