the ships
A logging of and – as I have time – details about the ships of naval importance during the American Civil War.
Chicora
- One of two ironclads paid for by the ladies of Charleston who donated valuables to help pay for construction (see Palmetto State)
- Put in action in late 1862 to help break the blockade of Charleston’s waterways
- Sunk by Confederates in 1864 (? validate) to avoid capture
- Built in England for the Confederate States of America in 1862
- Screw sloop-of-war
- A commercial raider. Claimed 60 prizes [and $6M]
- Sunk off the coast of Cherbourg, France by the USS Kearsarge
- Captained by Raphael Semmes who, along with 41 crew, escaped to England after ships destruction
- Remains discovered in 1984 by the French Navy mine hunter Circe.
Photo Credit: CSS Alabama (1862-1864) – U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph [#NH85593-KN]
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Submarine CSS H. L. Hunley [1863-1864]
- Submarine built by Horace L Hunley
- First submarine to destroy an enemy ship
- All three crews died aboard although several from the first crew were able to escape.
- Lost off of Charleston after sinking the USS Housatonic with a spar torpedo
- Remains discovered in 1995 by NUMA
- Recovered August 8, 2000
Photo credit: Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864) U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph [#NH999]
USS Keokuk
- Sunk while attacking Charleston, South Carolina
USS Monitor
USS Nahant
- Participated in the unsuccessful attack on Charleston, South Carolina
Palmetto State
- One of two ironclads paid for by the ladies of Charleston who donated valuables to help pay for construction (see Chicora)
- Put in action in late 1862 to help break the blockade of Charleston’s waterways
- Sunk by Confederates in 1864 (? validate) to avoid capture
USS Passaic
- Participated in the unsuccessful attack on Charleston, South Carolina
- Iron-hulled, single-turret monitor
- Launched September, 1863, Jersey City, N
- Lost in the Battle of Mobile Bay after hitting a mine or torped
