Crenshaw Company
Encyclopedia
The Crenshaw Company was a blockade running company established during the American Civil War
.
Founded by the Crenshaw brothers of Richmond, Virginia
, James was the agent in Nassau
and William in Liverpool
.
They had numerous steamers built on behalf of the confederacy to run supplies between Bermuda, Nassau, England and Wilmington, North Carolina
.
In early 1864, they contracted with Atlantans Richard Peters
and Vernon Stevenson, and Richard Wilson to move cotton
from the interior to the best remaining Confederate port at that time, Wilmington.
Wilson negotiated sales to England
for return cargoes of beef, pork and coffee as well as materials for the assembly of cotton bales (iron hoops and gunny cloth).
During that time, the Captains were Englishman George M. Horner and Michael Philip Usina of Savannah
and two steamers: Marie Celeste and Atlanta.
First voyage was Usina on the new sidewheeler Marie Celeste from Wilmington to Bermuda
with 1,000 bales of cotton.
The Atlanta was completed in March, 1864 and reached Bermuda in April and in the next three months made four trips to Wilmington, the last of which (with Captain Usina) was a close scrape with the Union blockade
in which he was able to escape into the Cape Fear River
and make his delivery.
On June 20, 1864 both ships were at port in St. George, Bermuda.
Marie Celeste left Bermuda on September 26, 1864 for Wilmington with a full cargo of canned meats but struck a reef and sank in 6 minutes.
The ship was a total loss and the wreck is now a diving attraction http://www.fantasea.bm/diving/wrecks.htm
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...
.
Founded by the Crenshaw brothers of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, James was the agent in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
and William in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
They had numerous steamers built on behalf of the confederacy to run supplies between Bermuda, Nassau, England and Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
.
In early 1864, they contracted with Atlantans Richard Peters
Richard Peters (Atlanta)
Richard Peters was an American railroad man and a founder of Atlanta.Grandson of Judge Richard Peters, Jr...
and Vernon Stevenson, and Richard Wilson to move cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
from the interior to the best remaining Confederate port at that time, Wilmington.
Wilson negotiated sales to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for return cargoes of beef, pork and coffee as well as materials for the assembly of cotton bales (iron hoops and gunny cloth).
During that time, the Captains were Englishman George M. Horner and Michael Philip Usina of Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
and two steamers: Marie Celeste and Atlanta.
First voyage was Usina on the new sidewheeler Marie Celeste from Wilmington to 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...
with 1,000 bales of cotton.
The Atlanta was completed in March, 1864 and reached Bermuda in April and in the next three months made four trips to Wilmington, the last of which (with Captain Usina) was a close scrape with the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
in which he was able to escape into the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
and make his delivery.
On June 20, 1864 both ships were at port in St. George, Bermuda.
Marie Celeste left Bermuda on September 26, 1864 for Wilmington with a full cargo of canned meats but struck a reef and sank in 6 minutes.
The ship was a total loss and the wreck is now a diving attraction http://www.fantasea.bm/diving/wrecks.htm