by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: April 15, 2008   Last Updated: October 12, 2010

During the civil war the US navy had an impressive array of ships; there are far too many to review here therefore I selected those selected are named for the states. The source of information is from the American Civil War web site. It is easily found; just ask for ships when you arrive at this site. There you find a detailed list of ships and their types.

CSS Alabama:

The Alabama, an English built 1050-ton screw steam sloop of war' began sea duty August 24 1862. Her main action was to torment and to wreck the United States' commercial enterprises worldwide. Although a new ship but one that had seen much action, a couple of years later, while in Cherbourg France for repairs, she was sunk by the USS Kearsaige.

CSS Arkansas: The Arkansas was built at a Memphis, Tennessee shipyard in 1861 and had a short but honorable life. She was not quite ready for such fierce sea battles when the war started but was finished as well as could be expected under the circumstances in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

Her first action was against three US gunboats on the Yazoo River. She fought bravely against the first two but the third, the USS Queen of the West pursued her into the Mississippi river. She managed to escape to the safety of Vicksburg. It was to no avail however, The Queen of the West and the Essex pounded her again. Damaged somewhat but able to sail on she went to the aid of the Confederate forces in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was during an encounter with the Essex that her 'machinery' failed. From there she was put ashore and burned rather than suffer a capture. She lived and died in 1862.

CSS Florida: This ship, "a steam screw cruiser of about 700 tons" was also an English built ship. As had happened with the purchase of the Alabama, Florida was likewise purchased by the Confederates from England somewhat stealthily. They were not quite over the hurt of the defeat of the Revolutionary forces - most likely- and was not against assisting the opposing States; this was especially so when there was only slight chance of not being found out. They were for all purposes, neutral.

True to Shakespearean fashion she sailed for the Bahamas under the guise of a merchant ship'. (Shakespeare, a dedicated English author wrote many plays where people were often disguised as some one else.) Even though most of her crew was sick with yellow fever, she sailed on doing her duty well; this was tormenting the United States commercial enterprises.

After much fanfare - winning prizes for bravery - she was captured while in a Brazil port. The USS Wachusett captured her and took her home. Since the Brazil port was neutral territory this was not according to the rules of naval conduct. International law insisted that she be returned to Brazil. Somehow she was accidentally' sunk while awaiting deportation in New Port News, Virginia.

CSS Tennessee: The Tennessee, later became USS Tennessee and served The United States Navy. How did this come about? She surrendered at Mobile bay and was henceforth used by the North for their navy. She was with the U.S. Navy's Mississippi Squadron until the end of the war. All she was good for in 1867 was scrap.

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