CSS Nashville armor

[Jonl51]

Hi All,
Would anyone know who manufactured the iron plating for the CSS Nashville? Possibly Tredegar Ironworks, of Richmond? I have an opportunity to acquire several pieces of plating which have slightly raised stars on the plate surface. I'm trying to authenticate if possible. Also, a piece of wood from the ship. Interesting relics.
Thank you! John

 

[rebelatsea]

Hi All,
Would anyone know who manufactured the iron plating for the CSS Nashville? Possibly Tredegar Ironworks, of Richmond? I have an opportunity to acquire several pieces of plating which have slightly raised stars on the plate surface. I'm trying to authenticate if possible. Also, a piece of wood from the ship. Interesting relics.
Thank you! John

Her plating was that removed from CSS Baltic, I don't know who manufactured it, but I'm sure between us naval experts we can find out !

 

[Jonl51]

Her plating was that removed from CSS Baltic, I don't know who manufactured it, but I'm sure between us naval experts we can find out !

Thank you!

 

[redbob]

The CSS Nashville was constructed in Montgomery, Alabama and then towed to Selma for outfitting.Since the Baltic's armor was used and other plating was required along with the distance from Virginia to Alabama, it is possible that the additional armor plating was rolled at Shelby Springs, Alabama where the CSS Tennessee's was rolled or at another deep South rolling mill. The CSS Nashville was sold in 1867 as salvage with her armor having been previously removed for other uses. My advice is to use caution on your purchase as the stars among other things would raise suspicion. However, that said; portions of the CSS Virginia's armor was salvaged, cut up into small pieces and sold as souvenirs so there is the possibility that yours could be legit.

 

[Jonl51]

The CSS Nashville was constructed in Montgomery, Alabama and then towed to Selma for outfitting.Since the Baltic's armor was used and other plating was required along with the distance from Virginia to Alabama, it is possible that the additional armor plating was rolled at Shelby Springs, Alabama where the CSS Tennessee's was rolled or at another deep South rolling mill. The CSS Nashville was sold in 1867 as salvage with her armor having been previously removed for other uses. My advice is to use caution on your purchase as the stars among other things would raise suspicion. However, that said; portions of the CSS Virginia's armor was salvaged, cut up into small pieces and sold as souvenirs so there is the possibility that yours could be legit.

Thank you I appreciate the information and advice.

 

[Larryh86GT]

That would be a neat piece of history to have.

 

[rebelatsea]

The CSS Nashville was constructed in Montgomery, Alabama and then towed to Selma for outfitting.Since the Baltic's armor was used and other plating was required along with the distance from Virginia to Alabama, it is possible that the additional armor plating was rolled at Shelby Springs, Alabama where the CSS Tennessee's was rolled or at another deep South rolling mill. The CSS Nashville was sold in 1867 as salvage with her armor having been previously removed for other uses. My advice is to use caution on your purchase as the stars among other things would raise suspicion. However, that said; portions of the CSS Virginia's armor was salvaged, cut up into small pieces and sold as souvenirs so there is the possibility that yours could be legit.

Thank your I had forgotten about Shelby Ironworks, that makes sense.

 

[redbob]

Thank your I had forgotten about Shelby Ironworks, that makes sense.

No problem Sir, I live just up the road from it and near one of the mines and furnaces that fed it.

 

[Jonl51]

No problem Sir, I live just up the road from it and near one of the mines and furnaces that fed it.

As a follow up to your info, I have contacted the historical organization involved with
the Shelby Ironworks regarding my question. Thanks again.

 

[Jonl51]

That would be a neat piece of history to have.

Yes, I think so too. I personally examined the iron plating as well as the wood relic,
and to my untrained eye they look authentic. They are coming from a collection of Civil War items, including documents, which all appear authentic. Does anyone have relics of
ironclad armor plating or pictures they can share? Regards.

 

[redbob]

Yes, I think so too. I personally examined the iron plating as well as the wood relic,
and to my untrained eye they look authentic. They are coming from a collection of Civil War items, including documents, which all appear authentic. Does anyone have relics of
ironclad armor plating or pictures they can share? Regards.

I have what is/was reported to be a portion of the CSS Virginia's armor, it is about 2" square X maybe 1/64" thick and has CSS Merrimack 1862 stamped on it. Maybe it is real or maybe it isn't, but I could do the same thing with a piece of sheet metal from Home Depot and a set of stamps. I keep it in the section of my collection labeled questionable purchases (or as I call it: A fool and his money are soon parted).

 

[Jonl51]

I have what is/was reported to be a portion of the CSS Virginia's armor, it is about 2" square X maybe 1/64" thick and has CSS Merrimack 1862 stamped on it. Maybe it is real or maybe it isn't, but I could do the same thing with a piece of sheet metal from Home Depot and a set of stamps. I keep it in the section of my collection labeled questionable purchases (or as I call it: A fool and his money are soon parted).

Thanks redbob. I know exactly what you mean as I have a couple in the " questionable " category too. Hopefully it is real, that would be very cool. I'd enjoy seeing a picture of your armor plate if you don't mind.

 

[UCVRelics]

We would love to see some photos of the plate. My first question is "How thick is the piece of iron plate" I would be very cautious with this one. The stars are a red flag in my book as the iron plating was nothing fancy and having stars just really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. When the Nashville left Selma it did not have a complete complement of iron plating. After the fall of Mobile, Spanish Fort & Blakley the Nashville along with CSS Tuscaloosa & Huntsville retreated up the Tombigbee where they were surrender to Union forces. @redbob stated the plating was made at the Shelby Iron Works and from the Atlanta Rolling Mill of Georgia. The Nashville was sold for scrap so that being said she was cut up and the iron was recycled so I really can't say how a piece would survive.

 

[redbob]

Thanks redbob. I know exactly what you mean as I have a couple in the " questionable " category too. Hopefully it is real, that would be very cool. I'd enjoy seeing a picture of your armor plate if you don't mind.

As soon as I figure out how to upload a picture here, I'll be glad to share a picture of "Bob's Folly".

 

[Jonl51]

We would love to see some photos of the plate. My first question is "How thick is the piece of iron plate" I would be very cautious with this one. The stars are a red flag in my book as the iron plating was nothing fancy and having stars just really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. When the Nashville left Selma it did not have a complete complement of iron plating. After the fall of Mobile, Spanish Fort & Blakley the Nashville along with CSS Tuscaloosa & Huntsville retreated up the Tombigbee where they were surrender to Union forces. @redbob stated the plating was made at the Shelby Iron Works and from the Atlanta Rolling Mill of Georgia. The Nashville was sold for scrap so that being said she was cut up and the iron was recycled so I really can't say how a piece would survive.

Here is a picture of the iron plate pieces and the section of wood, which are supposedly from CSS Nashville. The large section of plate has a number of slightly raised stars as part of the casting. They are difficult to see in the picture. I think the plating may have been part of a walkway, perhaps the star pattern is to prevent slips, don't know. The thickness of the large plate may be about 3/4 to 1 inch. I have not finalized the purchase so I don't have them in my possession quite yet. Regards!

 

[UCVRelics]

I think the plating may have been part of a walkway

Thanks for the photo. The only problem I have with that theory is that the South didin't have the iron to complete the outer wheelhouse much less use precious iron for walkways, and it really doesn't look thick enough for armor plate.

 

[redbob]

There were two Nashvilles during the Civil War, the ironclad built in Montgomery and a lightly armored steamer that was used as a raider, sold for use as a blockade runner, converted into a privateer, renamed the Rattlesnake, was trapped in the Ogeechee River upstream from Fort McAllister and destroyed by long range shelling by the monitor Montauk on February 28th 1863. I believe that you may have pieces of this ship as it was salvaged after the war and not the Mobile version of the Nashville.

 

[Jonl51]

There were two Nashvilles during the Civil War, the ironclad built in Montgomery and a lightly armored steamer that was used as a raider, sold for use as a blockade runner, converted into a privateer, renamed the Rattlesnake, was trapped in the Ogeechee River upstream from Fort McAllister and destroyed by long range shelling by the monitor Montauk on February 28th 1863. I believe that you may have pieces of this ship as it was salvaged after the war and not the Mobile version of the Nashville.

An excellent point about the two CSS Nashvilles. I was thinking in terms of the ironclad, but maybe it is from the raider.

 

[Jonl51]

Thanks for the photo. The only problem I have with that theory is that the South didin't have the iron to complete the outer wheelhouse much less use precious iron for walkways, and it really doesn't look thick enough for armor plate.

Entirely possible, just don't know. Would they use iron plate in the boiler/ engine rooms for gangways? I agree it most likely is not exterior armor plate. I am not familiar with the interior layout of these types of ships or if they had any metal gangways, etc.

 

[rebelatsea]

Entirely possible, just don't know. Would they use iron plate in the boiler/ engine rooms for gangways? I agree it most likely is not exterior armor plate. I am not familiar with the interior layout of these types of ships or if they had any metal gangways, etc.

I have never seen any reference to iron gangways in the domestically produced ironclads, grating yes. 1" plate could be from deck armour ,but ironclad CSS Nashville didn't have any. Her armour plate was 3 x 2" layers on the front of the casemate and 1 x 2" layer on the aft end so far as I can determine. It could just possibly be boiler iron I suppose, but with stars ?