John Messner A Scottish Blockade Runner in the American Civil War
- THIS EVENT HAS EXPIRED
- Tickets
-
£11 (£10 ticket charge & 10% booking fee)
- Dates and times
-
8th May 2022
1:15PM - 2:15PM
- Age
- Adult, Over 14s only. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- Venue
The extraordinary story of Joannes Wyllie of the steamer
Ad-Vance
Born in 1828 near Kelso, Wyllie went to sea as an apprentice
seaman in 1852 and quickly rose through the ranks. By 1862 he had gained his
masters certificate in Liverpool, and there he took command of his first
vessel, the Bonita. He sailed for Nassau, then a booming port involved in
running contraband through the Union blockade of the Confederate States, at
that time fighting in the American Civil War. Sailors from Britain rushed to
man these vessels as great fortunes could be made if a successful run was made
into a Confederate port. On the return journey, two agents of the State of
North Carolina, Thomas Crossan and John White, were travelling to Britain on
the orders of Governor Zebulon Vance to purchase ships to run the blockade.
This set Wyllie's career as a blockade runner on course. White and Crossan
arranged the purchase of the Clyde-built paddle steamer Lord Clyde and, just
five months after docking in Liverpool as commander of the Bonita, Wyllie took
command of the Lord Clyde, renamed the Ad-Vance. He was aboard from the start
of the vessel's new career until her capture in September 1864. Two more
commands of blockade runners followed; he was captured again and then evaded
the American authorities through an ingenious, and at sometimes unbelievable,
escape to Scotland. After the war Wyllie continued at sea for another two years
before returning to Scotland to settle as a farmer. Unlike some of those who
ran the blockade, Wyllie appears not to have come back a wealthy man. For over
30 years he gave numerous popular lectures of his time at sea in aid of local
charities and was known locally as 'Captain Wyllie'. The role that Wyllie
played during the Civil War is explored in depth and reveals that he was a
constant face, and force, in the crew of the steamer with his actions and
abilities being greatly appreciated by both crew and owners alike. The most
comprehensive history of the Ad-Vance is provided, from the day she left
Glasgow until her capture off the Carolina coast. Many fascinating contemporary
passenger diaries, personal recollections from crew, letters and telegrams
between Wyllie and Governor Vance, official records of the war and newspaper
reports are included. In association with Glasgow Museums.
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0141 353 8000.
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