Tod & Macgregor Shiplist

 

Yard No.:

 103

Name:

 MAIL

Year:

 1860

Description:

 Paddle Steamer

Webpage:

 

Picture:

 Yes

Tonnage:

 291

Length:

 179.5¹

Width:

 18.1¹

H.P.:

 80

Type:

 Iron 1 cylinder steeple engine

Customer:

 J.A. & R. Campbell¹

Fate:

 

Points of Note:

 Plied the Clyde from 1860 - 1863²

Date of Launch:

 

Notes:

          Was built for Campbell's regular trade to Holy Loch and used on Glasgow & Kilmun route. Master; R. Campbell.

¹[Clyde Passenger Steamers from 1812 to 1901, Williamson]

 

          On the 29th of April 1863 she was sold to Confederate interests and in July 1863 she went away to become a blockade runner.

²[Clyde Passenger Steamers from 1812 to 1901, Williamson]

[Echoes of Old Clyde Paddle-Wheels, Andrew McQueen]

[West Coast Steamers, Duckworth & Legmuir]

 

          Made one successful run as a blockade runner, coming into St Marks, Florida in September 1863 from Bayport and Havanna before being captured near Bayport, Florida, by the Honduras on the 15th of October 1863.

 

          After her capture she was condemned and sold to private interests, who changed her name to the Susanna and returned her to blockade running! In her new guise she made eleven successful runs until she was captured again; Apr 12th 1864, to Galveston Texas out of Havana, returning in May; Jun 2nd 1864 to Galveston Texas out of Havana returning that month; July 1864, to Galveston Texas out of Havana, returning on July 14th; Aug 24th 1864 to Galveston Texas out of Havana returning on Sep 10th; Sep 28th 1864, to Galveston Texas out of Havana, returning on Oct 9th; November 1864 to Galveston Texas out of Havana. Her capture was on the return voyage by the Metacomet, at Campeche Banks, out of Galveston, Texas, on the 27th of November 1864. Half her cargo of cotton was thrown overboard in the chase. Rear Admiral Farragut had regarded Susanna as "their fastest steamer."

[Lifeline of the Confederacy, Stephen R. Wise]

[The Clyde Passenger Steamers, Kenneth Davies]

http://www.historycentral.com/Navy/cwnavalhistory/November1864.html

 

Text of a letter from the U. S. CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Havana, August 25, 1864.

Captain T. P. GREENE,
Commanding East Gulf Blockading Squadron.

SIR: The Anglo-rebel steamer Mail (or Susanna) sailed yesterday morning.for Galveston. The Denbigh is ready to leave at any moment, and carries a very valuable cargo. She cleared for Bermuda; may go to Wilmington; but the information I have is that her destination is Galveston.

I accompany herewith a copy of a letter that reached me yesterday .......................late papers if you have any.

With much respect, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

THOS. SAVAGE,
Acting Consul-General

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/PROJECTS/denbigh/disp04.htm