The Civil War blockade runner Bendigo ran aground in the early morning hours of January 3, 1864 just east of the main channel of Lockwoods Folly Inlet which separates Oak Island from Holden Beach. The Bendigo was a 216-foot side-wheel steamer returning from Nassau. Moving north up the coast, as it approached Lockwood Folly, it saw what it thought was a Union blockader. The captain of the Bendigo attempted to run between what it thought was a blockader and the shore. The “Federal Blockader” was actually the blockade runner Elizabeth that had run aground on September 19, 1863 and was burned by its Captain.

At low tide portions of the wreck can be seen near a red buoy. The buoy is there because the wreck of the Bendigo lies very close to the channel and at high tide is only about 3 feet below the surface. Locals told me there were very strong currents in the area and the tides come in quickly. I did not see any lifeguards. I did observe several jellyfish. As I drove toward the parking lot on Ocean Beach Boulevard in Holden Beach (33.9148429, -78.2466308) I saw that the cross-streets are named after Civil War era shipwrecks. I parked in the lot and walked out to the beach and turned left toward the inlet.

There is drone footage of the shipwreck here (link). Some images from that video shot by Brent Garlington appear below. Great Civil War use of a drone.