"Far away over the lowlands the smoke spreads ifself, and if veiling from the view
those who might be watching the annihilation of a vessel once lovely in form,
graceful in her notion, and noted for her speed-a vessel for peaceful uses, but by
a band of desperadoes turned into a pirate (a bloodless one). The tide of life was
at an ebb, and in a short time she would be but a mass of tangled machinery and
charred relics."

Harper's Weekly, March 28, 1863

The evolution of a vessel and its special adaptation to its times and fortunes is ably illustrated by the Nashville, as it is most often known. Originally built as a privately owned ship with both steam and sail capacity, the S.S. Nashville operated the coastal waters of the Atlantic as well as the trans-Atlantic crossings.

Following the secession of Southern States and the creation of the Confederate States of America, the vessel witnessed the first shots of that war while at Charlestown, South Carolina. Her owners, though planning to outfit her as a privateer, gave into the urging of the new government to sell the ship to the CSA. As such, she was renamed the C.S.S. Nashville and modified for wartime duty as a ship of the Confederate Navy. Though initially planned as a fast transport for a special diplomatic mission by the CSA to Great Britain, she was, instead, sent to that nation to maintain Confederate presence in that area to counter United States' pressures for Britain to declare war on the new rebel American states. As such, she captured the Harvey Birch and shortly later, also captured the Robert Gilfillan, proving her worthiness as a naval vessel.

The Nashville's worthiness as a blockade-runner served a significant role in the military and civilian needs of the Confederacy. As a part of the strategy of the United States for the eventual defeat of the rebel government, a naval blockade had been set up along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the South. While the blockade could never be complete, the naval vessels were a formidable foe to skirt when bringing much needed supplies and weaponry into the area or attempting to transport cotton and other saleable goods abroad. Upon her return to American waters she eluded capture repeatedly, resulting in a torrent of correspondence among government and naval authorities. Eventually she was sold to private individuals and her name again changed. Now as a blockade-runner and privateer, she was modified and sailed as the Thomas L. Wragg.

In her final capacity, she was again to be modified to work the coast as a privateer. One reason given for the tenacity of the U.S. Navy to sink the vessel despite the guns of Fort McAllister was the rumor that she was to be outfitted with iron plates. Of course, this change did not happen, but eventually the determination of the U.S. Montauk paid off. After repeated attempts to run the gauntlet of the federal vessels, she ran aground upstream. The effort of the crew and the locals to lighten the vessel did no good. And so, the Nashville, now called the Rattlesnake was sunk where she floundered.

The S.S. Nashville evolved in structure in reflection of her changing use during her life. Originally built in 1853 and powered by a single side lever marine steam propulsion engine,

[Insert drawing of side lever engine / Figure 22 p. 116 of Chance book]

the vessel was a luxury liner delivering passengers, freight and mail along the Atlantic coast and across the ocean as well. By 1855, she had established a reputation as the fastest and most steamworthy steamer in her class.

[Insert artifacts typical of a luxury liner from those photos included]

Her first Captain, Michael Berry, was replaced by L.M. Murray in 1856. Overhauled in 1859 and 1860, she received new boilers. After the outbreak of the Civil War, the vessel was bought and outfitted with guns by the new Confederate government. This armament may have included as many as two 24-pounders and two 32-pounders. At the time she was 34 feet abeam and drew almost 22 feet of water. Her passenger saloons and luxury apartments were removed and two 12-pounder Blakely rifled guns were mounted. Her primary function was as a blockade runner, a task she performed successfully with her ability to use sail or steam.

[Insert two diagrams of the engine: side view and front view of side-lever engine. Attached.]

On February 14, 1862, while in route to the Bahamas, a storm hit and carried away the forward part of the wheelhouse. At this time the Nashville was painted black to render her less visible at sea. By October 30, 1862 the ship had been sold and was painted a grey or lead color. She had also been painted with four foot white circles on her yellow paddle boxes.

The vessel has been salvaged to some extent and is currently being photographed for future underwater archaeology. The remains of the vessel still lie in the Ogeechee River just above Fort McAllister in Seven Mile Bend.

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