This ironclad ram was built by Henry D Basset at Selma, Alabama USA for the Confederation Navy.
October 1862 keel laid down.
February 1863 launched as CSS TENNESSEE.
Displacement 1.273 tons, dim. 63.7 x 14.6 x 4.26m. (draught). Length bpp. 57.6m.
Powered by a steam engine, of the ex ALONZO CHILD, one shaft, speed 5 knots.
2 – 7 inch Brooke RML guns and 4 – 6.4 inch RML guns.
Crew133.
16 February 1864 commissioned under command of Lieutenant James D. Johnston.
After she was completed she was towed by CSS BALTIC to Mobile to be engined and armed.
A fearsome detail of her armament was a hot water attachment to her boilers for repelling boarders, throwing one stream from forward of the casemate and one abaft."
The vicissitudes implicit in creating such an ironclad are graphically
conveyed by Admiral Franklin Buchanan, writing 20 September 1863 to
Secretary Mallory:
"The work on the TENNESSEE has progressed for some weeks past, under Mr. Pierce, as fast as the means in his power would permit. There is much delay for want of plate and bolt iron. It was impossible to iron both sponsons at the same time, as the vessel had to be careened several feet to enable them to put the iron on. Even then several of the workmen were waist deep in the water to accomplish it-to careen her, large beams 12 feet square had to be run out of her posts and secured, on which several tons of iron had to be placed, and during
the progress of putting on the sponson iron the shield iron could not be put on. The work has been carried on night and day when it could be done advantageously. I visited the NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE frequently and, to secure and control the services of the mechanics, I have had them all conscripted and detailed to work under my orders. Previously, they were very independent and stopped working when they pleased ***" Joseph
Pierce referred to was Acting Naval Constructor in the Mobile area.
TENNESSEE became flagship of Adm. F. Buchanan, and served gallantly in action in the Battle of Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. On that morning
TENNESSEE and wooden gunboats CSS GAINES, CSS MORGAN, and CSS SELMA,
steamed into combat against Adm. D. G. Farragut's powerful fleet of four ironclad monitors and 14 wooden steamers. Unable to ram the Union ships because of their superior speed, TENNESSEE delivered a vigorous fire on the Federals at close range. The Confederate gunboats were sunk or dispersed. Farragut's fleet steamed up into the bay and anchored.
Buchanan might have held TENNESSEE under the fort's protection but
bravely steamed after the Federal fleet and engaged despite overwhelming odds. The ram became the target for the entire Union fleet. TENNESSEE was rammed by several ships, and her steering chains were carried away by the heavy gunfire. Unable to maneuver, TENNESSEE was battered repeatedly by heavy solid shot from her adversaries. With two of her men killed, Admiral Buchanan and eight others wounded, and increasingly severe damage being inflicted on her, TENNESSEE was forced to surrender.
TENNESSEE was taken into the United States Navy and was later commissioned on 19 August 1865, under command of acting volunteer Lieutenant Pierre Giraud.
The ironclad participated in the Federal assault on Fort Morgan on 23 August 1865 which resulted in the fort’s capitulation that same day.
That autumn she moved from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans, LA for repairs before joining the Mississippi Squadron.
She served on the Mississippi river through the end of the war in April 1865 and briefly thereafter.
On 19 August 1865, TENNESSEE was placed out of commission and was laid up at New Orleans.
There, she remained until 27 November 1867 when she was sold at a public auction to J.F. Armstrong for scrapping.
Though the remainder of the vessel was scrapped two 7 inch Brooke RML guns were preserved and are still on display in the “Old Weapons” exhibit in east Willard Park at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. One of her 6.4 inch Brook RML gun is on display at the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Command at the Norfolk, Virginia Naval Base.
Grenada 2002 $1.25 and MS $6 sg?, scott?
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Tennessee_(1863)