The year 1864 saw the capture and destruction of more blockade runners but by far the most significant action was the destruction of the North Carolina State salt works. The largest salt work in the state.

February 6, 1864– The USS Cambridge, Commander William F Spicer, found a steamer aground and in flames near Masonboro Inlet about 1 mile south of Masonboro at 8:00 A.M. on February 6th. The steamer proved to be the blockade runner Dee, from Bermuda, headed for Wilmington. The ship had grounded during the preceding night and was set on fire to prevent capture. The ship engulfed in flames could not be refloated nor the fire extinguished. Spicer opened fire on the Dee and completed the destruction of the blockade runner with her cargo of lead, bacon, spirits and coffee. Seven crew members were captured. Her captain and others escaped by boat up the inlet. They also captured a lifeboat beached near the steamer, three logbooks of a previous trip belonging to the engineer’s department, a small telegraph flag of Marryat’s Code, and a package containing a number of copies of a book entitled “The Cotton Trade,” by McHenry. Several of these copies were addressed to leading members of the Confederacy including Jefferson Davis. A package, directed to R. M. Maury, Richmond, contained files of English newspapers. Soon after the boats landed several shots were fired at the men from woods without effect. Information received from the prisoners indicated that the Dee was commanded by Captain George H. Bier, formerly a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 9, pages 467-468

April 21, 1864– Boat crews from the USS Howquah, USS Fort Jackson, and USS Niphon, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Joseph B. Breck, destroyed Confederate salt works on Masonboro Sound. The sailors landed undetected under cover of darkness at 9:00 PM and demolished the works while taking 160 prisoners. The Confederates abandoned all efforts to rebuild the salt works on Masonboro Sound. The area of the works is south of where Whiskey Creek enters Masonboro Sound, shown below.

On April 7th Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Breck picked up a small boat containing 6 refugees. Several of them reported that the State salt works was weakly defended. J. H. Pucket stated: “The State salt works in the sound are only protected by a few pickets, and could be easily destroyed. The men employed there are anxious to escape. There is but one battery on the beach between Masonboro Inlet and Fort Fisher.” John Sears said: “Tbe salt works could be easily destroyed, and the men employed in them would make their escape if the pickets were driven away.” John Wheeler reported: “There is a large number of persons employed in the State salt works. The works are unprotected and could be destroyed by a small force. The men employed there are anxious to escape.” Captain Sands, was authorized to obtain the services of one or more of these men as guides, and to send a sufficient expedition under Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Breck to destroy the salt works. An expedition was organized consisting of three boats’ crews and officers from the Niphon, one from the Howquah, and two from the Fort Jackson, the latter in charge of Acting Masters W. E. Dennison and R. P. Swann, and Master’s Mates H. S. Eyetinge, Jr, and J. D. Moore. A total of six boats and 72 men, exclusive of officers, all under the command of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. B. Breck, commanding, U.S.S. Niphon. Surgeon P. S. Wales, of the Fort Jackson volunteered and accompanied them.

After sunset on the 20th the Niphon and Howquah took up positions off Masonboro Inlet. At 4:30 P.M. the Howquah got underway and proceeded to Station No. 4. At dark the first cutter under Acting Ensign and Executive Officer R. W. Rowntree, accompanied by Acting Master’s Mate F. P. Haskell, of the Howquah, with Acting Ensign J. J. Reagean of the U.S.S. Niphon, as guide, with 12 men, were to march up the beach to Masonboro Inlet and capture all the pickets they could find, and to hold the point on the south side of the inlet to protect the boats returning from the sound. All this was successfully accomplished under the command of Acting Master J. W. Balch, The rest of the expedition left at 7 P.M. consisting of the first cutter of the Fort Jackson, commanded by Acting Master Dennison, accompanied by Acting Master’s Mate Eytinge and 16 men; the second cutter of the Fort Jackson, commanded by Acting Master Swann, accompanied by Acting Master’s Mate Moore and 16 men; the first launch of the Niphon, commanded by Acting Ensign Henry S. Borden, executive officer, Senior Engineer I. L. Churchill, Acting Master’s Mate George W. Barnes, and 17 men; the second launch of the Niphon, commanded by Acting Ensign E. N. Semon, and pilot, Mr. Pucket, and 17 men; the second cutter of the Howquah, commanded by Acting Ensign St. John, with a crew of 10 men, and the gig from the Niphon, commanded by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. B. Breck, accompanied by Third Assistant Engineer Sanborn, Francis Belmanna, surgeon’s steward in charge, J.J. Orrell, pilot, and 12 men. They crossed the bar through heavy breakers without accident, and after some delay getting ashore reached the State salt works shortly before 9 P.M. After landing, they got in the rear of the works without being discovered, threw out pickets, and commenced the work of destruction. As near as Breck could ascertain, he destroyed 50 or 60 large Government wagons and harnesses, 1 large steam pump, boilers, and engine attached; 1 large windmill, several horse sheds, 7 large boilers, and some 200 salt pans, large vats, and reservoirs, and the outbuildings attached. After destroying the pans and vats, he threw 30-pounder shells into all the furnaces and under all the boilers, which blew them all to fragments. The Federals captured 160 conscripts engaged in the salt works but only had room in their boats for about 60, the rest were left behind. The expedition left the inlet about 11:20 P.M. The expedition was a complete surprise and a complete success. The facility was never rebuilt. Interestingly, one of the reports makes mention of an included sketch of the area, which I have not yet located, see below.

Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 9, pages 672-678

August 24, 1864– The USS Niphon, Acting Lieutenant Joseph B. Breck, and USS Monticello, Acting Master Henry A. Phelon, conducted an expedition up Masonboro Inlet to silence a Confederate battery reported to have been erected in the vicinity. The two steamers shelled the shoreline and a number of buildings at Masonboro including signal stations and mills. Landing parties went ashore to capture military supplies. Boats, sent in from the Niphon, landed, saw nothing, and soon after returned. Two men were seen running down the beach toward the ship, as well as a small party of men on the beach at Masonboro Inlet. Orders were given to shell the beach and land boats, which was done; the men ran through the marsh.

Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume 10, pages 403-404