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 CSS ALBEMARLE MODEL

The CSS Albemarle, an ironclad ram, was one of the Confederacy's most successful ironclads. This vessel and its sister ship, the CSS Neuse, were designed to wrest control of North Carolina's sounds from the Federal forces that had dominated the region since early 1862.
 

On 16 April 1862, the Confederate Navy Department, enthusiastic about the offensive potential of armored rams following the victory of their first ironclad ram CSS Virginia over the wooden-hulled Union blockaders, signed a contract with nineteen-year-old detached Confederate Lieutenant Gilbert Elliott to oversee the construction of a smaller but still powerful gunboat to destroy the Union warships in the North Carolina sounds. These men-of-war had enabled Union troops to hold strategic positions that controlled eastern North Carolina.

Using detailed sketches provided by Elliott, the Confederate Navy's Chief Constructor John L. Porter finalized the gunboat's design, giving the ram an armored casemate with eight sloping, 30-degree angle sides. Within this thick-walled bunker were two 6.4-inch Brooke pivot rifles (similar to a Parrott rifle), one forward, the other aft, each capable of firing from three different fixed positions. Each double-banded cannon weighed more than 12,000 pounds with its pivot carriage. Both cannons were protected on all sides behind six exterior-mounted, heavy iron shutters.

The field of fire for both pivot rifles was 180-degrees, from port to starboard: each cannon could fire from one of three gun ports, allowing Albemarle to deliver a two cannon broadside. Albemarle's projectiles consisted of explosive shells, anti-personnel canister shot, grape shot, and blunt-nosed, solid wrought iron "bolts" for use against Union armored ships.

Construction of the new ironclad began in a cornfield at Edward's Ferry on the Roanoke River in January 1863. To ensure rapid completion of the Albemarle, the Confederate navy sent its chief builder and designer of the ship John L. Porter to oversee construction. Abandoned railroad rails were scrounged from across the state to be rolled into armor plates, and sawmills and a blacksmith shop were established on site. The work was aided by a newly developed drill that reduced the time for drilling holes in the armor plate from 20 minutes to 4 minutes.

In late 1863 Cdr. James Cooke was sent to take over Porter's supervision duties. Cooke, who would later command the Albemarle in action, became known as the "ironmonger captain" for his relentless efforts to gather iron of all sorts that could be rolled into plating.

By April 1864 the gunboat was nearing completion. The ram was propelled by twin 3-bladed screw propellers powered by two steam engines, each of 200 hp. Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke was planning an infantry attack on the town of Plymouth near the mouth of the Roanoke and required the cooperation of the ironclad. Early on 17 April, as Hoke's infantry assaulted the outermost Union positions, the Albemarle started out. Workmen swarmed over its deck and casemate to fasten down the last layer of armor even as it steamed downriver. The ship reached Plymouth early on the morning of 19 Apr. 1864.

Waiting for it were the USS Miami and Southfield, the most powerful of several wooden gunboats at Plymouth. Chains had been strung between the two ships in an attempt to ensnare the CSS Albemarle and batter it with their combined fire. But Cooke recognized the trap and avoided it. He then made for the Southfield, plunging the ironclad's armored bow deep into the wooden vessel and sinking it so quickly that the ram almost followed the victim. The Miami, along with the other Union gunboats, soon withdrew after shot and shell from its 6.4-inch rifles and 9-inch smoothbore guns glanced harmlessly off the Albemarle's four inches of iron plating. With the opposing fleet dispersed, the Albemarle bombarded the last remaining strongholds in Plymouth, helping force a Federal surrender.

Hoke next focused his attention on New Bern. The ironclad Neuse had run aground en route to New Bern, and so the CSS Albemarle was called upon to provide naval support for the operation. On 5 May it steamed out of Plymouth, but as the rebel ironclad reached Albemarle Sound, 7 Federal gunboats mounting a total of 55 guns attacked. The massed artillery of the fleet failed to penetrate the armor, but the Albemarle's smokestack was nearly destroyed and the muzzle of one gun was shot away. In the melee the Albemarle itself was rammed by one of the wooden gunboats. Its steering gear was damaged, and, because of the mangled smokestack, it was necessary to feed bacon, lard, and butter into the boilers to keep up steam pressure. Despite having damaged each of the Federal ships, Cooke had no choice but to limp back to Plymouth.

The CSS Albemarle was repaired and remained at its mooring until 27 Oct. 1864, when it was sunk by a torpedo in a daring raid led by Lt. William Cushing. With their ironclad gone, the Confederate forces evacuated Plymouth on 31 October. In March 1865 the Union navy raised the ship and towed it to Norfolk, Va., the following month. The CSS Albemarle remained an officially commissioned U.S. Navy ship until 15 Oct. 1867, when it was sold at auction to J. N. Leonard and Company for $3,200.