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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

CSS Tuscarora (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Built in 1856 at Philadelphia, PA. for Charles Morgan's, Southern Steamship Co.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • SS Tuscarora operated by the Southern Steamship Co., New Orleans, LA. seeing service as a towboat
  • Tuscarora was purchased by the Confederate States Navy later in 1861.
  • Fitted out for naval service as a gunboat at Algiers, LA.
  • Commissioned CSS Tuscarora In August, First Lieutenant John W. Dunnington, in command
  • On 31 October CSS Tuscarora joined the naval force of COMO. George N. Hollins gathered near Fort Jackson
  • Hollins planned to take his forces down river to the Head of Passes, a strategically valuable point in the Mississippi River Delta, and drive Union Navy forces away
  • Early on the morning of 12 October the Battle of the Head of Passes began; Tuscarora ran aground during the battle, but was able to free herself
  • As the union ships retreated down the pass around 0800, CSS McRae, CSS Ivy, and Tuscarora advanced towards the retreating Union ships and opened fire.
  • During its retreat, USS Richmond ran aground, but continued firing. Several of her shots struck McRae and Tuscarora After the Union ships withdrew from the Head of Passes, Hollins sent his ships back to Fort Jackson, Tuscarora had fired a total of six shots during the action.
  • In November, Hollins began sending some of his ships, including Tuscarora, up the Mississippi River to support Confederate defenses at Columbus, KY.
  • Final Disposition, Tuscarora caught fire near Helena, AR., 23 November. The fire started in the boilers and spread, being discovered under the wheelhouse. The ship was beached and ordered abandoned
    Specifications:
    Displacement 400t.
    Length 100' (estimate)
    Beam 33'2"
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement 25 (on the date of her destruction)
    Armament
    two 11-inch Dahlgren smoothbores
    one 32-pounder rifle, pivoted
    one 8" columbiad, pivoted
    Propulsion
    steam engine(s)
    boiler(s)
    two sidewheels
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    Last Updated 19 August 2022