Living History Weekend Homepage                          
   
   April 25-27, 2008

CSS  ALBEMARLE Ironclad
Click here to read what experts are saying about our replica of the CSS Albemarle!

  Lt.Cushing's Battle Report     U.S. Navy 

  Lt. Warley's Battle Report        C.S. Navy


CSS Albemarle (1864-1864)


CSS Albemarle 2002
   19th Century engraving of the ship as she appeared "ready 
   for action".
                            U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Living History Weekend 2002
Replica of the CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke River at Plymouth, NC

At the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, after salvage, circa 1865.   Two ladies are standing on her deck, near a section 
of displaced casemate armor.
    Courtesy of Mr. J.C. Hanscom. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
   The original CSS Albemarle was built under contract with 19 year-old Gilbert Elliot from Elizabeth City, NC. Instead 
   of being built in a well equipped shipyard, it was built in a cornfield up the Roanoke River near Edward's Ferry. It took 
   over a year to construct. 

Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken after the ship was salvaged, 1865.
                           Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, 1938.
                                                      U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 The Albemarle was a ram, meaning that it had iron-covered oak timbers protruding from her bow and shaped like an ax head.  It was designed to run into the side of wooden ships and sink them. Finding iron was difficult. Iron pots and farm implements were collected from the surrounding area, at gunpoint if necessary!  Most of the armor was rolled from railroad iron into plates that were 2" thick and 7" wide. 



                                         U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Peter Evans Smith, the plantation owner where the ironclad was constructed, invented the modern twist drill to speed up the process of drilling through the 2" iron plates of the Albemarle.  His invention shortened the drilling time from 20 minutes per hole to only 4 minutes!


CSS Albemarle Replica
Photo taken with a Civil War Era Camera
(using wet-plate photography)

According to a naval survey performed on May 18, 1865, the Albemarle was 158' long, 35' 3" wide (beam) and drew 9 feet of water.  She had two reciprocating compound 200 hp. steam engines with two 6' propellers that had a 9' pitch.  Her cruising speed was only 5 knots!

  

    Today a 63' replica of the CSS Albemarle floats in the placid waters of the Roanoke River behind the Port O' Plymouth Museum.  During the Summer season at 12 noon each day, she cruises the river firing her guns and reminding us of her colorful past. 


                                          The CSS Albemarle
The amazing and fascinating history of the CSS Albemarle has been the subject of numerous books.   It is included in virtually every book related to a comprehensive look at the naval actions of the Civil War.

There are a number of reasons for all of the attention.  They include:

  • The adverse circumstances under which it was built.

  • It’s success in twice defeating the US Navy.

  • The incredible commando raid that led to it’s destruction.

The CSS Albemarle was constructed by 19 year-old Gilbert Elliot from Elizabeth City, NC.  It was built up the Roanoke River in a cornfield near Edward’s Ferry.  It took over a year to construct and some of the iron collected to make in to the armor was collected at gunpoint form the surrounding area!

According to a naval survey performed on May 18, 1865 by three officers, the Albemarle was 158’ long, 35’3” wide (beam) and drew 9 feet of water.  She had two reciprocating compound 200 hp. steam engines with two 6’ propellers that had a 9’ pitch.  Her cruising speed was 5 knots!  The casemate housed two 6.4 Brooke Rifled Cannon, one fore and one aft, that could each be pivoted to fire out of three different gun ports.  The casemate was 60’ long and was covered in two layers of 2” iron plating. The slope of the casemate was at a 35 degree angle to reflect enemy shot and shell.

The Albemarle was baptized by fire in a short but fierce fighting during the Battle of Plymouth, when on April 19, she swept the Federal Navy from the Roanoke River. Charles Flusser, the commander of the Federal fleet,  was killed by his own shell when it ricocheted of the casemate of the Albemarle.  The USS Southfield which she rammed still lies on the bottom of the river where it sank.

Later on May 5, 1864 the Albemarle defaced down another Federal fleet of seven gunboats, three of which where three times the size of the Albemarle.  Together they mounted 60 guns against the Albemarle’s 2 and fired 557 shells at the Albemarle, but could not sink her!

She was destroyed on October 27th in the most daring commando raid of the war by 21 year-old Lieutenant William Barker Cushing who was avenging the death of his friend, Charles Flusser!

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For more information please call the Port O' Plymouth Museum -252-793-1377
or the Washington County Chamber of Commerce - 252-793-4804
Email: harry@plymouthmuseum.com
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