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Description
Michael Philip Usina was born in August 23, 1840 in St. Augustine Fl. He moved to Savannah, GA in 1855. He served with the Oglethorpe Light Infantry in 1861 and was wounded in the first battle of Manassas. He transferred to the Confederate Navy in 1862 and served in the Savannah squadron. In 1863, Usina joined the blockading service, making 28 successful runs through the Union blockade.
During the war, he married Camilla Neligan, also from St. Augustine. After the war the couple settled in Savannah. Michael was a river pilot and in the early 1870's joined ... M. Jones in forming the Savannah Dry Dook Company. In the late 1870's, he returned to his old occupation of piloting and commanding steamers to pay the ... incurred by operating the dry dock. In his later years he was very active in the Confederate Veteran Association. On July 4, 1893, he delivered a speech "Blockade Running in Confederate Times," which is one of the best descriptions of blockade running in print. Usina served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Savannah Pilots Association form 1894 until his death. He died at Post Graduate Hospital in New York on July 4. 1903.
Publication Date
11-21-1985
Recommended Citation
Owens, Jody, "Michael Philip Usina "The Boy Captain"" (1985). Savannah Biographies. 120.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sav-bios-lane/120
