CSS BLACK WARRIOR

[corn-fed-erate]

The Black Warrior was a two mast schooner associated with the NC Mosquito Fleet. One wind powered boat among 8 steam boats. She carried two 32lbr cannons. Can't picture the arrangement for guns on the deck. Could anyone help. One of Andy's or John's sketches would nice.

 

[rebelatsea]

The Black Warrior was a two mast schooner associated with the NC Mosquito Fleet. One wind powered boat among 8 steam boats. She carried two 32lbr cannons. Can't picture the arrangement for guns on the deck. Could anyone help. One of Andy's or John's sketches would nice.

Sorry, Can't help there. That one had passed me by, the only Black Warrior I know about was sister to Waccamaw, built in England and never reached the South.

 

[NFB22]

It appears both guns were positioned to one side of the CSS Black Warrior as she was used as a floating battery more or less. If I'm looking at how her remains lie correctly it appears they would have been stationed on her starboard side.

One of her carriages was previously salvaged from the wreck

 

[AndyHall]

Sorry, I don't think I have any information on that vessel.

 

[Kazziga]

 

[georgew]

This is just speculation, but the Union mortar schooners also carried a pair of guns and apparently had at least two ports on either side so that both could be brought to bear when the vessel was moored. Similar situations breed similar solutions.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Seen the archeological sketch of the wreck that you may refer to. It shows a classic sail boat kind of teardrop shape but shows stern on left (pointed end) and bow to the right (rounded end). Is the sketch labled wrong or am i misinterpreting the sketch?

 

[AndyHall]

Seen the archeological sketch of the wreck that you may refer to. It shows a classic sail boat kind of teardrop shape but shows stern on left (pointed end) and bow to the right (rounded end). Is the sketch labled wrong or am i misinterpreting the sketch?

You're thinking of a modern sailboat hull form. I believe the site plan is labeled correctly, with a fairly bluff bow and tapered stern. Keep in mind that plan only covers only the bottom couple of feet of the hull structure -- it would look different if it were all there.

 

[Carronade]

Seen the archeological sketch of the wreck that you may refer to. It shows a classic sail boat kind of teardrop shape but shows stern on left (pointed end) and bow to the right (rounded end). Is the sketch labled wrong or am i misinterpreting the sketch?

It's the lower hull, with the stern tapering to the sternpost where the rudder would be attached. Above water the stern would flare out into the familiar shape, probably a squared-off transom.

 

[AndyHall]

It's the lower hull, with the stern tapering to the sternpost where the rudder would be attached. Above water the stern would flare out into the familiar shape, probably a squared-off transom.

Something like this, only bluffer at the bow:

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Great info all. Y'all continually amaze me with the depth of info that you provide. Can't thank y'all enough. My sons' models are coming along nicely. My oldest saw how much fun my youngest and i were having so he has decided to give it a try. He wants to do the NC Mosquito Fleet. He is actually painting the first one right now. He called me at work to ask about coloring. Pics to come, maybe tonight.

 

[NC Squadron]

It appears both guns were positioned to one side of the CSS Black Warrior as she was used as a floating battery more or less. If I'm looking at how her remains lie correctly it appears they would have been stationed on her starboard side.

One of her carriages was previously salvaged from the wreck

View attachment 52608

The Black Warrior drifted for a couple of days before she finally sank. The gun carriage was recovered a couple hundred yards south/south-west. If the guns were on the starboard side, they would have had to turn her around once they got her there from Roanoke Island. If I remember correctly, the Ellis towed the Forrest and Black Warrior up the Pasquotank River from Roanoke Island. The starboard side would have been aimed towards the Camden side of the river as she was being towed upstream rather than pointing towards the Pasquotank County side (aimed at the USCG base), which would have necessitated her being turned around before they anchored her if the guns were in fact on the starboard side. Barry Cullen and I made the side-scan photo that Kazziga posted. Barry did a nice job lining up the boat so the side-scan image matched the site drawing's alignment.