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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

CSS Chicora

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Richmond class Ironclad Ram:
  • Built in 1862 as the ironclad ram Chicora at Charleston, S.C., by James M. Eason
  • Commissioned in November 1862, LCDR John R. Tucker, CSN, in command
  • During the Civil War CSS Chicora
    Before dawn on 31 January 1863 CSS Chicora along with her sister ram CSS Palmetto State attacked the Union blockading forces off Charleston disabling USS Mercedita and USS Keystone State
    Chicora participated in the defense of Charleston during ADM. S. F. Du Pont's unsuccessful attack on the harbor forts, 1-7 April 1863
    Participated in the fighting around Charleston during 1863 and 1864
    Transported of troops during the evacuation of Morris Island, and the bombardment of Forts Sumter, Gregg, and Wagner
    August 1863 Chicora provided the first volunteer officer and crew for the Confederate Submarine Torpedo Boat H. L. Hunley.
  • Final Disposition, Chicora was burned by the Confederates upon the evacuation of Charleston on 18 February 1865
    Specifications:
    Displacement unknown
    Length 150'
    Beam 35'
    Depth of Hold 14'
    Draft 12'
    Speed 5 kts
    Complement 150
    Armament
    two 9" guns
    four 32-pdr rifles
    Propulsion steam
    • Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Chicora 121k CSS Chicora moored pierside in Charleston harbor, circa 1862-65.
    Photo from "The Photographic History of The Civil War in Ten Volumes: Volume Six, The Navies." The Review of Reviews Co., New York. 1911. p. 239.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Palmetto State 113k Nineteenth-Century photograph of a painting by Conrad Wise Chapman, depicting CSS Palmetto State and CSS Chicora in Charleston harbor, S.C., during the Civil War. Note the spar torpedo fitted to the ironclad in the right center. The original painting is in the Confederate Museum, Richmond, Virginia.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 55237    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Palmetto State 82k "The Charleston Iron-Clad Fleet"
    Line engraving, based on a sketch by A.P. Palmer, 21st South Carolina Volunteers, published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1863, page 76, depicting (rather inaccurately) CSS Chicora and CSS Palmetto State in Charleston harbor, S. C.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 55237    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Palmetto State 61k "The Rebel Rams engaging our Blockading Fleet off Charleston, South Carolina, January 31, 1863"
    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1863, page 117, depicting CSS Chicora and CSS Palmetto State attacking USS Mercedita, with USS Keystone State at right
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59304    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    CSS Chicora
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 7 June 2013