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00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.

This Week in the Civil War - 742

Throughout the war, the Union blockade of the Southern coastline from the Chesapeake Bay to the Rio Grande River in Texas grew stronger. 

In the early days of January 1864 the Union blockade was tighter than ever, with numerous blockade runners captured by the Federals.  For instance, on Monday, January 11, 1863 two blockade runners were captured off Florida, and two others were burned off Lockwood’s Folly Inlet, North Carolina.  But on occasion Union blockading ships would, particularly during pursuit of a blockade runner, sometimes run aground with disastrous results. 

Such was the case for the USS Iron Age when she ran aground while attempting to refloat an abandoned Confederate blockade runner in Lockwood’s Folly Inlet.  Under enemy land bombardment, the U.S. Navy abandoned the Iron Age, destroying her by burning.