Interesting Data Carefully Compiled from the Memoranda
of John L. Porter, the Distinguished Chief Constructor of the Confederate
States Navy. By JOHN W. H. PORTER.
[From the Richmond, Va. Times, December 30, 1900.]
[Also appears in Southern Historical Society
Papers, Vol.28, page 125]
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 Kearsarge off Cherbourg,
June 19, 1864.
ATLANTA--Formerly the merchant steamer
Fingal. 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.
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.
COLOMBIA--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.
CHARLESTON--Iron-clad, six guns. Built
in 1863 at Charleston and destroyed by the Confederates at the evacuation
of that city in 1865.
CHATTAHOOCHEE--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 Tacony.
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 October 1, 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 steamer, 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 PACE--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, 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.
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 a leak 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 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 evacuation 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.
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, formerly
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.
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, tour guns.
Burned by Confederates 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 accidentally at New Orleans.
VIRGINIA--Iron-clad, formerly the United
States ship Merrimac, 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.
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 Kankaker 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 Moore, 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
(the H. L. Hunley) with which Lieutenant
Dixon, of the 21st Alabama Regiment, sunk the United States ship Housatonic
.
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