Thanks to Wikipedia.
The ship was launched as the SS Tennessee in 1853 and, among other things, carried California gold rush 49ers to the eastern shore of Panama. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the 210 foot long, 33 foot 11 inch beam ship was captured by the Confederacy in New Orleans.
They planned to use it as a blockade-runner, but it never ran the blockade and was captured by Union forces when they took the city. It then became a part of the Union navy as the USS Tennessee. It served for awhile as Admiral Farragut's flagship and took part in the bombardment of Fort Morgan at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
After the capturee of the CSS Tennessee, its name was changed to USS Mobile so the ironclad could continue with the name.
Badly damaged by a hurricane in October 1864, it was decommissioned and sold. Its name was then changed to SS Republic.
To Be a Tennessee or Not to be a Tennessee, That is the Question. --B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
