RvM
She was originally built at as an iron sidewheeler river tug at Philadelphia in 1860 for account of the Southern Steamship Company. When the Civil War broke out she was bought by the Confederate State of Alabama and rebuilt as a ram and taken into service in 1862 commanded by lieutenant James D. Johnston. Her worse condition prevented in fact actual service as all ready became clear in February of the next year and in July of 1864 she was taken out of service and her armour used for the CSS Nashville. She was captured by the Unions at Nanna Hubba Bluff, Tombigbee River on 10 May 1865 and 31 December of the same year purchased by the government. With a displacement of 624 tons were her dimensions 186 x 38 x 6’5”. The engine allowed a speed of maximum 5 knots. Her crew numbered 86 men. She was armed with two so-called Dahlgren guns, 2-32pdrs and 2 guns of a smaller calibre.
The engraving was originally published in the magazine
The Soldier in Our Civil War, volume II and shows her at Mobile. Source photo: Transferred from wikipedia w:Image:Image:CSSBaltic.jpg Engraving of CSS ''Baltic'' From the [http://www.history.navy.mil/ U.S. Naval Historical Center].
