CSS Manassas

[BaldwinBill]

I've a fascination with the CSS Manassas. Several questions regarding possible details. First the stack(s): one or two, center or fwd/aft of center, raked/not, finally height. Working off all images and known research/opinions and the original 'Enoch Train' I have two approaches. One realistic, one 'fun'. I believe she had one tall vertical stack originally ~about center(slightly aft). After the fight at the 'head of the passes' two stacks. Also tall and straight. Quite a bit of work to modify the armor for the stack arrangement. Probably done to improve draft/speed. How fast? Fast enough to move upstream against the current-other wise she's useless. My GUESS is 4-5 knots upstream. I 'like' the stack slightly fwd of center, raked aft and tall. Just more attractive for me! The gun size unknown, but I believe a 32lb smooth bore. It MUST have been able to be run in to reload. I can't believe they'd put in a one shot cannon!. I like the idea of a curved cannon enclosure, but too difficult to make. The hatch like on the lone star/etc. model seems correct. Steps must have been ladders-not molded in steps(how to do that with 1inch rail road strap rail!?!). My favorite image is of the drawing showing her moored with figures on top. I've several models of her. Color is always faded black with rust streaks and patina. For what it's worth-I've fought naval war games with the CSS Manassas. She never wins and is always sunk! The best she ever did was to sink the USS Mississippi. Then she sank!

 

[RedRover]

I've a fascination with the CSS Manassas. Several questions regarding possible details. First the stack(s): one or two, center or fwd/aft of center, raked/not, finally height. Working off all images and known research/opinions and the original 'Enoch Train' I have two approaches. One realistic, one 'fun'. I believe she had one tall vertical stack originally ~about center(slightly aft). After the fight at the 'head of the passes' two stacks. Also tall and straight. Quite a bit of work to modify the armor for the stack arrangement. Probably done to improve draft/speed. How fast? Fast enough to move upstream against the current-other wise she's useless. My GUESS is 4-5 knots upstream. I 'like' the stack slightly fwd of center, raked aft and tall. Just more attractive for me! The gun size unknown, but I believe a 32lb smooth bore. It MUST have been able to be run in to reload. I can't believe they'd put in a one shot cannon!. I like the idea of a curved cannon enclosure, but too difficult to make. The hatch like on the lone star/etc. model seems correct. Steps must have been ladders-not molded in steps(how to do that with 1inch rail road strap rail!?!). My favorite image is of the drawing showing her moored with figures on top. I've several models of her. Color is always faded black with rust streaks and patina. For what it's worth-I've fought naval war games with the CSS Manassas. She never wins and is always sunk! The best she ever did was to sink the USS Mississippi. Then she sank!

Two stacks. The drawing showing the crew was a later artists' rendering. Here's some contemporary sketches...

One of stacks was evidently lost in the battle of the Head of the passes in October, 1861.

THere are some references that the stacks were in some manner retractable.

More info on this post;

CSS Manassas...

IN the battle of the head of the passes.

Manassas at Head of the Passes...

 

[USS ALASKA]

Golden Thread - Aye Candy: C.S.S. Manassas | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Everybody knows about the famous Confederate ironclad Virginia, even if they insist on calling the vessel by its previous name, Merrimack. But there was an earlier Confederate ironclad, that went into action in the defense of New Orleans in the fall of 1861, almost five months before Virginia...

civilwartalk.com

CSS Manassas - Digital Model | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

You may have seen AndyHall's Manassas thread here. Based on information from that thread, I've put together what I thought she would look like. Many thanks to all who have contributed information about this fascinating ship! I'm going to be posting renders as I complete them. This may take a...

civilwartalk.com

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[Pollaco]

Wasn't the CS Manassas discussed on a thread about 2 months ago? I forget the title but the thread was about which was the first Ironclad.

 

[Biscoitos]

Wasn't the CS Manassas discussed on a thread about 2 months ago? I forget the title but the thread was about which was the first Ironclad.

True Dat!