Emergencies and World Disasters
The Ghost Schooner: How the Annie Vanished with All Hands
21 min•25 augusti 2026
Om avsnittet
The Ghost Schooner: How the Annie Vanished with All Hands
A Union schooner was found afloat with her hull intact and every sailor gone - the official record gives one word: "explosion." The mystery begins with a captured blockade runner turned Union tender that made multiple seizures of British ships; what exactly happened to all hands in January 1865?
In this episode, we lay out the Annie's documented service life, her uncertain identity, and the string of captures and incidents that preceded her disappearance to ask whether the answers lie in her past or in the single bureaucratic word that closed her file.
Person: Acting Ensign James S. Williams
Date: January 1865
Location: Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Event: Found with hull intact and no crew aboard; official cause listed as "explosion"
Date (capture): February 26, 1863
- Annie was captured off the mouth of the Suwannee River on February 26, 1863 by armed boats from the USS Fort Henry.
- She was condemned at prize court and purchased into Union service on March 11, 1863.
- Within weeks of capture she served as a tender to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and patrolled Boca Grande by April 1, 1863.
- In April 1863 Annie stopped the schooner Mattie at Crystal River and sent her to Key West under prize crew.
- In October 1863 Annie captured three British schooners (Martha Jane, Meteor, Paul) in roughly three weeks, provoking formal British protests.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
A Union schooner was found afloat with her hull intact and every sailor gone - the official record gives one word: "explosion." The mystery begins with a captured blockade runner turned Union tender that made multiple seizures of British ships; what exactly happened to all hands in January 1865?
In this episode, we lay out the Annie's documented service life, her uncertain identity, and the string of captures and incidents that preceded her disappearance to ask whether the answers lie in her past or in the single bureaucratic word that closed her file.
Person: Acting Ensign James S. Williams
Date: January 1865
Location: Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Event: Found with hull intact and no crew aboard; official cause listed as "explosion"
Date (capture): February 26, 1863
- Annie was captured off the mouth of the Suwannee River on February 26, 1863 by armed boats from the USS Fort Henry.
- She was condemned at prize court and purchased into Union service on March 11, 1863.
- Within weeks of capture she served as a tender to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and patrolled Boca Grande by April 1, 1863.
- In April 1863 Annie stopped the schooner Mattie at Crystal River and sent her to Key West under prize crew.
- In October 1863 Annie captured three British schooners (Martha Jane, Meteor, Paul) in roughly three weeks, provoking formal British protests.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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