Oct. 15, 1861

Oct. 15, 1861: Rumors of a Confederate Navy commerce raider named the Nashville preparing to run out of Charleston, SC, through the blockade, lead to U.S. preparations to intercept her. On this date, three USN gunboats sail out of New York harbor to do so. It is erroneously believed that the Confederate envoys Mason and Slidell are taking passage on the Nashville–who, in fact, have already left Charleston on the SS Theodora.