CSS Appomattox

CSS "Appomattox" was a small propellor-driven steamer used by the Confederate Navy to defend the sounds of northeastern North Carolina. It was burned to prevent capture on February 10, 1862, near Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

The "Appomattox" was originally named the "Empire". She was chartered by the Virginia State Navy under Captain Milligan,towing blockships into position to obstruct the channels of the Elizabeth River around Norfolk in May 1861. In that same month she twice sailed under a flag-of-truce with Captain Thomas T. Hunter of the Virginia Navy to arrange exchanges of wounded Union prisoners and passage north from Norfolk of certain families wishing to return to their Northern friends. In the latter part of June 1861 she again served as the bearer of a flag-of-truce off Fortress Monroe, this time for Brigadier General Huger, CSA.

Renamed "Appomattox", she was armed with two guns and assigned to the waters along the North Carolina coast under the command of Lt. C. C. Simms, CSN. "Appomattox" was used to patrol Pamlico Sound after the Confederacy lost Hatteras Inlet to the Federals in 1861. She was also used to obstruct channels in the Croatan Sound area by towing block-ships to strategic points for sinking. The "Appomattox" was one of 8 gunboats used to resist the Burnside Expedition's invasion of Roanoke Island on 7-8 February 1862. However, she missed the actual battle, having been sent to Edenton on an unspecified mission.She retreated with the survivors of the battle to Elizabeth City, N.C. However, on February 10, the Confederate gunboats were attacked by a Federal gunboat fleet advancing from Roanoke Island. The "Appomattox" kept up a brisk fire from her bow gun until it was accidentally spiked. She then retreated to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal, using its stern howitzer to fire at pursuers. Upon reaching the first lock it was discovered that her beam was 2 inches too great to let her into the canal. As a result Lieutenant Simms had to destroy the "Appomattox" by setting her on fire.(Parker, 1985)

References

*DANFS

*William Parker, "Recollections of a Naval Officer", Naval Institute Press, 1985.

*Christopher Olson, "An Historical and Archaeological Investigation of the CSS Curlew"; Masters Thesis, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina,1997.

*William Lytle & Forrest Holdcamper, "Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States, 1790-1868", Steamship Historical Society, New York, 1975.