Beack on March 7th and 9th of this year, I wrote about the USS Cumberland and mentioned the fact that the wreck of the CSS Florida was close to its final resting place.
The tale of the end of the Confederate commerce raider Florida is an interesting one as well. Built in England, commanded by the Wilmington, NC, captain Maffitt, runner of the Mobile blockade, captor of 37 ships, and captured by Collins under a questionable situation, and sank under mysterious circumstances.
The CSS Florida was built in Liverpool, England, under the name Oreto. Commissioned Aug. 17, 1862, and was 191 feet long, beam of 27.2 feet, crew of 146 officers and men. Armament consisted of: 66-inch rifled cannons, 2X7-inch rifled cannons, and 1X12 pounder cannon.
It was commanded by Captain John Newland Maffit and raced past the Union blockade into the port of Mobile. After that, it spent 6 months cruising off North and South America and the West Indies, calling in foreign ports and capturing prizes all the while.
It was in France from Aug 23, 1863 to February 12, 1864. Maffitt became ill and turned command over to Lieutenant Charles Morris.
The Illegal Capture of the Florida, Next. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
