Page 490 SOME MAJOR CLASSES AND TYPES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES NAVY Single-screw unless otherwise indicated; lengths between perpendiculars unless noted "O.A." (overall). IRONCLAD GUNBOATS (150'; 4 guns; RICHMOND Type) RICHMOND (Gosport Navy Yard, Va.), RALEIGH (J. L. Cassidy, Wilmington, N.C.), NORTH CAROLINA (Berry & Bros., Wilmington), CHICORA (James M. Eason, Charleston), PALMETTO STATE (Cameron & Co., Charleston), SAVANNAH (Henry F. Willink, Savannah): First and most numerous type. Designed by (Chief) Naval Constructor John L. Porter, CSN. (180'; 6 guns) CHARLESTON: built by James M. Eason, Charleston, 1863 [Model extant in Naval Academy Collection at U.S. National Museum.] (180'; 4 guns) VIRGINIA (No. 2): Built at Navy Yard, Richmond from plan as altered in 1863. Plans (and perhaps construction ) by Acting Naval Constructor William A. Graves, CSN. (180' O.A.; 6 guns; Small CHARLESTON Type) (No name yet confirmed). Similar to Charleston but length reduced. Drawing by Graves exists in the Willink Papers, Atlanta. [Whether keel ever laid is unknown.] (139'; 2 guns; twin-screw; ALBEMARLE Type) ALBEMARLE (Gilbert Elliot, Edwards Ferry [-on-Roanoke], N.C.), NEUSE (Elliot, Smith & Co., Kinston [-on-Neuse], N.C.); several sisters destroyed before completion: J. L. Porter design, diamond-shaped hull. [Model in U.S. National Museum.] (139'; 4 guns; twin-screw; Heavy ALBEMARLE Type) HUNTSVILLE, TUSCALOOSA: Built at Navy Yard, Selma Ala., by Henry D. Bassett. Type of ALBEMARLE with 2 more guns in broadside: MUSCOGEE, built by Lt. Augustus McLaughlin ( Columbus, Ga. ) Similar diamond-shaped construction; never completed. (170'; 4 guns; twin-screw; Enlarged ALBEMARLE Type) FREDERICKSBURG: Built at Navy Yard, Richmond. J. L. Porter design. [Model in U.S. National Museum.] (260'; 20 guns) MISSISSIPPI: Simplified hull form conceived and produced by Nelson and Asa F. Tift Jefferson City, La. Drawings by J. L. Porter, assisted by Joseph Pierce and E. M. Ivens. (204'; 4 guns; triple-screw) ATLANTA: Hull of SS FINGAL (James & George Thomson, Clyde Bank Iron Shipyard, Glasgow, 1861, for Hutcheson's W. Highland service). Converted into ironclad by Tift brothers; construction from bottom of knuckle up: similar to MISSISSIPPI. (264'; 20 guns; twin-screw and double center-wheels) LOUISIANA: Built by E. C. Murray, New Orleans. (Destroyed at New Orleans 28 April 1862, almost complete). (189'; 6 guns; single/twin-screw; COLUMBIA Type) COLUMBIA (single-screw; F. M. Jones/J. M. Eason, Charleston); Texas (twin-screw), Navy Yard, Richmond (Casemates shortened from original plans because of scarcity of iron); TENNESSEE (No. 2) (single-screw with adapted sidewheel engines but casemate and arrangement of battery different), built by Henry Bassett, Selma, Ala., J. L. Porter design. [Model of Tennessee in U.S. National Museum.] (224'; 2 guns; double-casemate; twin-screw) WILMINGTON: Built at Wilmington, N.C.; designed by J. L. Porter, 1863. Machinery built at Columbus, Ga., naval works. (220'; 1 gun; short-casemate; quadruple-screw ) (Names probably unassigned): Double-ended, armored ram-gunboat; one building at Navy Yard, Richmond. Engines and boilers ordered in England for two of this type, Sept. 1864. (Designed for 27' beam, 11'6" draft). (175'; 4 guns) MILLEDGEVILLE: Built by Henry F. Willink, Savannah; unnamed sister begun by Krenson & Hawkes, Savannah; two more unfinished at Charleston (one or both launched but names unknown ). J. L. Porter design; plan in Willink Collection, Emory University. (271'; O.A.; 7 guns (designed); sidewheel; NASHVILLE Class) NASHVILLE: Built at Montgomery; unnamed sister contracted 28 March 1863 by John T. Shirley & D. D. DeHaven at Selma, irreparably damaged in launching and sold for scrap April 1864. (NASHVILLE was only new sidewheel ironclad, so designed from keel up, which saw actual service.) (310'; twin-screw and 4 sidewheels) (Name unknown): Built at Navy Yard, Yazoo City, Miss., to use sidewheel engines available; destroyed before completion, 21 May 1863. Construction supervised by Comdr. Isaac Newton Brown, CSN, to J. L. Porter's (?) design. 70' beam, designed speed: 16 k. (180'; 8 guns; twin-screw; ARKANSAS Type) Seagoing ironclad ram-gunboat: Built by John T. Shirley, Memphis; available information indicates ARKANSAS and TENNESSEE (No. 1) were intended to be of this type. J. L. Porter design, 1862. (234'; 8 guns) Seagoing ironclad ram-gunboat; designed by J. L. Porter as combination war vessel-blockade runner ("to be built in England of iron"): George N. Sanders to finance 6 of these rams; contract approved 19 April 1862 by Confederate Congress but never consummated. (270'; 20 guns) SANTA MARIA or GLASGOW, while building at James & George Thomsons, Clydebank (intended Confederate name unknown): Ironclad Frigate (No. 61), sold to Denmark;, rechristened HDMS DANMARK. [Selected and supervised by Capt. James H. North, CSN, through undercover agents.] (224'; 4 guns; twin-turret; NORTH CAROLINA Class) NORTH CAROLINA (Laird Hull 294; later Khedivial EL TOUSSON; ultimately HMS SCORPION), MISSISSIPPI (295; EL MOUNASSIR, HMS WIVERN): Built at John Laird & Sons, Birkenhead, but seized by British Admiralty before delivery to Confederacy. Page 491 (171'; 3 guns; twin-screw; STONEWALL Class) STONEWALL (ex- SPHINX, ex-STAERKODDER, ex-OLINDE; ultimately HIJMS AZUMA); CHEOPS (Confederate name unassigned; ultimately Prussian Navy's PRINZ ADALBERT): Built by L. Arman, Bordeaux, "for the China trade" (secretly for Confederacy); contract voided by personal intervention of Emperor Napoleon III. (143'; 1 gun; twin-screw) MANASSAS (ex-ENOCH TRAIN): Converted at Algiers, La., to Capt. John A. Stevenson's design, 1861. CONFEDERATE WOODEN GUNBOATS (106' O.A.; 2 guns; twin-screw; HAMPTON Class) HAMPTON, NANSEMOND, NORFOLK, PORTSMOUTH: Built or building at Navy Yard, Gosport (Norfolk); several destroyed before naming or completion (e.g. at Ollinger & Bruce and F. G. Howard in Pensacola Bay; Gilbert Elliot, Edwards Ferry and Elizabeth City, N.C.); 100 of these "Maury Gunboats" were planned at various yards. (NORFOLK and PORTSMOUTH had to be burned on stocks.) Government to provide engines. (150' O.A.; 5-6 guns; twin-screw; CHATTAHOOCHEE Class) CHATTAHOOCHEE (Navy Yard, Saffold, Early County S.W. Ga.); PEEDEE (Gilbert Means at Peedee Navy Yard, Mars Bluff, S.C.); MACON (ex-OGEECHEE, H. F. Willink, Savannah). J. L. Porter design. (Another contracted at $50 per ton (carpenter's meas.) 22 October 1861) to use steamer EMPIRE's engines: Gilbert Elliot as agent for J. G. Martin and Flag officer W. F. Lynch, signatories, on board SEA BIRD; ship apparently burned when Elizabeth City was evacuated. (196'; 8 guns; sidewheel; MORGAN Class) MORGAN, GAINES: Built by Bassett & Oates, Mobile. Alabama area Flag Officer V. M. Randolph, CSN stopped further wooden construction of this type in favor of an ironclad-only policy. (5 guns; sidewheel; BIENVILLE Class) BIENVILLE, CARONDELET: Built by John Hughes & Co., Bayou St. John, La., under Acting Constructor Sidney D. Porter's supervision, 1862. TORPEDO LAUNCHES (46'; spar torpedo; SQUIB Class; b. 6'3"; dph. 6'9") SQUIB, HORNET, SCORPION, WASP: Wooden hulls built and fitted out at Richmond, late 1864. Engines also fabricated in Confederacy apparently: condensing engine comprising twin oscillating cylinders (7"-dia., 6"-stroke) and driving a 4-bladed propeller; 1 tubular boiler. Note: Improvement over Cushing's Launch No. 1 in that both spar torpedo operator and boiler were not exposed, although Secretary Mallory thought the Federal spar more maneuverable and versatile (questionable that it was, actually). (40' to 50'; 1 or 2 light howitzers, spar torpedo; b. 5' to 6'; dr. 3') (Names unassigned): 12 wooden hulls reported building by end 1864: 4 at Richmond (2 completed), 1 each at Peedee River Bridge, S.C., and Columbus, Ga., 6 at unidentified yards in Confederacy. Engine: 12 ordered 16 April 1864 from Clyde Bank Iron Foundry (Thomsons) and all forwarded by Bulloch in 3 blockade runners from Glasgow circa September 1864 to save transshipment at British Island whether delivered is not known. Of direct-acting, condensing type, 2-cylinder (10"-dia., 10"-stroke), connecting at right angles to 20', 3"-dia. shaft, driving 3'-dia., 3-bladed wheel, with 6'-pitch, at 200 rpm. Boiler: Locomotive, tubular type, not over 10' long by 3'6" high by 3'6" wide; fire-door on starboard side (sic !); 4 pair also ordered by Lt. William Fitzhugh Carter, CSN, 27 June 1864, delivery in two months. [To SecNav Welles, 22 Feb. '65: "Paroled prisoners report that 6 large launches, each armed with a 12-pounder and manned by a crew of 15 men, have been sent from Mobile to the Yazoo River ..."] (dp. 9.18 on less than 3' draft; [loaded for action]; spar torpedo; [40# to 100# powder]; cpl. 5; s. 10 k.) (No names): 6 iron boats, light as possible, ordered in U.K., 18 June 1864, by Bulloch to Graves' design, with stem strengthened and rake of stern changed to fit iron construction; completed January or February 1865; very light steel hull, sectionalized for shipment to Confederacy. Engines: Too heavy due to Engr.-in-Chief William P. Williamson's careless drawings without descriptive back-up (8" instead of 7"-dia. cylinders shown). Boiler: Too small and space for firing it much too cramped. Wilmington was closed in mid-January 1865, so there is little probability these ever arrived. (Second trio were to have longer floors to accommodate larger boilers, but draft of boats unaltered.) (60'; twin-screw; b. 12'; dph. 7'; spar torpedo) "Semi-submersibles" with bizarre bow form criticized by Bulloch-drawings by Lt. Joseph Fry, CSN. (6 discussed with J. & W. Dudgeon, Millwall, in late 1864 but order never confirmed)-"The plan admits of immersing the vessel to nearly her decks and of elevating her by the rapid admission and exclusion of water." (Mallory also empowered Bulloch, 21 Nov. 1864, to use his own judgment and "order the construction of six torpedo boats of the best plan you can devise, in addition to other orders, and send them to us at once." (1 gun; spar torpedo) "In designing the six steam launches for picket and general service alluded to in your dispatch of November 17, 1864, I will consult with Mr. [Michael] Quinn, and will endeavor to arrange them so as not only to carry a gun when necessary, but to be capable of use as torpedo boats."-Bulloch to Mallory, 26 Jan. 1865. CONFEDERATE CRUISERS & COMMERCE RAIDERS (BUILT OR BOUGHT ABROAD) (191'; 8 guns) FLORIDA(ex-MANASSAS, ex-ORETO): Built by William C. Miller & Sons, Liverpool, 1861; engined by Fawcett Preston & Co., Liverpool. [Model in U.S. National Museum.] (214'; 8 guns) ALABAMA (ex-ENRICA): Laird Hull 290, Birkenhead ( Liverpool) . (200'; 5 guns) RAPPAHANNOCK (ex-HMS VICTOR): Thames-built. [Georgia's battery was to have been transferred to her.] (200'; 5 guns) GEORGIA (ex-JAPAN): Built by William Denny & Bros., Dumbarton. (230') ALEXANDRA: Built by William C. Miller & Sons, Liverpool. "Tonnage: 280"; no other dimensions available. Became blockade runner MARY. TEXAS (known as PAMPERO or CANTON in yard): Built by James & George Thompson, Clydebank (Glasgow); seized by British Government. (223'; 8 guns) SHENANDOAH (ex-SEA KING): Built by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Kelvinhaugh, Glasgow, Hull No. 42, completed 1863 for Robertson & Co., Glasgow. Composite (iron/teak) hull; lifting screw propeller and collapsible funnel. Page 492 (205'; pierced for 14 guns) GEORGIANA: Completed in Glasgow, December 1862 by Lawrie (subcontract from Laird?)- iron hull, coppered bottom. Wrecked off Charleston, S.C., 19 March 1863. (200'; 6 guns; twin-screw) TALLAHASSEE (ex-ATALANTA): Built b- J. & W. Dudgeon, Cubitt Town, Millwall, for London, Chatham & Dover Rly. Co. (Calais ferry). Became cruiser OLUSTEE, then blockade runner CHAMELEON. (?; 3 guns) CHICKAMAUGA (ex-EDITH): "Tonnage: 585"; no other dimensions available. (170'; 2 guns; twin-screw; AJAX Class) AJAX (intended ultimately to be OLUSTEE); HERCULES (to become VICKSBURG): Built by Denny, Dumbarton; to be converted into gunboats by minor alterations at Wilmington, N.C.; temporary names picked by Cdr. Bulloch for security reasons-common names for British registry and running blockade; ultimate names assigned by Secretary Mallory. ( Ships completed too late for Confederate use.) [Cost 117,500 Pounds each. complete except for coal and stores; contract dated 16 September 1864.] (250'; ? guns; twin-screw; ENTERPRISE Class) ENTERPRISE (ultimately BLACK WARRIOR); ADVENTURE (to become WACCAMAW): Designed for conversion to cruisers after running blockade. Built somewhere in the United Kingdom (ordered disposed of. 1 March 1865, in favor of "light-draft, handy vessels"). (220'; 12 guns; LOUISIANA Class) LOUISIANA (ex-OSACCA, later: Prussian VICTORIA); MISSISSIPPI (ex-YEDDO; Prussian AUGUSTA); TEXAS (ex-SAN FRANCISCO; ultimately: Peruvian Navy's UNION); GEORGIA (ex-SHANGHAI; became Peruvian AMERICA). CONFEDERATE NAVY STEEL OR IRON-HULLED, SIDEWHEEL BLOCKADE RUNNERS BUILT ABROAD (For CSN account and operation with CSN operation with CSN commanders, pilots, carrying Treasury cargo under C.S. Army Ordnance management and cloak of commercial (British) registry.*) * There was always the dilemma of presenting different faces on opposite sides of the water-toward the blockading squadron on this side and the British and the colonials on the other. Policy governing ships of this category had to be directed toward achieving two essential but opposite objectives: 1) to camouflage transports of war as peaceful merchantmen in British ports and yet 2) to insure captured Confederate seamen the immunities of prisoners-of-war as CS Navy Officers or ratings-instead of hanging as "pirates." Prior to the impact of the CORNUBIA. (q.v.) papers in 1863, foreign nationals seamen or passengers. taken prisoner in blockade runners were released after interrogation, upon taking oath as bona fide aliens. Endorsing 11 January 1864 letter of transmittal of correspondence captured in CORNUBIA. Secretary Welles set in motion new policy: "British blockade violators will be henceforth detained, and not released, etc. Any order inconsistent herewith countermanded." As for the other jaw of the pincers, Colonel Josiah Gorgas. Chief of Ordnance, CSA, promulgated a standing order, copy to CORNUBIA's captain thus: "You are requested when in foreign ports to carefully guard against all acts tending in any manner to cause issuance of orders by the authorities curtailing the facilities and privileges our vessels now enjoy. Your conduct should be such as to leave the impression that your steamer does not belong to the Government, but is simply used by it as a carrier." Shifting of cargo procurement and control to the Treasury is explained in part by Secretary Mallory to Bulloch, 16 December 1864: "The trade regulations adopted by the government provide, as you have been advised. that all shipments of cotton on public account shall be made by the Treasury. No more, therefore, will be shipped by this Department [Navy], but funds will be provided for your operations and to fill orders of the Department in sterling exchange." (230'; OWL Class; 2 stacks) OWL, BAT, STAG, DEER: Jones, Quiggin & Co., Liverpool, Hulls 167-170, "bought on the stocks too far advanced to be modified in any material way but are good ships"-Bulloch to Mallory, 15 Sept. 1864; 800 to 850-bale capacity on 7'6" draft. (225'; CURLEW Class) CURLEW, PLOVER, WIDGEON, SNIPE: Jones, Quiggin Hulls 177-180, all launched same day, 1865; 700 to 800-bale capacity on 6' draft; 180 nom. hp. (240'; ALBATROSS Class; Steel, iron-bottomed) ALBATROSS, PENGUIN: Lairds, Birkenhead, Hulls 319-320; 1,000-bale capacity on 9' draft; 150 tons additional cargo on 10'. ("Framed and plated from light loadline up with steel, bottoms plated with iron"; Bulloch-Mallory, 15 Sept. 1864.) (260'; ROSINA Class) ROSINA, RUBY: Jones, Quiggin Hulls 174-175; 1,500-bale capacity on 9' draft. (210'; LARK Class; 2 stacks) LARK, WREN: Lairds, Birkenhead, Hulls 317-318; 650 to 750-bale capacity on 6' draft for Texas and Florida shoal waters. (270'; CONDOR Class; 3 raked stacks; Iron hull) CONDOR, FLAMINGO, FALCON PTARMIGAN: Built in Scotland (perhaps in Greenock?): 1,000-bale capacity on 7' draft.