CSS Tennessee

[frontrank2]

The CSS Tennessee was a casemate ironclad ram built for the Confederate Navy. It was the flagship for Admiral Franklin Buchanan ( CSA ) and both were captured during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. It was subsequently used by the Federals and was eventually decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1867.

 

[rebelatsea]

Name: CSS Tennessee

Class: Columbia
Type: Ironclad Steam Sloop. Screws: one,12ft diameter Speed: 8.7 knots, actual 6knots
Dimensions as planned: 213ft 6ins OA x 45ft EX x 13ft D, 1,788 tons, Speed: 9.5 knots
189ft PP) x 34ft B x 15ft DPH.
As Built: 217ft (OA) x 48ft (EX) x 14ft (D), 2,083 tons, 9 knots. 6 actual
Guns: 2 – 7" double banded Brooke MLR, 4 - 6.4" double banded Brooke MLR
Armour: 4" iron on 24" timber as designed and originally constructed.
As finally completed, 6ins iron on front face of case-mate, 5ins on the sides and aft end, 24ins wood, 35degree slope, deck & top 1ins iron on 12ins wood.
Design: J. L. Porter, Builder: Henry Basset, Selma & altered under Joseph Pearce, Mobile Ala.
Laid Down: 10/1862, Launched: 07/02/1863, Completed: 12/1863
History:

Original plan by Robert Holcombe showing the vessel as designed and originally constructed with square casemates ends and stern. She was towed to Mobile in this configuration, and the casemate reconstructed there under the supervision of Acting constructor Joseph Pearce to a pattern he had experimented with in the Tuscaloosa. John L Porter, on a tour of inspection made it clear that he did not approve of either vessel.
Powered by 2 single cylinder inclined direct acting engines, geared to the propeller. They were taken from the side wheel steamer Alonzo Childs. One of the best Confederate Ironclads. Surrendered after Battle of Mobile Bay and taken into USN. Served until 1867



CSS Tennessee as completed.

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[JeffBrooks]

I've read that the rudder chains were "foolishly" built outside the casemate and that this was the key weakness of the ship. It seems to me that the designers would not have done this unless they had a good reason to do so. What is the story here? I've love to hear it from the CWT naval experts.

 

[DaveBrt]

I've read that the rudder chains were "foolishly" built outside the casemate and that this was the key weakness of the ship. It seems to me that the designers would not have done this unless they had a good reason to do so. What is the story here? I've love to hear it from the CWT naval experts.

While I would also like to hear the reason for the chains' location, I think they really made little difference in the outcome of the battle -- Tennessee would have been overwhelmed as soon as she lost draft for her boilers (ie as soon as the stack was riddled) and became a stationary target for the game of bumper-boats and for the monitors' target practice.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Why did Buchanan attack the Union fleet after it had entered the bay? Why not keep the Tennessee under the guns of Fort Morgan and await Farragut's attack?

 

[nc native]

I've read that the rudder chains were "foolishly" built outside the casemate and that this was the key weakness of the ship. It seems to me that the designers would not have done this unless they had a good reason to do so. What is the story here? I've love to hear it from the CWT naval experts.

I'm definitely not a nautical engineer or a naval history expert but one reason for that could be the chains would be easier to access and repair that way. The rudder is probably the most important part of any ship other than the propulsion system. The Bismark could have probably made it to a safe port when the British navy was on its heels except for a lucky torpedo hit on its rudder from a torpedo bomber attack that caused no other damage. The Bismark had no steering and was doing circles in the water when the task force charged with its destruction caught up with it.

 

[MilesHai]

The CSS Tennessee was a casemate ironclad ram built for the Confederate Navy. It was the flagship for Admiral Franklin Buchanan ( CSA ) and both were captured during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. It was subsequently used by the Federals and was eventually decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1867.
View attachment 554587

Two more photos of the former CSS Tennessee, both from after her capture.

Library of Congress LOT 4183, no. 5 and MOLLUS Collection 71_3518

Library of Congress LOT 4183, no. 5 and MOLLUS Collection 71_3518

Miles Hai
seeingthecivilwar.com

 

[rebelatsea]

I have not been able to determine why Tennessee's rudder chains were led over the quarterdeck instead of under it, and why the rudder head was protected and they weren't. The conversion to as completed condition ideally should have been to William Wagner's 6 gun square casemate as in Columbia, but Buchanan bullied and pressured Joseph Pearce, who was not a well man, so how much of the alterations can be attributed to each person is unknown. John L Porter made his feeling about it quite bluntly .
As to why Buchanan engaged Farragut only he can say. Certainly no one said nay - after all he was the "hero" of Hampton Roads, and was used to getting his own way.

 

[redbob]

The iron ore for the Tennessee's armor was mined in the Oxmoor & Jones Valleys (near Birmingham, Alabama), refined at the Brierfield and Tannehill furnaces and rolled at the Shelby Iron Works.

 

[Robert Gray]

Some images of the CSS/USS Tennessee and its flag.

 

[rebelatsea]

The iron ore for the Tennessee's armor was mined in the Oxmoor & Jones Valleys (near Birmingham, Alabama), refined at the Brierfield and Tannehill furnaces and rolled at the Shelby Iron Works.

Later taken over by James Eason of Charleston.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Ironclad - Mobile Bay, Why Only the Tennessee? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Of the three operational ironclad warships of the Mobile Squadron (the Tennessee, Tuscaloosa, and Huntsville), only the Tennessee was put into Mobile's lower bay and would be the only armored warship to engage Flag Officer Farragut's federal fleet when they attacked the Lower Boy and the various...

civilwartalk.com

Battle of Mobile Bay: Tennessee? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

I've read that the Tennessee was built in Selma, Al. but outfitted with guns, etc. in Mobile. I've also read they had great difficulties getting her out of Dog River and into Mobile Bay due to the shallow bar at the mouth of the river. My questions are these: 1. How did they get the...

civilwartalk.com

CSS Tennessee, Mobile Bay, 5 Aug. 1864 | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-sz/tenn-k.htm http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-sz/tenn-k2.htm

civilwartalk.com

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

I thought I'd show off what I have of my Tennessee model so far. The idea is to create a scene with my Tecumseh model and make a small part of Mobile Bay on my hard drive. This is what I've got so far. I'm going to continue working on this as time permits.

civilwartalk.com

Were CSS Tennessee's Brookes used by the USN during the bombardment of Fort Morgan? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

I visited four of CSS Tennessee's Brooke Rifles at the Washington Navy Yard this August. WNY displays one of Tennessee's Selma manufactured 7-Inch Double Banded Brooke Rifles and three of Tennessee's Tredegar manufactured 6.4-Inch Brooke Rifles. Her other 7-Inch is displayed at Selma, Alabama...

civilwartalk.com

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[7thWisconsin]

Of course, there is this wonderful canvas of the terrifying moment she brushes along side the Hartford (worthy of a two page full-color spread in the American Heritage Picture History)

 

[rebelatsea]

Of course, there is this wonderful canvas of the terrifying moment she brushes along side the Hartford (worthy of a two page full-color spread in the American Heritage Picture History)
View attachment 554940

it's a real work of art indeed, allowing for artistic licence.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

Why did Buchanan attack the Union fleet after it had entered the bay? Why not keep the Tennessee under the guns of Fort Morgan and await Farragut's attack?

Always wondered the same myself. I don't think it was some sort of Devine Wind kinda thing. Buchanan might have been under the assumption that his armor would have provided protection than it did.