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Charleston was designed as the flagship for the Charleston Squadron, but was delayed considerably in completion. Part of this may be related to redesign efforts, and part of it may have to do with material shortages, as records are quite unclear. Certainly she was very near completion with the [[Union Bombardment of Fort Sumter]] began in 1863. Records as to her commissioning are disputed: the common view is that she had entered the service by February, 1864, but another source claims she wasn't commissioned until July. There are even some suggestions that she may have been commissioned in 1863, but these are probably least likely. It is possible that she served for some time before formal commissioning, since there were reputedly numerous problems with her engines, which often failed to produce the designed 6 knot speed she had been designed for. |
Charleston was designed as the flagship for the Charleston Squadron, but was delayed considerably in completion. Part of this may be related to redesign efforts, and part of it may have to do with material shortages, as records are quite unclear. Certainly she was very near completion with the [[Union Bombardment of Fort Sumter]] began in 1863. Records as to her commissioning are disputed: the common view is that she had entered the service by February, 1864, but another source claims she wasn't commissioned until July. There are even some suggestions that she may have been commissioned in 1863, but these are probably least likely. It is possible that she served for some time before formal commissioning, since there were reputedly numerous problems with her engines, which often failed to produce the designed 6 knot speed she had been designed for. |
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| − | Regardless of her commissioning date, she was certainly flagship of the Charleston Squadron from 1864 to 1865, and helped to defend the city and harass nearby Union warships. When the city seemed likely to fall, ''Charleston'' and the other Charleston Squadron ironclads were burned to prevent their capture. |
+ | Regardless of her commissioning date, she was certainly flagship of the Charleston Squadron from 1864 to 1865, and helped to defend the city and harass nearby Union warships. When the city seemed likely to fall, ''Charleston'' and the other Charleston Squadron ironclads (with the notable exception of ''[[Columbia]]'') were burned to prevent their capture. |
[[Category:Ships]] |
[[Category:Ships]] |
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[[Category:Charleston Squadron]] |
[[Category:Charleston Squadron]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:17, 29 October 2011
CSS CHARLESTON (1864)
Built: Charleston, South Carolina
Commissioned: Possibly 1863; likely February 1864 or July, 1864 (see summary below)
Service: Charleston Squadron, 1864-1865
Home Port: Charleston, South Carolina
Dimensions: 189' Length, 34' Beam, 14' Draft
Armor: 4" Iron, with wood backing.
Armament: 2x9" Smoothebores, 4x6.4" Brooke Rifles
Engines: Twin Screw
Speed: 6 Knots
Crew: approximately 150
Fate: Burned to prevent capture, February 16th 1865.
Summary
Charleston was laid down in 1862, a larger diamond casemate design nicknamed "The Ladies Gunboat" since the ladies of Charleston helped pay for her construction with subscriptions. Very few period images have survived of her, but period sources describe her as larger and stronger than the Palmetto State and the Chicora. At one point, there is strong anecdotal evidence for her being painted in a brick red color.
Charleston was designed as the flagship for the Charleston Squadron, but was delayed considerably in completion. Part of this may be related to redesign efforts, and part of it may have to do with material shortages, as records are quite unclear. Certainly she was very near completion with the Union Bombardment of Fort Sumter began in 1863. Records as to her commissioning are disputed: the common view is that she had entered the service by February, 1864, but another source claims she wasn't commissioned until July. There are even some suggestions that she may have been commissioned in 1863, but these are probably least likely. It is possible that she served for some time before formal commissioning, since there were reputedly numerous problems with her engines, which often failed to produce the designed 6 knot speed she had been designed for.
Regardless of her commissioning date, she was certainly flagship of the Charleston Squadron from 1864 to 1865, and helped to defend the city and harass nearby Union warships. When the city seemed likely to fall, Charleston and the other Charleston Squadron ironclads (with the notable exception of Columbia) were burned to prevent their capture.