During this period of time several blockade runners were captured in the rough waters off Masonboro Inlet. The price paid was high, as multiple small vessels used in the boarding process capsized in the breakers. The seamen who swam the short distance to shore were captured.
November 4, 1862– The USS Daylight, Acting Master Warren, and the USS Mount Vernon, Acting Lieutenant Trathen, forced blockade-running British bark Sophia aground and destroyed her near Masonboro Inlet. During the process, due to the heavy surf, the Daylight lost two boats (first cutter and whaleboat) with Acting Assistant Paymaster Clark and Ensign Thomas M. Peakes and thirteen men (Robert Roberts, coxswain; James McGregor, Isaac Whitby, James Kelly, ordinary seamen; John Phalon, John Kearney, Peter Haggerty, Henry Wright, Francis McQuade, John M. Murphy, Michael Coyne, Henry F. Duffin, landsmen, and Andrew Newman, first-class fireman). The Mount Vernon lost one boat, with Ensign O. I. S. Roberts and five other men (Seaman Joseph Thompson, Seaman Henry Richardson, Seaman Michael Houlehan, Seaman John Moore, Landsman George Thompson). There boats were lost. Three Federal officers, and 18 sailors who washed ashore when their boars capsized were captured. The mate and 5 men from the Sophia were captured.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 8, pages 194-198
November 17, 1862– The USS Cambridge, Commander W A Parker, forced the blockade-running British schooner F W Pindar aground at Masonboro Inlet and sent a boat crew to destroy the vessel. The boat capsized attempting to get to the Pindar. The crew made it ashore and burned the blockade runner. They made several unsuccessful attempts to leave shore, but failed due to the heavy currents. After three hours, about twenty-five men of the 3rd NC Cavalry captured them. One of the men, William B. Frost, took the oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government at Petersburg, VA. Those captured included: William H. Maies, acting master; H. W. Wells and W. C. Odiorne, acting master’s mates; H. O. Reed, seaman and quartermaster; John Graham and Daniel Derocher, seamen and captains top; George Lilly, William B. Frost, Hans DeBoar, Dick Haman, Thomas McGee, William Haley, seamen; and William Thomas, ordinary seaman.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 8, pages 214-216
November 9, 1863– The USS Niphon, Acting Master Breck, captured the blockade-runner Ella and Annie off Masonboro Inlet with a cargo of arms and provisions. At 5.30 A.M. on the morning of November 9th, the Niphon spotted a steamer near Masonboro Inlet traveling south along the shore. The Ella and Annie realizing it could not escape turned and rammed the Niphon, striking a glancing blow. The blockade runner struck the Federal ship about the fore rigging, and the bowsprit, stem, and starboard boats were carried away. In addition, the kedge anchor was lost; the barometer knocked down and broken; damage was done to the deck beams, knees, ceiling, chains, chainplates, and davits; and one boat was smashed up and carried away. At the moment of collision Acting Master Breck opened on the Ella and Annie with shell and canister and boarded her. A keg of powder and a slow match had been set to blow her up but was extinguished. The Ella and Annie weighed 905 tons, and was in good order except for a small amount of damage from the cannon fire. Her cargo was composed of 480 sacks of salt, 500 sacks of saltpeter, 281 cases of Austrian rifles, 500 barrels of beef, and 42 cases of paper. As a result of the collision, 3 men on board the Niphon and 4 on board the Ella and Annie were injured (on the Niphon– William B. Ingraham, paymaster’s clerk, slightly; Henry Reed, boy, slightly; John Smith, boy, slightly; on the Ella and Annie- James Barry, coalheaver, slightly; John Riley, coalheaver, slightly; M. Craig, fireman, slightly; Jo. Jervy, seaman, slightly). Thirty eight prisoners were taken.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 9, pages 291-294
November 26, 1863– The USS James Adger, Commander Patterson, seized The British blockade-runner Ella off Masonboro Inlet, with a cargo of salt. At 9:30 P.M.on November 26th, 3 miles south of Masonboro Inlet, the USS James Adger discovered a schooner inshore of them. They quickly over took the schooner and at 10:00 P.M. Acting Ensign C. F. Keith with an armed boat’s crew boarded her and found that she had been abandoned. The Ella was 37.8 tons, and owned by Thomas Stead, of Nassau. Confiscated were 200 sacks of salt and 4 pieces of osnaburg (a coarse, durable cotton fabric commonly used for making ration bags to carry supplies like cornmeal and salt pork), a total of 288 yards.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 9, pages 327-328
