Posted 14 years ago
covers
(32 items)
This cover and letter addressed to Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia exemplifies the ownership and political problems involved in blockade-running. A staunch believer in state rights, Gov. Brown even attempted to stop the CSA from taking Georgia troops out of the state to fight at the First Battle of Bull Run.
In 1863 Brown granted a charter, which gave priority to Georgian goods, to GB Lamar's Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia. Lamar then ordered six blockade-runners from England. In 1864 their shallow draft steamer Little Ada entered the Santee River, SC and commenced loading Georgian cotton. However, the CSA War Department demanded one-half of the cargo capacity for CSA owned cotton. Governor Brown and Lamar refused the request and the CSA sent an artillery battery and troops to keep the vessel from departing.
The Little Ada remained blockaded in the river by both the Union Navy and the CSA troops for the next three months. Finally, in May 1864 Lamar and Brown conceded CSA cargo space and in June the Little Ada made it to Nassau with her mixed load of cotton which was sold for £8,016.
Posted by Richard Frajola
