CSS Tuscaloosa-- Part 1: A Former U.S. Merchant Ship Captured By the CSS Alabama

From Wikipedia. Back on August 13th, I mentioned that the CSS Tuscaloosa had captured the Santee on July 31st, 1863. I'd never heard of this ship.

The CSS Tuscaloosa was originally the bark Conrad and captured by the CSS Alabama on June 20, 1863 en route from Buenas Aires to New York with a cargo of wool and goat skins. Semmes found it fast and well-adapted for a cruiser and on June21, renamed the ship the Tuscaloosa.

He placed two brass rifled 12-pounder cannons on board and Lt. J. Low and 15 men on it for a three-month cruise toward the Cape of Good Hope.

More to Come. --Old B-R'er