Private agents acting for the Confederacy had purchased the Rappahannock from the British in November, 1863, at Sheerness, where she was refitting. Concerned that the British, suspecting that she was to be used as a cruiser, would detain her, the Confederates ran the ship out of port on 24 November.
Her officers joined in the channel, and intended to rendezvous with the CSS Georgia off the French coast, where she would take on armament. However, in passing out the James estuary, her bearings burned out and she was taken across the channel to Calais for repairs.
Though the South had entertained high hopes for her as a commerce raider, she was destined never to put to sea under the Confederate flag.
Her commander, Fauntleroy was so depressed with his command that he termed her "The Confederate Elephant."
--Old B-Runner
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