CSS Spray
CSS Spray
| |
History | |
---|---|
Confederate States | |
Name | Spray |
Laid down | New Albany, Indiana |
Maiden voyage | 1850 |
In service | 1863-1865 |
Captured | May 12, 1865 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Steam gunboat |
Type | Tugboat |
Tonnage | 118 |
Draft | 6.5 ft (2.0 m) |
Installed power | 70 h.p. |
Propulsion | 1 high pressure steam boiler , side paddle wheels |
Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (cruising) |
Armament | 2 or 3 light cannons |
The CSS Spray was a steam-powered,
History
As the civilian Spray
In 1850,
As CSS Spray
As a confederate vessel and refitted, the Spray operated in the vicinity of the naval station at St. Marks during 1863–1865, and was the object of much attention by the Federal forces in that vicinity. On September 12, 1863, the captain of the USS Stars and Stripes reported an unsuccessful attack on the Spray up river on the St. Marks River. The CSS Spray was said to be the only Confederate States Navy vessel to operate exclusively in Florida waters.
In February 1864, Federal troops in two naval expeditions of 14 ships landed at St. Marks. Their mission was to capture
March 6, 1865, the crew of Spray participated in the Battle of Natural Bridge with a complement of 25 men.[3]
The Spray's fate is specious in that it was reported as burned/scuttled by Confederates on St. Marks River in a few accounts and yet survived into the early 20th century by the accounts of the Ladd family.[1]
Commanders
Henry Lewis was born in Virginia and appointed to the CSN from Virginia. He was formerly a lieutenant with the U.S. Navy. Lewis also commanded the CSS Rappahannock from 1862 to 1863 before taking command of the Spray in 1864.[5] [6]
References
- ^ a b "Ladd Family History". Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ISBN 978-1-59629-104-1]
- ^ Battle of Natural Bridge
- ^ Muster Roll of the Confederate Steam Boat Spray
- ^ Library of Virginia, Military Records
- ^ Haze Gray: Naval History
Sources
- Gaines, W. Craig, Encyclopedia of Civil War shipwrecks, LSU Press, April 2008, ISBN 978-0-8071-3274-6