CSS RALEIGH (1864)
Service: 1864, Wilmington
Home Port: Wilmington, North Carolina
Dimensions: 172' 6" Length, 32' Beam, 12' Draft
Armor: 4" iron with wood backing
Armament: 4 x 6.4" Brooke Rifles
Engines: Single Screw
Speed: 6 Knots. '
Built: Wilmington, North Carolina
Commissioned: 30th April, 1864
Crew: 180
Fate: Struck a sandbar and broke her back, 1864.
Summary
One of the Richmond class Ironclads, designed by David Porter , Raleigh was built for the defense of Wilmington, North Carolina, and often retreated to the safety of the Cape Fear River.
In May, 1864, Raleigh emerged from Cape Fear in the company of two steamers and attempted to drive off six Union blockading ships. The engagement did cause damage to the Union vessels, but was largely inconclusive, and Raleigh retreated for the evening. The next day, she attempted to finish the job but was surprised by the volume of fire and retreated hastily upriver, where she struck a sandbar and broke her back. The ship was written off as a total loss. Her iron plating was later stripped and salvaged.