Details For Cover ID# 15603

Inbound Blockade Run cover from the Burton correspondence to Georgia, manuscript ship  "Lillian" endorsement and "12" due rate of Wilmington, NC, manuscript "ex" examined marking
The cover below was carried on the exceptionally well documented trip of the blockade-runner Lilian, also spelled Lillian, from Bermuda to Wilmington in June 1864. James M. Morgan, a passenger on the harrowing voyage described it in his book "Recollections of A Rebel Reefer."

The steamer was carrying onboard several CSN personnel including Morgan and Lieutenant William P.A. Campbell. However, as a private ship, the duty of captain went to a Daniel Martin.  As the Lillan approached Cape Fear River she was pursued by the USS Shenandoah. Due to an inept approach by Martin, who had already started drinking brandy, the slower sailing ship was able to gain on the Lilian by deploying full sail. After a projectile from the Shenandoah passed a few feet from Martin's position on the bridge "he came scampering down the ladder, screaming 'haul that flag down'. I will not have anymore lives sacrificed!" although nothing besides the paddleboxes had yet been touched. CSN Lt. Campbell took command immediately and pronounced: "kill the first man who touches those flag halyards."

Campbell then changed course and managed to avoid further damage by "edging-in" to the shoals with the help of the approaching dark and the protection of Fort Fisher's guns. The Lilian arrived safely at Wilmington the following morning. Martin was "found in his berth dead drunk with an empty bottle of brandy beside him." The report of Captain Ridgely of the Shenandoah detailing the chase mentions that 140 shots were fired.