From the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships.
Since I was writing a few days ago about the guns from the Peedee being located and raised this spring, I realized I didn't know much about the vessel. As a matter of fact, I'd never heard of it before.
The Peedee was a twin screw, ScSlp: length 170 feet, beam 26 feet, dph 10 feet, speed 9 knots, 91 crew, armament: one 7-inch rifle, one 6.4-in rifle, one 9-in smoothbore.
A wooden gunboat built at Mars Bluff near Marion Courthouse on the Great Pee Dee River. Designed by Acting Naval Constructor John L. Porter, CSN, in late 1862. Lt. Edward J. Means, CSN, commander of the naval yard, supervised the construction.
One engine came from the Naval Ironworks in Richmond, Va, and the other is rumored to have come through the blockade from Britain.
It was intended to have a battery of four 32-pdr broadside and two 9-in pivots.
LITTLE KNOWN
Not much is known about the vessel. Reports have it being completed and commissioned April 20, 1864 with Lt. O. F. Johnston, CSN, in command. It was destroyed 110 miles upriver from Georgetown after the evacuation of Charleston on February 18, 1865.
I have to wonder if any part of the ship itself remains?
I see that one website offers a model of the Peedee for sale at $7.
bayareayards.virtualscratchbuilder.com/confederatepp.html.
You Learn Something Every Day. --Blockade-R
