The Selma Naval Works and Foundry was on 50 acres of land. Besides the CSS Tennessee, the CSS Huntsville and CSS Tuscaloosa built here. Brooke cannons were also made here and were used on the CSS Virginia as well as the Tennessee. Brooke cannons were also at Fort Morgan during the Battle of Mobile. The Tennessee was towed down the river from Selma to be outfitted for action at Mobile.
The central location, facilities, and railroad connections amde this an ideal locarion for Confederate armaments and munitions.
There was also a Selma Arsenal with 24 machine shops and a Confederate Powder and Nitre Works on five acres which had up to 3000 workers by 1865. Such items as cartridges, saltpetre, powder, shot, shell rifles and cannons were made in Selma. Perhaps as many as 10,000 worked in these factories.
It became a major Union target and the Battle of Selma was fought with the Union capturing the city. Three miles of fortifications protected the city.
Still, I Had No Idea That So Much Was Going On During the War at Selma. --Old B-R'er.
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
