Voyager, 1997
Federal Schooner Stono River, 1862

Part of the War at Flood Tide Pages

Voyager will serve as federal flagship of the War at Flood Tide '98 Fleet, representing a Federal mortar schooner of 1863. Voyager is 105 foot long replica of a 19^th. Century gaff rigged schooner nearly identical to those used in the rivers around Charleston during the Civil War. She carries Two Thousand Square Feet of sail on her large rig and wooden masts.

Voyager carries four deck guns, mounted as mortars and a Coast Guard approved powder magazine. She can carry a crew of 49 people and has berths for 20 on board.

Voyager is virtually identical to Schooners in Federal Service at Charleston during the war in size and rig. Period illustrations show very similar vessels in the Stono River. Some were used as Mortar Schooners by the Federals.

Federal Schooners at Charleston, Summer 1863
Vessel	Guns	Size Tons	Crew
Racer	3	252	36
Para	3	200	34
Norfolk Packet	5	349	40
C. P. Williams	4	210	45
G. W. Blunt	2	121	16
Source, Stephen R. Wise, Gate of Hell, pp. 251-52

Voyager is available for Charter, scheduled cruises and special events. For further information contact Voyager Ventures. Use of Voyager has been donated by Voyager ventures.

Veteran Pride Returns

The Schooner Pride of Charleston, veteran of the War at Flood Tide '97 will return to the contest for the harbor, carrying four mortars. This 85 foot, three masted replica of a coastal trading schooner of the 19th. Century is a familiar site to Charlestonians as she graces Charleston Harbor on her regular cruises. What may not be familiar to Charlestonians are her excellent fighting qualities. Her solid, open decks are ideal for mortars and her rig allows fast turns in the narrow parts of the channel. Owner David DeCamp of Schooner Pride Ltd. has agreed to donate the use of his vessel again. He is confident that sailing together with the Voyager, the Confederate shore batteries can be silenced and the channel forced.

In addition to the Voyager and Pride War at Flood Tide has an extensive taxi and water transportation fleet for smaller craft for transporting troops and supplies around Charleston Harbor. Additional vessels will provide security for the harbor battle including boats operated by the City of Charleston Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the James Island Public Service District Fire Department. War at Flood Tide, Inc. would like to thank everyone donating their time and the use of their vessels for this event.

Water transportation for War at Flood Tide is under the direction of Board Member Kipp Valentine.