Details For Cover ID# 15609

Inbound Blockade cover and original letter from Charles Reid & Company to Georgia Governor Joseph Brown, albino embossed Forwarded by Geo. Chamber & Co. Nassau, NP handstamp struck heavily and shows on letter as well as cover, endorsed per blockade runner "Will o' the Wisp" and entered the mails with Wilmington, North Carolina Jul 30 postmark and manuscrip "12" due ship rate, letter concerns a bill of lading for cotton shipped on joint account of the CSA and the State of Georgia, ex Ludington and Walske
This cover and enclosed letter addressed to Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia shows the ownership and political problems involved in blockade-running. A staunch believer in state rights, Gov. Brown even attempted to stop the CSA from  taking Georgia troops out of the state to fight at the First Battle of Bull Run.

In 1863 Brown granted a charter, which gave priority to Georgian goods, to GB Lamar's Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia. Lamar then  ordered six blockade-runners from England.  In 1864 their shallow draft steamer Little Ada entered the Santee River, SC and commenced loading  Georgian cotton. However, the CSA War Department demanded one-half of the cargo capacity for CSA owned cotton.  Governor Brown and Lamar refused the request and the CSA sent an artillery battery and troops to keep the vessel from departing. The Little Ada remained blockaded in the river by both the Union Navy and the CSA troops for the next three months. Finally, in May 1864 Lamar and Brown conceded CSA cargo space and in June the Little Ada made it to Nassau with her mixed load of cotton which was sold for £8,016.