Running the Block

[27thNCdrummer]

Has anybody ever encountered this term on any records and what does it mean?
Thanks,

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Running the Block

Hallo!

Are you sure of your expression?
And not "Running the Blockade" perhaps?

Curt
Who used to run the block but now goes to a Rec Center

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Running the Block

Curt,
Yes, I am sure. I saw this on the service record of a man who was apparently arrested for the act of "running the block".

[roundshot]

Re: Running the Block

Probably trying to sneak out of camp without a pass by "outflanking" the guards.

[NY Pvt]

Re: Running the Block

Andrew,
"Running the Block" is probably just a short version for "Running the Blockade." I have came by two meanings, one deals with the traditional meaning of a ship slipping by Union ships to get into a Confederate controlled port. The other is leaving your unit without the proper paperwork. For example:

Written by Pvt. Theodore A Honour, Co. A 25th South Carolina Infantry to his Wife.

Camp Gadberry, James Island, SC
Monday Morning March 9th 1863

.............If you expect to see me without my "running the blockade" your expectations will not be realized- there is no prospect of a furlough as long as we are threatened by the Yankee raids- We expect an attack at any moment and furloughs are out of the question, and "Blockade runnig" more so. In the event of a fight I would not be absent for all the world- I would rather go to certain death that appear to shun it. I despise a coward.
Sometime ago Father propsed me for membership in the "Fellowship Society", and I was of course elected, and Father paid my entrance fee, (another Kindness on his part) Next Wednesday is the Anniversary of the Society, and they are going to have their usual supper, and Fred & I have made up our minds to attend it, if we have to "run the blockade" to do so. "If caught up with" we will not have to do more that two days "extra," but I think we can so arrange it as not to miss any roll calls.................

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Running the Block

Thanks for all the quick replies! This has puzzled me for some time and now I've got some answers!
Thanks,

[VaTrooper]

Re: Running the Block

Its in the book on the Little Fork Rangers, Co D 4th Va Cav, as a term for a person that is AWOL.

[VMI88]

Re: Running the Block

Just ran across this post. I thought folks might be interested to know that the phrase "running the block" is commonly used to this day at the Virginia Military Institute. As stated above it's short for "running the blockade", and refers to leaving your quarters after Taps. I never knew it's use dated back to the War!

[bholt61stny]

Re: Running the Block

Just to throw in an example of what Mr. Reagan was talking about, Cadet Jacqueline Beverly Stanard, known to his friends as Jack or Bev, wrote a letter to his mother while in Staunton, VA on his way to what would become the Battle of New Market.

Staunton May the 12th 1864

My Darling Mother,

No doubt a letter written from this place will take you greatly by surprise. Well to relieve your anxiety I will tell you before going further and keep you from uneasiness. On Tuesday night an order came from Gen. Breckinridge calling us immediately to Staunton. In obedience to his orders we fixed up and left on
Wednesday morning at half past 8, marched 28 miles by half past two, when we camped. The roads were very good but were quite dusty and then it was very warm. This morning we left camp under quite different circumstances, it having rained during the night and has continued to do so all day, the roads were awful perfect loblolly all the way and we had to wade through like hogs. We came 18 miles from 5 to 12 however and are tonight encamped one mile out of town. I have run the blockade and come to take tea with Cary Taylor, and that I might write this letter. Am I not good? I have a strong notion of staying in until 2 tonight with him so as to dry off, for I have been like a wet mouse all day [-] so disagreeable in camp. We will leave in the morning early and expect to march to Harrisonburg (down the Valley) a distance of 26 miles.

The rest of the letter and other can be found in the book:
Letters of a New Market Cadet
Author: Beverly Stanard
Edited by: John G. Barrett and Robert K. Turner, Jr.
Copyright 1961
University of North Carolina Press

That is not the entire letter, but it gets the point across. Cary Taylor was also a Cadet at VMI who lived in Staunton so they ran the block to his house for a while that night to get out of the rain and to have a home cooked meal. And like Mr. Reagan said the term "running the block" is still used to this day basically meaning an unauthorized absence from the grounds.

[VA-Patriot'61]

Re: Running the Block

Mmm running the block. I did it often and never got caught, but dont try it as a Rat though, bad things come of it.

I ran across some other examples similar to Cadet Stanards in other letters and writings in the VMI Archives. I also seem to recall a letter from Petersburg in 1864 from a member of the 32nd Va Infy who intended on going AWOL, but used the term "running the blockade" to go home to Williamsburg to visit family. I'll see if I can dig it up or find a source for it.