Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/131

This page needs to be proofread.

The Confi-Ariitr .SY///r.i AW//. 125

[From the Richmond, Va. 7?wi<r, December 80, 1900.]

THE CONFEDERATE STATES NAVY AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF WHAT BECAME OF IT.

Interesting Data Carefully Compiled from the Memoranda of John L. Porter, the Distinguished Chief Con- structor of the Confederate States Navy.

By JOHN W. H. PORTER.

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 Con- federate 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 Liv- erpool in 1862, sailed from that port July 29th, 1862, and was sunk in action with the United States ship Kearsaige off Cherbourg, June 19, 1864.

ATLANTA Formerly the merchant steamer Fingall. 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.

ALBEMARLK 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 Confedera'tes off Long Island June 24, 1863, converted into a cruiser, abandoned off Portland June 27, and recaptured. Crew transferred to the Caleb Cushing.