Scuttled?

[Pollaco]

It seems like when reading the history of CS ships the words "scuttled" or "set afire" come up near the end of the story. From the Virginia to Arkansas to the You-Name-It. It appears the Confederate Navy destroyed about as many of their own ships as the U S Navy did. Am I correct in the numbers or does it just seems that way? Can you members name a few ships/boats that were scuttled?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

The Confederate Navy destroyed (burnt/scuttled) many of their own ships, rather than let them be abandoned or captured.

Thought some of the ships/boats that were burnt/scuttled, with relevant dates, are listed below:

Ironclads
CSS Arkansas Aug. 6, 1862
CSS Charleston Feb. 16, 1865
CSS Chicora Feb. 18, 1865
CSS Fredericksburg Apr. 3, 1865
CSS Louisiana Apr. 28, 1862
CSS Mississippi Apr. 25, 1862
CSS Neuse Mar. 1865
CSS Palmetto State Feb. 18, 1865
CSS Richmond Apr. 3, 1865
CSS Savannah Dec. 21, 1864
CSS Tuscaloosa Apr. 12, 1865
CSS Virginia (or Merrimac) May 11, 1862
CSS Virginia II Apr. 3, 1865
CSS Wilmington Feb. 22, 1865
Wooden
CSS Chickamauga Feb. 25, 1865
CSS Clarence Jun. 12, 1863
CSS Lapwing Jun. 20, 1863
CSS Tacony Jun. 25, 1863

There also seemed to be quite a few small size vessels serving as gunboats that were destroyed by their crews.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

From Rodman L. Underwood's biography of Confederate Navy Secretary Stephen R. Mallory (p. 164):

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

CSS Arkansas had serious engine problems that culminated in it be stuck on a river bank.

CSS Tennessee tried to go down fighting, but ended up battered into submission instead.

The decision to scuttle CSS Virginia instead of trying to go down fighting seems like a mistake. Although as I recall the scuttling was the result of a failed effort to lighten the vessel so it could get upriver to Richmond when Norfolk fell. The draft turned out still too deep. The troublesome engines may have made a banzai charge impractical though.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The fear of the ship being used against them was real... of the four ironclads captured (I think they're referring to Atlanta, Tennessee, Eastport, and Columbia), three saw service in the Union navy. Notably, Tennessee participated in the bombardment of Fort Morgan mere days after her capture.

(The holdout was Columbia, which was captured upon the fall of Charleston, when the war was beginning to look like it would end soon. Unless there was some technical reason preventing her use, I'm pretty certain that she would have served with the Union as well had there been more time... but the Navy was already beginning its drawdown.)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

CSS Arkansas had serious engine problems that culminated in it be stuck on a river bank.

Thought the CSS Arkansas re-engaged the Union ironclad USS Essex near Baton Rouge on the morning of Aug. 6, 1862. In this action, the engines of the Arkansas broke down, causing the vessel to drift uncontrollably to shore and run aground.

Lt. Henry Stevens (now in command) decided to scuttle the Arkansas. He ordered the engines to be broken up and powder spread over the deck and the ship set afire, before ordering the crew to abandon ship. At around the same time, the ship began to break free and floated ablaze down the river. The ship exploded at about noon.

 

[Pollaco]

The fear of the ship being used against them was real... of the four ironclads captured (I think they're referring to Atlanta, Tennessee, Eastport, and Columbia), three saw service in the Union navy. Notably, Tennessee participated in the bombardment of Fort Morgan mere days after her capture.

(The holdout was Columbia, which was captured upon the fall of Charleston, when the war was beginning to look like it would end soon. Unless there was some technical reason preventing her use, I'm pretty certain that she would have served with the Union as well had there been more time... but the Navy was already beginning its drawdown.)

Didn't the CSS Sterling Price later become the USS Sterling Price?

 

[UCVRelics]

One that is near and dear as it was here in Demopolis. CSS Nashville. It was scuttled near Nana Hanna bluff.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Didn't the CSS Sterling Price later become the USS Sterling Price?

Among others, yes. It's a little startling to see "Rebel" names on "Yankee" boats, but keeping the name of a captured enemy vessel had a long and distinguished history-- plus, it was considered bad luck to rename it. The Navy Department was not always consistent in this, and Gideon Welles evidently was not superstitious, but unless there was a decent reason to rename the craft, they often didn't.

 

[Pollaco]

Among others, yes. It's a little startling to see "Rebel" names on "Yankee" boats, but keeping the name of a captured enemy vessel had a long and distinguished history-- plus, it was considered bad luck to rename it.

I did not know that (renaming/bad luck) but I was aware the sailors were a superstitious lot.

 

[Sheltowee]

So the USN had a vessel named USS Sterling Price- during the war.

But we are looking at renaming the Chancellorsville in 2022.

Hmmm……

 

[Lubliner]

Among others, yes. It's a little startling to see "Rebel" names on "Yankee" boats, but keeping the name of a captured enemy vessel had a long and distinguished history-- plus, it was considered bad luck to rename it. The Navy Department was not always consistent in this, and Gideon Welles evidently was not superstitious, but unless there was a decent reason to rename the craft, they often didn't.

I would think the original name of a confederate captured vessel used by the Yankees would demoralize the confederates.
Lubliner.

 

[Pollaco]

I would think the original name of a confederate captured vessel used by the Yankees would demoralize the confederates.
Lubliner.

But wouldn't it demoralize the new crew as well? Or would they just take it all with pride?

 

[Pollaco]

The Star of the West,later the CSS St. Philip, was deliberately sank by the CS military to become a River obstruction wasn't it?

 

[rebelatsea]

The fear of the ship being used against them was real... of the four ironclads captured (I think they're referring to Atlanta, Tennessee, Eastport, and Columbia), three saw service in the Union navy. Notably, Tennessee participated in the bombardment of Fort Morgan mere days after her capture.

(The holdout was Columbia, which was captured upon the fall of Charleston, when the war was beginning to look like it would end soon. Unless there was some technical reason preventing her use, I'm pretty certain that she would have served with the Union as well had there been more time... but the Navy was already beginning its drawdown.)

Certainly Adm. Dahlgren proposed to re arm her with new 10" smoothbores I've always been surprised that she wasn't put on the sale list - unless the USN didn't want her in foreign hands.

 

[rebelatsea]

CSS Arkansas had serious engine problems that culminated in it be stuck on a river bank.

CSS Tennessee tried to go down fighting, but ended up battered into submission instead.

The decision to scuttle CSS Virginia instead of trying to go down fighting seems like a mistake. Although as I recall the scuttling was the result of a failed effort to lighten the vessel so it could get upriver to Richmond when Norfolk fell. The draft turned out still too deep. The troublesome engines may have made a banzai charge impractical though.

Serious thought was given to CSS Virginia making a dash for the open sea, but the available pilots vetoed that idea, leaving little alternative but to try going upriver. Theoretically it was possible - if they accepted lightening the ship to such an extent that her hull below the armour belt and the top of the screw and rudder would have been exposed.