The Capture of Mason and Slidell; Bridges Burned in East Tennessee

| November 8, 2011

November 8, 1861 (Friday) Charles Wilkes, Captain of the USS San Jacinto, had been taking a keen interest in two Confederate envoys to Europe who had been biding their time in Havana. James Mason and John Slidell had run the Union blockade from Charleson in mid-October and made it to Cuba a few days later. [...]

Mason and Slidell Arrive in Cuba; More Troops for Kentucky

| October 17, 2011

Thursday, October 17, 1861 The Union Navy was quickly realizing that it stood no chance of catching up with the CSS Nashville, the steamer they thought was carrying Confederate envoys to Europe, James Mason and John Slidell. Two ships, the USS James Adger and USS Curlew had been dispatched to intercept the Nashville. While the [...]