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The Confederate States Navy and a brief history of what became of it. [from the Richmond, Va. Times December 30, 1900.]
Interesting data carefully Compiled from the memoranda of
John L. Porter, the distinguished
Chief Constructor of the
Confederate States Navy.
The following interesting and instructive article was prepared for the
Times by
Mr. John W. H. Porter, of
Portsmouth, Va., from memoranda left by
John L. Porter,
Chief Constructor of the
Confederate States Navy.
The article contains much valuable historical information, and will doubtless be widely read.
It gives a list of the vessels in commission in the
Confederate States Navy; tells where and when most of them were built; what became of them, and gives brief data about their movements and service:
Alabama—Wooden steam cruiser, eighty-nine guns, built at
Liverpool in 1862, sailed from that port July 29th, 1862, and was sunk in action with the
United States ship
Kearsaege off
Cherbourg, June 19, 1864.
Atlanta—Formerly the merchant steamer
Fingall.
Converted into an iron-clad at
Savannah and mounted four guns.
Got aground in
Wassaw Sound June 17, 1863, and was captured by the
Federals.
Albemarle—Iron-clad, two guns.
Built on the Roanake river in 1864, sunk by a Federal torpedo boat the same year at
Plymouth, N. C.
Appomattox—Formerly the tug
Empire.
Bought at
Norfolk in 1861 and mounted, two guns.
Dismantled and abandoned in 1862.
Archer—Merchant schooner, captured by the
Confederates off
Long Island June 24, 1863, converted into a cruiser, abandoned off
Portland June 27, and recaptured.
Crew transferred to the
Caleb Cushing.
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Arctic—Iron-plated floating battery at
Wilmington.
Mounted three guns and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city, 1865.
Arkansas—Iron-clad, ten guns.
Launched at
Memphis in 1862 and completed on the
Yazoo river, July 15, 1862.
Her machinery became disabled near
Baton Rouge in August of that year, and she was set on fire and abandoned by order of her commander.
Baltic—Iron-plated ram, three guns.
Burned by the
Confederates at the fall of
Mobile, in 1865.
Beaufort—Iron hull tug-boat.
Bought at New Berne in 1861, and armed with one gun. Burned by the
Confederates at
Richmond in 1865.
Bienville—Side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at New Orleans in 1861 and mounted with six guns.
Burned by Confederates on
Lake Pontchartrain in 1862.
black warrior—Merchant schooner, armed to assist in the defence of
Elizabeth City, February 10, 1862.
Burned and deserted by her crew during the fight.
Bombshell-Formerly a Federal gun-boat.
Sunk by Confederate batteries at
Plymouth, April 18, 1864, raised by the
Confederates and recaptured by the
Federals in
Albemarle Sound, May 5, 1864.
Caleb Cushing—
United States revenue cutter, two guns.
Captured by the Confederate schooner
Archer in
Portland harbor, June 27, 1863, and set on fire and abandoned to prevent recapture.
Calhoun—Small side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at New Orleans, 1861, and burned by the
Confederates after the fall of that city in 1862.
Carondelet—Side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at New Orleans in 1861 and mounted with six guns.
Burned on
Lake Pontchartrain in 1862 to prevent capture.
Columbia—Iron-clad, six guns.
Built at
Charleston, 1864.
Caught on a sunken wreck there and broken in two by the falling tide.
Caswell—Wooden side-wheel tender.
Burned by the
Confederates at the fall of
Wilmington, 1865.
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Charleston—Iron-clad, six guns.
Built in 1863 at
Charleston and destroyed by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city in 1865.
Chattahoochie—Wooden gun-boat, two guns.
Burned by the
Confederates on the Chattahoochie river at the close of the war.
Chicora—Iron-clad.
Built at
Charleston and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city in 1865.
Chicamauga—Formerly the blockade-runner
Edith.
Bought at
Wilmington in 1864, mounted with two guns and turned into a cruiser.
She was burned by the
Confederates at
Wilmington in 1865.
Clarence—Merchant brig captured by the
Florida, May 6, 1863, and armed with a 12-pounder boat-howitzer.
She was burned by her commander June 12, 1863, and her crew transferred to the
Taconty.
cotton—Side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at New Orleans in 1861 and made into a gun-boat,
Burned by her crew in 1864 to prevent capture.
Curlew—Side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at
Norfolk, 1861, mounted with two guns.
Sunk in
battle at Roanoke Island, February 7, 1862.
Drewry—Wooden tender, one gun. Built at
Richmond.
Disabled in action with Federal batteries at
Trent's Reach, January 24, 1865, and abandoned.
Diana—Wooden gun-boat, five guns.
Captured from the
Federals, March 23, 1863, in
Atchafalaya river and burned in
Bayou Teche, April 12, 1863, to prevent recapture.
Edwards—Wooden tug, bought at
Norfolk, 1861, and mounted with one gun. Her name was afterwards changed to the
Forrest.
Ellis—Iron hull tug-boat.
Bought at
Norfolk in 1861 and mounted with one gun. Captured by the
Federals at the battle of
Elizabeth City, 1862.
Equator—Wooden tug-boat, one gun. Burned by Confederates at the fall of
Wilmington in 1865.
Fanny—Iron hull propeller, two guns.
Captured from the
Federals
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October , 1861 and set on fire by Confederates at the battle of
Elizabeth City, N. C., February 10, 1862.
fire fly—Wooden side-wheel river steamer.
Used for a while at
Savannah as a tender and then permitted to go to wreck.
Florida—Originally the merchant steamer
Oreto.
Bought in 1862 at
Liverpool by the
Confederates and mounted with five guns.
She was boarded by the
United States Ship
Wachusett and captured in the harbor of Bahai,
Brazil, October 7, 1864, while her captain and crew were ashore on liberty.
Forrest-Wooden tug-boat formerly the
Edwards, bought at
Norfolk in 1861 and mounted with two guns.
She was disabled in
battle at Roanoke Island. February 7, 1862, and was burned on the ways at
Elizabeth City by the
Confederates, February 10th.
Fredericksburg—Iron-clad, four guns.
Built at
Richmond, 1863, and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city, April, 1865.
Gaines —Side-wheel merchant stealer, mounted six guns.
Sunk in
battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864.
Germantown—Sailing sloop of war, twenty-two guns.
Seized by Confederates at Gosport Navy Yard, 1861, and burned at the evacuation of
Norfolk.
Georgia—Iron-clad floating battery at
Savannah.
Destroyed by the
Confederates at the fall of that city, in December, 1864.
Georgia—Cruiser, originally the merchant steamer
Japan.
Bought at
Dumbarton in April, 1863, and mounted five guns.
Sold at
Liverpool by the Confederate Government in 1864.
George page—Side-wheel river steamer, seized at
Alexandria in 1861 and armed with two guns.
Her name was afterwards changed to the
Richmond. She was burned by the
Confederates at Quantico in 1862.
Harriet Lane—Captured from the
Federals at
Galveston, January 1, 1863.
Mounted eight guns.
Her name was changed to the
Lavina and she was converted into a blockade runner.
She was in Havana harbor at the close of the war.
Hampton—Wooden gun-boat, two guns.
Built at
Norfolk, 1862,
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and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of
Richmond, April, 1865.
Huntress—Side-wheel tug, bought at
Charleston in 1861, and mounted two guns.
She was later condemned and sold.
Huntsville—Iron-clad, four guns; built at
Mobile.
She was burned by the
Confederates at the fall of that city in 1865.
Indian Chief—Receiving ship at
Charleston.
Burned at the evacuation of that city in 1865.
Ivy—Side-wheel river steamer, bought at New Orleans in 1861, and mounted two guns.
She was burned by the
Confederates in
Yazoo river in 1863 to prevent capture.
Isendiga-Wooden gun-boat, three guns.
Burned by the
Confederates at the fall of
Savannah, December, 1864.
Jackson—Tug-boat, bought at
Norfolk, 1861, and mounted two guns.
She was dismantled and sold in 1862.
Kate Bruce—Wooden schooner, bought in 1861 to convert into a gun-boat, but before completion she was sunk as an obstruction in the Chattahoochie river.
lady Davis—Iron tug, bought at
Charleston, 1861, and mounted one gun. Her machinery was put in the
Palmetto State and the vessel sold.
Lapwing—Merchant bark, captured by the
Florida, March 20, 1863, armed with two boat-howitzers and name changed to
Oreto. She was set on fire and burned by her crew June 20, 1863.
Livingston—Side-wheel river steamer, bought at New Orleans, 1861, and mounted six guns.
Burned by Confederates in
Yazoo river in 1863.
Louisiana—Iron-clad, built at New Orleans, 1862, and mounted ten guns.
She was set on fire by order of her commander and burned after the fall of New Orleans in 1862.
McREA—Wooden propeller, bought at New Orleans, 1861, and mounted six guns.
She was sunk by the
Confederates after the fall of that city in 1862.
Macon-Wooden propeller, ten guns, built at
Savannah, taken to
Augusta after the fall of that city and held until the war ended.
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Manassas—Iron-plated ram, built at New Orleans in 1861, mounted one gun; sunk by order of her commander at the
battle of New Orleans, 1862.
Manassas—Schooner, formerly
United States revenue-cutter; seized at New Berne, 1861, and name changed to
Manassas. She was dismantled after a few months' service.
Maurepas—Side-wheel river steamer, bought at New Orleans, 1861, and mounted five guns; sunk by Confederates to obstruct
White river in 1862.
Missouri—Center wheel iron-clad, eight guns; built at
Shreveport, La., in 1864.
Mobile—Wooden tug, two guns; burned by Confederates in
Yazoo river.
Morgan—Merchant steamer, bought at
Mobile, 1861; mounted six guns.
She was destroyed by Confederates at the fall of that city in 1865.
morning light—Steamer, twelve guns, captured from the
Federals off
Sabine Pass, January 21, 1863.
Muscogee—Centre-wheel iron-clad, eight guns; built at
Columbus, Ga., and burned at the close of the war.
Nansemond—Wooden gun-boat, two guns; built at
Norfolk, 1862, and burned by the
Confederates at
Richmond, 1865.
Nashville—Side-wheel merchant steamer, seized at
Charleston in 1861, and mounted eight guns; ran aground in Ogeeche river in 1864, and was destroyed by shell from the blockading vessels.
Neuse—Iron-clad, two guns; built on the
Neuse river, 1864, and burned by the
Confederates in 1865 on the approach of
Sherman's army.
North Carolina—Iron-clad, four guns; built at
Wilmington, N. C., 1863; sprung aleak and sunk in
Cape Fear river in September, 1864, at anchor.
Palmetto State—Iron-clad, four guns; built at
Charleston, and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city, in 1865.
Pamlico—Side-wheel river steamer; bought at New Orleans in
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1861; burned by Confederates on
Lake Pontchartrain, 1862, to avoid capture.
Patrick Henry—Side-wheel merchant steamer
Yorktown; seized at
Richmond, 1861; mounted ten guns; burned by Confederates at
Richmond, 1865.
Plymouth—Sailing sloop of war; seized by the
Confederates at the Gosport navy-yard, 1861; burned at the evacuation of
Norfolk, 1862.
Polk—Side-wheel river steamer, mounted seven guns; burned by Confederates in
Yazoo river in 1863, to avoid capture.
PHOeNIX—Iron-clad floating battery, at
Mobile.
Burned by the
Confederates at the fall of that city in 1865.
Pontchartrain—Side-wheel river steamer, mounted seven guns.
Burned by Confederates in 1863 on the
Arkansas river.
Queen of the
West—Iron-protected ram. Captured from the
Federals, February 14th, 1863, in
Red river and sunk in battle in
Atchafalaya river in April, 1863.
Raleigh—Iron-clad, four guns; built at
Wilmington in 1864 and wrecked on
Wilmington bar, May 7, 1864.
Rappahannock—Side-wheel river steamer, formerly the
Saint Nicholas. Captured at
Point Lookout, June 29, 1861, mounted one gun. Burned by the
Confederates at
Fredericksburg, April, 1862.
Rappahannock-Cruiser, formerly the
British gun-boat
Victoria.
Purchased at
London in 1863 and taken to
Calais, but on account of complications with the
French Government she never put to sea, and was finally sold in 1864.
Resolute—Wooden gun-boat, one gun. Destroyed by Federal field battery at the fall of
Savannah in 1864.
Richmond—Iron-clad, four guns.
Launched at Gosport Navy Yard in 1862 and burned by Confederates at the evacuation of
Richmond, April, 1865.
Roanoke—Iron tug, formerly the
Raleigh. Bought in
Norfolk in 1861 and mounted one gun. Burned at
Richmond upon the evacution of that city.
Savannah—Iron-clad, four guns.
Built at
Savannah and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city in December, 1864.
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Sampson—Side-wheel river steamer, two guns.
Taken by the
Confederates to
Augusta upon the evacuation of
Savannah, December, 1864.
sea-Bird—Side-wheel river steamer.
Bought at
Norfolk in 1861 and armed with two guns.
Sunk in battle at
Elizabeth City, February 10th, 1852.
Selma—Side-wheel merchant steamer.
Mounted, four guns.
Captured by the
Federals at the
battle of Mobile Bay, August 5th, 1864.
St. Mary—Side-wheel river steamer, two guns.
Burned on
Yazoo river.
Stono—Gun-boat, seven guns, formerley the
Isaac Smith. Captured from the
Federals in
Stono river, January 30th, 1863, and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of
Charleston in 1865.
Spray—Tug-boat, two guns.
Sunk by the
Confederates on
St. Mary's river.
Shenandoah—Cruiser, formerly the merchant steamer
Sea King, six guns.
Delivered to English authorities at
Liverpool after the close of the war, November 6th, 1865.
Stonewall—Sea-going iron-clad ram, three guns, formerly the
Sphinx. Purchased in
Denmark in 1865 and name changed to
Stonewall. She was acquired too late to be of service and was turned over to the
Spanish authorities at
Havana after the war ended.
Sumter—Cruiser, formerly the merchant steamer
Habana.
Bought at New Orleans in 1861 and mounted with five guns.
Her machinery gave out and she was sold at
Charleston in 1862 by the
Confederate authorities.
Tacony—Merchant bark, captured by the
Clarence June 12, 1863.
Burned June 24th and crew transferred to the
Archer.
Tallahassee—Cruiser, formerly the blockade runner
Atlanta.
Bought at
Wilmington and mounted two guns.
Name afterwards changed to
Olivetree. Reconverted into a blockade runner, the ‘
Chameleon,’ and taken to
England.
Talmico—Side-wheel, two guns.
Accidentally sunk at
Savannah in 1863.
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Teaser—Wooden tug, two guns, bought at
Richmond in 1861, and captured by the
Federals in
James river in 1862.
Tennessee—Iron-clad, six guns.
Built at
Mobile and captured in
battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864.
Thomas Jefferson—Side-wheel merchant steamer, formerly the
Jamestown. Seized at
Richmond in 1861 and mounted two guns.
She was sunk by the
Confederates, May, 1862, at
Drewry's Bluff to obstruct
James river.
torpedo—Wooden tug, two guns, burned by Confederates at
Richmond.
Tuscaloosa—Iron-clad, four guns.
Burned by Confederates at at the fall of
Mobile in 1865.
Tuscaloosa—Formerly the bark
Conrad.
Captured June 21, 1863, by the
Alabama and armed with four boat-howitzers.
She was seized by the
English authorities at Simon's Bay,
South Africa, December, 1863, upon the charge of violation of neutrality of the port.
She was subsequently released, but the
Confederates never again claimed her.
Tuscarora—Side-wheel river steamer, two guns.
Burned accidently at New Orleans.
Virginia—Iron-clad, formerly the
United States ship ,
Merrimanc, ten guns.
Seized by Confederates at Gosport Navy-yard, 1861, and converted into an iron-clad.
Burned by her captain at the evacuation of
Norfolk, in 1862.
Virginia Second—Iron-clad, four guns.
Built at
Richmond in 1864, and burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of that city in April, 1865.
Velocity—Gun-boat, two guns.
Captured from the
Federals at
Sabine Pass, January 21, 1863.
uncle Ben—Tug-boat, seized at
Wilmington in 1861, mounted one gun. Her machinery was taken out and put in the
North Carolina, and hull sold.
United States—Old wooden frigate in ordinary at Gosport Navy-yard.
Seized by Confederates in 1861, and used as a receiving ship.
She was called sometimes the
Confederate States.
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water Witch—Captured from the
Federals in
Ossabaw sound. June 3, 1864.
Burned at the fall of
Savannah, December, 1864.
Webb—Wooden ram on the
Mississippi and
Red rivers.
Burned by the
Confederates after the close of the war.
Winslow—Side-wheel river steamer, formerly the
J. E. Coffee. Bought at
Norfolk in 1861 and mounted one gun. Wrecked on a sunken hulk outside of
Hatteras, in 1861.
Yadkin—Wooden gun-boat.
Built at
Wilmington and burned by the
Confederates at the fall of that city in 1865.
In addition to the foregoing, there were the following which were used temporarily as tenders and afterwards returned to their original owners, that did not carry permanent armament:
Superior, Harmony, and
Kankakee near
Norfolk, and the
Schrapnel at
Richmond.
In the fall of 1861 the citizens of New Orleans fitted up a number of river boats as rams for local defense, and put them under command of
Captain J. Edward Montgomery.
They were bravely fought and were sunk in
battle at Memphis and New Orleans.
They were not attached to the
Confederate States Navy.
They were the
Warrior, Stonewall Jackson, Resolute, Defiance, Breckenridge, Van Horn, Price, Bragg, Lovell, Sumter, Beauregard, Jeff. Thompson.
Little Rebel, Governor Mooore, Quitman, and possibly three or four others.
There were in the
Confederate States Navy at
Richmond three torpedo launches—the
Hornet, Scorpion and
Wasp. The
Wasp was destroyed by the
Federal batteries at
Trent's Reach, in January, 1865, and the others were burned by the
Confederates at the evacuation of
Richmond, in April, 1865.
There was also a torpedo launch at
Charleston, with which
Lieutenant Glassell attacked the
Ironsides, and also the one with which
Lieutenant Dixon, of the 21st Alabama Regiment, sunk the
United States ship
Housatonic..