CSS Rob Roy
Encyclopedia
The CSS Rob Roy was a Confederate blockade runner
which, commanded by Captain William Watson
, ran to and from Bermuda
, the Bahamas and Cuba
from 1862 to 1864, during the American Civil War
.
Watson, who had immigrated from Great Britain
several years before, had originally enlisted in the Confederate Army as a sergeant before being wounded at the Battle of Corinth
, and discharged due to his injuries. Hiring out a schooner, commissioned as the Rob Roy, Williams would bring in desperately needed supplies into blockaded southern ports, specifically Galveston, Texas
before selling the ship after financial disagreements with business associates. Williams would later write about his wartime naval career in an autobiography The Civil War Adventures of a Blockade Runner in 1892.
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
which, commanded by Captain William Watson
William Watson
William Watson may refer to:*W. Marvin Watson , U.S. Postmaster General*William E. Watson, military historian*William H. Watson , Mexican-American War soldier from Maryland*William J. Watson...
, ran to and from Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, the Bahamas and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
from 1862 to 1864, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Watson, who had immigrated from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
several years before, had originally enlisted in the Confederate Army as a sergeant before being wounded at the Battle of Corinth
Battle of Corinth
The Battle of Corinth may refer to a Roman battle, or to one of two American Civil War Battles:* The Battle of Corinth * The Siege of Corinth, Mississippi , also known as the First Battle of Corinth, during the American Civil War* The Second Battle of Corinth...
, and discharged due to his injuries. Hiring out a schooner, commissioned as the Rob Roy, Williams would bring in desperately needed supplies into blockaded southern ports, specifically Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
before selling the ship after financial disagreements with business associates. Williams would later write about his wartime naval career in an autobiography The Civil War Adventures of a Blockade Runner in 1892.
Further reading
- Watson, William. The Civil War Adventures of a Blockade Runner. Texas A & M University Press, 2001. ISBN 1-58544-152-X