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CSS Savannah (gunboat)
Encyclopedia
CSS Savannah, later called Old Savannah, was a gunboat
in the Confederate States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
Savannah was formerly the steamer Everglade, built in 1856 at New York City
. She was purchased early in 1861 by the State of Georgia
and converted into a gunboat for coast defense. With Georgia's admission to the Confederacy, Savannah, under Lieutenant
John Newland Maffitt
, CSN, was commissioned by the Confederate States Navy. She was attached to the squadron of Flag Officer
Josiah Tattnall
, CSN, charged with the naval defense of South Carolina
and Georgia.
On November 5-6, 1861, Savannah, flying Tattnall's flag, in company with CSS Resolute
, CSS Sampson, and CSS Lady Davis
, offered harassing resistance to a much larger Union fleet, under Flag Officer Samuel Francis Du Pont
, USN
, preparing to attack Confederate strongholds at Port Royal Sound
, South Carolina On November 7, Savannah fired on the heavy Union ships as they bombarded Fort Walker
and Fort Beauregard
. Driven finally by the Federal gunboats into Skull Creek, Georgia, Tattnall disembarked with a landing party in an abortive attempt to support the fort's garrison, and Savannah returned to Savannah, Georgia
to repair damages.
On November 26, 1861, Savannah, in company with Resolute and Sampson, all under Flag Officer Tattnall, weighed anchor from under the guns of Fort Pulaski
, South Carolina, and made a brave, but brief attack on Union vessels at the mouth of the Savannah River
. On January 28, 1862, the same three vessels delivered supplies to the fort despite the spirited opposition of Federal ships. Savannah later assisted in the unsuccessful defense of Fort Pulaski on April 10-11, 1862, and for the remainder of the year served as a receiving ship at the city of Savannah.
Her name was changed to Oconee on April 28, 1863, and in June she was loaded with cotton and dispatched to England
to pay for much-needed supplies. After some delay she escaped to sea, only to founder on August 18 during bad weather. A boat with four officers and eleven men was captured two days later; the remainder of her crew escaped.
See also CSS Savannah (ironclad)
.
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
in the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Savannah was formerly the steamer Everglade, built in 1856 at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was purchased early in 1861 by the State of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and converted into a gunboat for coast defense. With Georgia's admission to the Confederacy, Savannah, under Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
John Newland Maffitt
John Newland Maffitt (privateer)
John Newland Maffitt was an officer in the Confederate States Navy who was nicknamed the "Prince of Privateers" due to his remarkable success as a blockade runner and commerce raider in the U.S. Civil War.-Early life:...
, CSN, was commissioned by the Confederate States Navy. She was attached to the squadron of Flag Officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
Josiah Tattnall
Josiah Tattnall
Commodore Josiah Tattnall, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican-American War. He later served in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War....
, CSN, charged with the naval defense of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and Georgia.
On November 5-6, 1861, Savannah, flying Tattnall's flag, in company with CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute was a tugboat built in 1858 at Savannah Georgia as the Ajax which served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War....
, CSS Sampson, and CSS Lady Davis
CSS Lady Davis
CSS Lady Davis was a gunboat in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.Originally the Richmond iron steam tug James Gray, built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1858, Lady Davis was purchased in March 1861 by Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens of South Carolina, who armed her and...
, offered harassing resistance to a much larger Union fleet, under Flag Officer Samuel Francis Du Pont
Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis Du Pont was an American naval officer who achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family; he was the only member of his generation to use a capital D...
, USN
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, preparing to attack Confederate strongholds at Port Royal Sound
Port Royal Sound
Port Royal Sound is a coastal sound, or inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the Sea Islands region, in Beaufort County in the U.S. state of South Carolina...
, South Carolina On November 7, Savannah fired on the heavy Union ships as they bombarded Fort Walker
Fort Walker
Fort Walker was a Civil War redoubt located on what is now the southeastern corner of Grant Park in Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The redoubt was built by Confederate forces in 1863....
and Fort Beauregard
Fort Beauregard
Fort Beauregard, located half a mile north of the village of Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, was one of four Confederate forts guarding the Ouachita River during the American Civil War...
. Driven finally by the Federal gunboats into Skull Creek, Georgia, Tattnall disembarked with a landing party in an abortive attempt to support the fort's garrison, and Savannah returned to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
to repair damages.
On November 26, 1861, Savannah, in company with Resolute and Sampson, all under Flag Officer Tattnall, weighed anchor from under the guns of Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. It preserves Fort Pulaski, notable as the place where, during the American Civil War, in 1862, the Union Army successfully tested a rifled cannon. The success of the test rendered brick fortifications obsolete....
, South Carolina, and made a brave, but brief attack on Union vessels at the mouth of the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
. On January 28, 1862, the same three vessels delivered supplies to the fort despite the spirited opposition of Federal ships. Savannah later assisted in the unsuccessful defense of Fort Pulaski on April 10-11, 1862, and for the remainder of the year served as a receiving ship at the city of Savannah.
Her name was changed to Oconee on April 28, 1863, and in June she was loaded with cotton and dispatched to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to pay for much-needed supplies. After some delay she escaped to sea, only to founder on August 18 during bad weather. A boat with four officers and eleven men was captured two days later; the remainder of her crew escaped.
See also CSS Savannah (ironclad)
CSS Savannah (ironclad)
CSS Savannah was a Richmond-class casemate ironclad in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.Savannah was built by H. F. Willink for the Confederacy at Savannah, Georgia in 1863. On June 30, 1863 she was transferred to naval forces in the Savannah River under the command of Flag...
.