The Interesting Career of the CSS/USS Atlanta

I was writing about this ship last month.

It started its career as a blockade runner named the Fingal and made one run through the blockade at Savannah, Georgia, in November 1861.  It then found that it couldn't run out of the port.

At that time, it was converted into an ironclad and named the CSS Atlanta, mounting four cannons, a torpedo spar and a ram.  The new ironclad had just one battle with Union ships which turned out badly and the ship's capture.

It was then taken into the Union Navy and served the rest of the war in that capacity.

After the war, it was sold to Haiti, but lost at sea on her way there.  Imagine a former Confederate ironclad fighting for a black nation.

So, it was a blockade runner, Confederate ironclad, Union ironclad and Haitian warship.

Like I Said, An Interesting Story.  --Old B-R'er