Captain James Carlin

Biography of Captain James Carlin

Captain James Carlin (1833–1921) was a British American who captained a blockade runner for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was among the most successful captains running the US Navy's blockade of Southern ports. Written by his descendant Colin Carlin, the biography explores his behind-the-scenes role in transporting vital supplies to Confederate forces.

Early Life and Career

An Englishman trained in the British merchant marine, Carlin was recruited into the US Coastal and Geodetic Survey Department in 1856, spending four years charting the US Atlantic seaboard. He married and settled in Charleston, South Carolina, resigning from the survey in 1860 to resume his maritime career.

Blockade Running and Capture

His blockade-running began with early runs into Charleston under sail, culminating in a lively encounter under gunfire off the Stono River mouth. After more successful trips, he was captured on the SS Memphis. Documents in London reveal the politics involved in securing his release from Fort Lafayette.

Post-Capture Activities

Upon returning to Charleston, General P. G. T. Beauregard appointed him commander of the spar torpedo launch Torch for an attack on the USS New Ironsides. Following further successful blockade runs, he was appointed superintending captain of the South Carolina Importing and Exporting Company and moved to Scotland to commission six new steam runners.

Later Life and Activities

After the war, Carlin returned to the southern states to secure his assets before embarking on a gun-running expedition to the northern coast of Cuba for the Cuban Liberation Junta, which aimed to free the island from Spanish control and plantation slavery.

Research and Significance

The author gathered a wealth of private and public records from England, Scotland, Ireland, Greenland, the Bahamas, and the United States. The use of fresh sources from British Foreign Office and US Prize Court documents, along with surviving business papers, makes this volume distinctive.

Critical Reception

"A groundbreaking work that lifts the veil off the all-important ship captains who supplied the Confederacy with the necessary supplies to sustain its fight for independence. The author does a superb job in relating the story of his relative, James Carlin, a key member of the cadre of captains who sustained the Confederacy by running supplies through the northern blockade on specialized vessels. . . . A sweeping story from England to Charleston, Florida, and Cuba. This book is a must for anyone interested in Southern/Confederate maritime history." —Stephen R. Wise, author of Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War