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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

CSS Appomattox

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Gunboat :

Laid down in 1850 as SS Empire at Philadelphia, PA.

Launched in 1850

Chartered in May 1861 by the Virginia State Navy for towing blockships into position to obstruct the channels of the Elizabeth River around Norfolk, VA.

During May she twice sailed as a flag-of-truce boat under Captain Thomas T. Hunter of the Virginia Navy to arrange exchanges of wounded Union prisoners and passage north from Norfolk of certain families wishing to return to their Northern friends

In June 1861 she again served as the bearer of a flag-of-truce off Fortress Monroe, this time for Brigadier General Huger, CSA

Renamed Appomattox she was armed with two guns and assigned to the waters along the North Carolina coast under the command of LT. Charles Carroll Simms CSN

Appomattox was used to patrol Pamlico Sound in late January 1862 and to tow blockships to obstruct channels in the Croatan Sound area

6 February 1862 Appomattox was sent down Croatan Sound to reconnoiter the invasion force of General Burnside

7-8 February Appomattox along with seven other gunboats was used to resist the Burnside Expedition's invasion of Roanoke Island

Appomattox retreated with the surviving gunboats to Elizabeth City, N.C.

On 9 February Appomattox and Sea Bird steamed back to Roanoke Island to see if any further assistance could be given to the defenders, and to evacuate the garrison at Fort Forrest on Redstone Point

They encountered the Union gunboats advancing up the sound, and immediately fled back to Elizabeth City to organize a defense there

On 10 February the union gunboats attacked the Confederate gunboats

Appomattox kept up a brisk fire from her bow gun until it was accidentally spiked

She then retreated to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal, using the stern howitzer to fire at pursuers

Final Disposition, Appomattox was too broad in the beam to pass through the first canal lock, subsequent, LT.Simms decided to destroy her by setting her on fire near Elizabeth City, N.C.

Specifications:
Displacement 120 t.
Length 56'
Beam 20.5'
Draft unknown
Depth of Hold unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown

Armament

one 32-pdr bow gun

one stern howitzer

Propulsion steam

single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
098685501	102k	Virginia State War Steamer SS Empire (*Appomattox*) under a Flag of Truce. Frank Leslie's IIustrated Newspaper, July 20, 1861. Image courtesy of Philip and Jason Madre.		Robert Hurst

CSS Appomattox
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 28 May 2021