the cliche that comes to mind is rhett butler. it was true that the market, more than the needs of confederate armys, often determined the cargos. the pattern of trade, which is indicated on this slide, usually began in england, france or belgium with legal merchantmen shipping their goods in traditional trans-oceanic ocean ships, carrying them to a port nearer the united states. the most popular were bermuda, nasa in the bahamas and close to cuba. there the cars would be transferred from these big fat merchant ships into sleek, narrow, especially designed blockade runners, many modelled after the clyde river steamers and so-called clyde steamers. low, fast, sidewheeled or propel ler driven vessels painted gray to blend with the sea at night. once underway from one of these interim ports, they become subject to capture from the moment they left british or spanish waters. every speck on the horizon was a potential foe and blockade runners maneuvered to avoid discovery. they also tried to plan their runners just so they appeared off

cliche, blockade runners and what flashes into our mind is rhett butler. they brought in bonnets, perfumes and such nonsense. that was not quite literally true. it was true that the market more than the needs of confederate armies often determined the cargos. oi the pattern of trade indicated on this slide, usually began in england, france, belgium, with legal merchantmen shipping their goods in traditional transoceanic merchant ships carrying them to a port nearer to the united states. saint george bermuda, nassau, bahamas, and havana, north coast of cuba. there the cargos would be transferred from the big fat merchant ships into sleek, narrow, specially designed blockade runners. many modeled after the clyde river steamers. so-called, so-called, clyde steamers. low, fast, side wheeled or propeller driven vessels painted gray to blend with the sea at night. once under way from one of these interim ports, they become subject to capture from the moment they left british or spanish waters. every spec on the horizon was a potential foe. blockade runners moved