There are few instances in modern times where the exigencies of war so much barred the free run of intercourse and paralyzed trade and commerce as the blockading of the Southern ports during the American Civil War, or where such inducements were offered to break through the barrier by what was called blockade running.

The writer has neither the knowledge nor the capability to attempt to write anything like a history or treatise on this subject; he therefore confines himself to a brief detail of his own acts and experience, and what came under his own observation.

The idea of blockade running during that war has been generally depicted by swift steamers running into Charleston and other ports in the Atlantic States, and it was there that it was chiefly carried on during the earlier part of the war when the blockade was somewhat inefficient.

It has also been supposed by some that the danger of capture lay only in passing through the blockading fleet while entering or leaving a port, and that beyond the limits of the blockaded port no danger existed; this was a mistaken idea.

As the war progressed, the naval force of the United States was greatly augmented. The seas were patrolled by cruisers, and the blockaded ports became fewer in number as they were successively captured and occupied by the United States forces; and during the latter part of the war, the traffic was confined almost exclusively to the Gulf of Mexico and the States bordering on its shores; and it was there carried on with great activity till the very end of the war, in the face of a powerful blockading fleet and numerous cruisers, which overhauled and seized anywhere at sea, all vessels to which they thought any suspicion might attach.

Hence the traffic was then attended with more difficulty and risk; captures were more frequent, and the whole business more hazardous and exciting.

In connection with the traffic in the Gulf there was one feature which has been very little noticed: this was the great amount of blockade running which was done by small sailing vessels.

On the shores of the Gulf States there were many rivers and inlets, the entrances to which were generally blocked by shallow bars or shoals, which could only be entered by vessels of light draught of water. These entrances were largely taken advantage of by what were called centre-board schooners--a class of vessels much in use at that time in these parts.

Although one or more war vessels generally lay off these entrances or inlets, they could not, on account of the shallow water, get sufficiently close to effectually block the passage in and out of these small craft by night, therefore a strict lookout was kept for them outside: and, in order to suppress the traffic, a number of patrolling vessels cruised along the coast and over the Gulf, with the view of picking them up at sea.

The shallow waters of these ports also confined the traffic to vessels of small class, and these had to run to neutral ports in Mexico, Cuba, or elsewhere, which made their occupation somewhat adventurous. Often very heavily overladen, they had, besides the risk of passing the blockading vessels, the dangers of a long sea voyage, throughout the whole of which they were liable to be picked up by the United States cruisers; and winter being the chosen time, on account of shorter daylight and better winds, they often encountered heavy gales, and being in constant dread of capture, they were often driven along with extreme recklessness.

The writer through force of circumstances brought on by the war was in a measure compelled to engage in this hazardous business, and had some experience in this small-craft traffic and afterwards in steamers, as well as in some of the less pleasing incidents of business in the war time.

He has still in his possession many papers and memoranda of business and other events, as well as remnants of his log-books; and in now publishing this little account of his experience, he trusts the public will excuse the many defects in his composition, as he has no pretensions to literary abilities, but endeavours to relate, in a plain, blunt way, events just as they happened. And if those who may take the trouble to read through these pages should find anything to interest or amuse them, his object will be attained.

WILLIAM WATSON.

_January_, 1892.