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stationed in a semicircle, ten miles or more in length, with its extremities near the shore.
The forts kept a sharp lookout, and if a stray blockader ventured in too far, he was quickly apprised of it by a shell, and made to keep his distance.
The blockade-runners, sighting the land toward evening, would wait outside until it was dark, and then, making a dash at full speed through the fleet, would be under the guns of the fort in a twinkling, and safe from capture.
Such a port, so protected, it was almost impossible to close, and fast vessels could slip in past the most vigilant force.
Accordingly it was at
Wilmington that blockade-running maintained itself longest and most actively, after it had nearly ceased elsewhere.
In 1863-64, it was at its height; but toward the end of the latter year it began gradually to decline.
Even after the first attack on
Fort Fisher, a few vessels succeeded in passing in and out with impunity; and the practice only came to an end when the fort succumbed.
The improvement in the efficiency of the Wilmington blockade was partly due to the increase in the number of vessels, and partly to a better understanding of the exigencies of the service.
In August, 1862, one of the blockade-running captains reports that the vessels of the inshore squadron carried lights at their peaks all night; and the same captain states a year later that a portion of the fleet remained at anchor during the night.
On the other hand, Admiral Lee, describing the blockade of the same port in October, 1864, says that the smaller vessels were kept as near the bar and batteries as the state of the weather, the light, and their draft would allow.
These were pressed in by a line of larger vessels, and these again by the divisional officer, moving along the line.
Vessels of the outer line which discovered blockade-runners were allowed to chase, but those on the inner line were required
