Confederate Naval Ships Operating in South Carolina Waters
C. S. S. AIKEN.Class: Revenue cutter; Tonnage - 82 tons.
Disposition - Sunk, July 28, 1861, by U. S. frigate St. Lawrence.
Remarks - Her name was changed to Petrel.
C. S. S. CHARLESTON.
Class: Steamer; ironclad; sloop
Disposition - Destroyed by Confederates at the evacuation of Charleston in 1865.
C. S. S. CHICORA.
Class: Steamer; ironclad ram; sloop
Disposition - Burned by the Confederates at the evacuation of Charleston in 1865.
C. S. S. COLUMBIA.
Description - Screw steamer; ironclad ram, of yellow pine, white oak; iron fastened.
Disposition - Caught on a sunken wreck at Charleston and broke in two by the falling tide.
C. S. S. GRAY.
Description - Steamer.
Remarks - Name changed to Lady Davis.
C. S. S. HUNTRESS.
Description - Side-wheel steamer; Tonnage - 500
Disposition - Afterwards the blockade runner Tropic; burned off Charleston, S.C., January 18, 1863
C. S. S. INDIAN CHIEF.
Description - Receiving ship at Charleston, S.C.
Disposition - Burned at Charleston, S.C.
C. S. S. LADY DAVIS.
Description - Steamer; tug; iron.
Disposition - Her machinery was put in the C. S. S. Palmetto State and the vessel sold.
C. S. S. NASHVILLE.
Description - Cruiser; Side-wheel merchant steamer; Tonnage - 1,221.
Disposition - Sold to private parties in 1862 and became the blockade runner Thomas L. Wragg. Subsequently became the privateer Rattlesnake and was destroyed by the Federals in Ogeechee River in 1863.
C. S. S. PALMETTO STATE.
Description - Ironclad sloop.
Disposition - Burned by the Confederates at the evacuation of Charleston in 1865.
C. S. S. PEEDEE.
Description - Wooden screw gunboat.
Disposition - Sunk 110 miles from Georgetown, S.C., in the Peedee River.
Remarks - She was named the Peedee. Her machinery was brought from England. Her battery was to consist of 4 32-pounders and two pivots. She is reported to have been a fine vessel.
C. S. S. STONO.
Description
Disposition - Burned by the Confederates at the evacuation of Charleston in 1865.
Remarks - Captured from the Federals, formerly she was named the Isaac Smith.
C. S. S. THEODORA.
Description - Side wheel, iron privateer; Tonnage - 500.
Remarks.--Formerly the Carolina, her name was changed to Gordon and then to Theodora.
Confederate Privateers Operating from South Carolina
Privateers were privately owned ships operating under a "Letter of Marque" from the Confederate government. As such they could attack Union shipping, capture the ship and its stores and not be considered pirates.C. S. Privateer BEAUREGARD.
Description - Schooner; Tonnage - 101.
Disposition - Captured November 12, 1861, by U. S. bark W. G. Anderson
C. S. Privateer DIXIE.
Description - Schooner; Tonnage - 111.
Disposition - Captured, April 15, 1862, by U. S. S. Keystone State, off Georgetown, S.C.
Remarks - name changed to Kate Hale, blockade runner; later, Success.
C. S. Privateer JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Description - Full-rigged brig; Tonnage - 187.
Remarks - Was formerly the slaver Echo.
C. S. Privateer SALLIE.
Description - Schooner; Tonnage - 170.
C. S. Privateer SAVANNAH.
Description - Schooner; sails; Tonnage - 53.
Disposition - Captured by the U. S. brig Perry, June 3, 1861.
Remarks - This vessel was formerly pilot boat No. 7 at Charleston, S.C.
Torpedo Boats and Submersibles Operating in South Carolina Waters
The confederacy experimented with several new styles of naval ships. The torpedo boats, known as "Davids" after the first boat of that name, attacked several Union blockading vessels near Charleston, SC. Although none were destroyed, several were damaged by Davids. Several Davids were built, the exact number is not known. Listed are two that were captured at the fall of Charleston.The confederacy also launched the first successful combat submarine, the H. L. Hunley. The Hunley attacked and sank the Union blockading vessel, USS Housatonic, near Charleston, SC. The Hunley had not been formally entered onto the list of Confederate Naval vessels when it was lost at sea following the attack on the USS Housatonic. The Hunley has been recovered and is currently undergoing restoration. Visit the Friends of the Hunley for more information.
C.S.S. David
Description - Steam powered torpedo boat; 50 ft long
Disposition - captured at the fall of Charleston
C.S.S. Midge
Description - Steam powered torpedo boat; 50 ft long
Disposition - captured at the fall of Charleston
H. L. HUNLEY.
This ship was never accepted into the Confederate Navy, although it operated in the waters of the Charleston harbor. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the CSS Hunley but was actually a privateer.
Description - Submarine boat; Hand-crank powered; 40 ft long.
Disposition - Sunk with the U. S. S. Housatonic, which vessel she torpedoed, February 17, 1864, off Charleston, S.C.
Large David
Description - large version of a "David;" 160 feet long
Remarks - this ship was under construction in Charleston when it was captured in 1865.
Information based upon records from:
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, US Naval Records & Library, published in 1921.
Records and photos from the Department of Navy: Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard.
