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CSS Neuse

![Side view of CSS Neuse][float-right]
was a steam-powered ironclad ram built for the to defend waterways during the .
Contracted on October 17, 1862, at White Hall (now Seven Springs), the vessel featured a wide, flat-bottomed hull resembling a river barge, armored with railroad iron, and armed with two Brooke rifles forward and one aft. Launched in November 1863 but plagued by construction delays due to material shortages, it was commissioned in April 1864 and assigned to patrol the Neuse River in hopes of recapturing Union-held New Bern. Despite its potential as one of 26 Confederate ironclads, Neuse saw limited combat, firing its guns in anger only once during a brief engagement, and never achieved its strategic objectives amid ongoing Union blockades and advances. In March 1865, as Confederate forces retreated, the crew scuttled and burned the ship to prevent capture by advancing Union troops. Its salvaged hull, recovered in 1961–1964, is preserved at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site in Kinston, North Carolina, serving as a key artifact of Confederate naval efforts.

Design and Specifications

Hull and Propulsion Characteristics

The CSS Neuse was constructed with a wooden primarily of timber, forming a flat-bottomed, shallow-draft optimized for operations in North Carolina's rivers and sounds. The measured 158 feet (48 m) in and 34 feet (10 m) in , enabling maneuverability in confined waterways while supporting the weight of iron armor plating and armament. Draft was approximately 7 feet when completed, a feature intended to allow navigation over shallow bars and riverbeds, though the vessel's heavy and incomplete fitting-out often led to grounding incidents. The was laid using bolted yellow pine frame timbers measuring 8 by 10 inches, reflecting resource constraints that favored locally abundant materials over more durable hardwoods. Propulsion was provided by twin screws driven by two horizontal non-condensing engines, each with cylinders of 18-inch bore and 19-inch stroke, powered by two boilers generating an estimated 400 indicated horsepower. This configuration, derived from designs by Confederate naval John L. Porter, prioritized simplicity and rapid assembly amid wartime shortages, though it yielded modest speeds suitable only for defensive patrols rather than high-mobility engagements.

Armament and Armor

The CSS Neuse was armed with two 6.4-inch Brooke rifles, muzzle-loading guns originally smoothbores that had been rifled and banded for improved range and accuracy, mounted on pivot carriages within the for limited traverse. These weapons, each weighing approximately 9,000 pounds, were installed on the night of March 7, 1864, and supplied with including solid wrought-iron shot, explosive shells, and canister for anti-personnel use. The guns saw combat only once, firing against troops on March 12, 1865, during the defense of . The ironclad's armor consisted of two layers of wrought-iron plating totaling 4 inches in thickness applied to the forward over the green pine hull by mid-February 1864, providing limited protection against lighter . However, persistent iron shortages—exacerbated by blockades and competing demands from other Confederate projects—prevented plating of the aft shield and broadsides, leaving much of the vessel exposed and compromising its defensive capabilities against heavier naval guns. The unseasoned pine backing further reduced resilience, as it lacked the density to absorb impacts effectively. No armor was fitted, reflecting priorities for shallow-draft riverine operations over comprehensive protection.

Construction

Site Selection and Initial Building

The Confederate States Navy chose White Hall (present-day Seven Springs), an inland site on the in , for constructing the CSS Neuse to shield the project from Union naval threats following their capture of New Bern on , 1862, and to facilitate operations aimed at reclaiming coastal areas and defending eastern 's waterways. This location provided access to the river for launching while remaining upstream and relatively secure. On October 17, 1862, the Navy Department contracted the firm Howard & Ellis to build the ironclad gunboat, stipulating completion of the hull by March 1, 1863, ready for engine installation. The keel was laid about three weeks later, in early November 1862, initiating work on the wooden structure designed as a shallow-draft ram similar to the CSS Albemarle. Initial construction progressed despite material shortages and a raid during the Battle of Whitehall on , 1862, where Confederate forces successfully defended the shipyard from destruction. The hull reached a stage allowing launch in November 1863, after which the incomplete vessel was floated downriver to Kinston for armor plating and outfitting.

Material Shortages and Engineering Challenges

The construction of CSS Neuse was hampered by acute shortages of iron plating, which was critical for armoring the vessel's and deck. Confederate naval authorities struggled to procure sufficient rolled iron sheets from limited Southern foundries, such as the in , due to the overall scarcity of raw materials and industrial capacity in the . These delays persisted through 1863, forcing builders to proceed with partial armoring and ultimately leaving the deck unarmored—a departure from initial designs that prioritized full protection against naval gunfire. Transportation bottlenecks exacerbated the material deficits, as rail and river routes were vulnerable to Union blockades and raids, disrupting shipments of iron and machinery components from distant suppliers. In April 1864, the ship's commander, Lieutenant Benjamin Loyall, highlighted the protracted delays in iron forwarding, noting that expected deliveries had been repeatedly postponed, stalling outfitting at Kinston. cavalry incursions, including attacks on supply lines in , further intercepted construction materials en route to the yard. Engineering challenges arose from a dearth of skilled labor and the improvised nature of Confederate in remote locations. Local shipwrights, often inexperienced with ironclad specifications, faced difficulties integrating heavy boilers, engines, and systems into the vessel's shallow-draft , compounded by the need to lower machinery aboard after floating the incomplete ship downstream from to Kinston in 1863. These issues, alongside administrative hurdles in coordinating Confederate oversight with state resources, extended the build time beyond two years, rendering Neuse operational only in early amid ongoing Federal threats.

Operational History

Commissioning and Early Patrols

The CSS Neuse was formally commissioned into service with the in April 1864, following its launch into the the previous November and subsequent amid persistent material shortages. Assigned to operations on North Carolina's inland waterways as part of the under Commander Robert F. Pinkney, the ironclad was intended to challenge Union control of the lower and support efforts to recapture New Bern. On April 22, 1864, it received orders to descend the river in coordination with Confederate ground forces for this purpose, marking its initial deployment attempt under Benjamin P. Loyall, who assumed command the following day. Early patrols proved severely limited by the vessel's shallow draft of approximately 4 feet and the 's navigational challenges, including low water levels and sandbars. After steaming only about one mile downstream from Kinston on , the Neuse grounded on a sandbar and remained immobilized for nearly a month, despite efforts to lighten the ship and employ ground crews for assistance. Refloated by late May, it conducted restricted patrols along the upper reaches of the near Kinston, primarily serving as a defensive asset moored against incursions rather than engaging in offensive maneuvers. These initial operations highlighted the ironclad's operational constraints, with Loyall reporting difficulties in crew recruitment and coordination with army units, further confining its mobility. By mid-1864, command transitioned to Captain Joseph H. Price, but early patrols yielded no significant engagements, as river obstructions, shallow drafts, and lack of supporting prevented advances toward Union-held positions. The Neuse thus remained largely stationary through the summer, patrolling only short segments of the river to deter federal gunboats while awaiting reinforcements that never fully materialized.

Deployment Attempts and Groundings

Following commissioning in early April 1864, the CSS Neuse received orders to descend the and support Confederate land forces in recapturing New Bern, occupied by Union troops since March 1862. On April 22, 1864, the ironclad set out from Kinston but ran aground on a sandbar approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) downstream, where low spring water levels exposed navigational hazards in the shallow, meandering upper river channel. The vessel's wide, flat-bottomed hull—designed for stability in confined waters but drawing only 4 feet (1.2 m) fully loaded—exacerbated the predicament amid shifting sediments and insufficient depth, stranding it for nearly one month. Confederate crews made repeated efforts to dislodge the Neuse, offloading its two 6.4-inch (160 mm) Brooke rifles and portions of the armored to lighten the 297-foot (91 m) structure, yet these measures proved insufficient without external aid. Refloatation succeeded only after a natural rise in river levels during mid-May , allowing the gunboat to return upstream to Kinston, though too late to participate in the aborted offensive. A potential second push toward New Bern was forestalled when supporting infantry units were redirected to bolster defenses in , leaving the Neuse confined to defensive patrols above Kinston for the remainder of amid ongoing shallow-water constraints.

Combat Engagement and Scuttling

The CSS Neuse participated in a single combat engagement during the Confederate retreat from , amid the in early March 1865. As John M. Schofield's forces (approximately 18,000 troops) pressed after victories at the Battle of Wyse's Fork (March 6–10), Confederate General ordered evacuation across the , with the ironclad tasked to provide covering fire and delay Union advances. On , under Joseph H. Price, the Neuse fired its two 6.4-inch Brooke rifles—the only instance it discharged its armament in anger—targeting Union skirmishers and supporting the burning of bridges into Kinston, though its shallow draft, prior grounding damage, and the narrow river limited effectiveness to negligible impact. With Confederate relief forces absent, provisions depleted, and troops nearing, Price's crew scuttled the vessel on March 12 to avert capture. They removed powder, stores, and valuables, packed the bow with gunpowder charges, set fires throughout the ship, and abandoned it in the near present-day King Street Bridge, sinking the hull to deny its use to the enemy; forces occupied Kinston four days later on March 15.

Wreck and Recovery

Post-War Abandonment and Rediscovery

After its scuttling on March 10, 1865, by Confederate forces to evade advancing Union troops, the CSS Neuse was abandoned in shallow waters of the Neuse River near Kinston, North Carolina, where it had been burned and partially dismantled to prevent capture. In the immediate postwar period of 1865, salvagers removed the vessel's iron armor plating for scrap sale, along with its Brooke rifles, machinery, and other components, leaving the wooden hull remnants submerged and exposed to river currents and sediment. These efforts focused on recoverable valuables amid Reconstruction-era resource scarcity, with no comprehensive preservation attempted, resulting in the site's neglect for nearly a century as local knowledge of the wreck faded. The wreck remained largely undisturbed and forgotten until the centennial observances in 1961, when local enthusiasts Henry Casey, Lemuel Houston, and initiated systematic recovery operations on , prompted by heightened historical interest. Their dives and excavations uncovered substantial sections, including the bottom and sides, preserved by river mud, alongside artifacts like tools and personal items, marking the first major postwar archaeological engagement with the site. This rediscovery effort, supported by state involvement, transitioned the Neuse from an obscure river hazard to a recognized archaeological asset, yielding insights into Confederate ironclad despite prior scavenging.

Excavation and Artifact Recovery

In 1954, local efforts to rediscover the wreck began when six high school boys from Kinston excavated the site along the , recovering approximately 14 live Brooke percussion shells from the riverbed near present-day Bright Street. These findings prompted further interest but were limited in scope due to the vessel's burial in mud and the challenges of wartime obstructions. Systematic excavation commenced on , 1961, led by local enthusiasts including Henry Casey and Lemuel , who organized salvage operations to expose and raise the lower hull embedded in the riverbank. Over the following years, through manual digging, , and structural reinforcement, excavators freed the 141-foot hull, which was then sectioned into three parts for transport to a preservation site in Kinston to prevent further deterioration from river currents and sediment. This process marked one of the earliest large-scale recoveries of a Confederate ironclad wreck, yielding structural insights into its shallow-draft design despite the absence of the upper , which had decayed or been salvaged post-war. The excavation recovered approximately 15,000 artifacts, the largest assemblage from any raised vessel, including heavy ordnance such as projectiles, cannonballs, and unfired shells that provided evidence of the ship's armament readiness before . Other items encompassed tools, personal effects of the crew, and iron plating fragments, offering material evidence of Confederate naval under resource constraints; these were cataloged and initially conserved through basic chemical treatments to combat from prolonged submersion. Subsequent re-conservation efforts in the 1990s and 2010s addressed ongoing degradation from outdoor exposure, employing electrolytic reduction and protocols to stabilize organic and metallic remains for display at the CSS Neuse Interpretive .

Preservation Techniques and Relocation

Following the 1961–1964 salvage operations, preservation efforts focused on stabilizing the waterlogged wooden hull, which had been naturally conserved by river mud and conditions for nearly a century. Initial treatments included the application of wood preservatives to prevent fungal decay and cracking upon exposure to air, funded by a $10,000 state allocation approved by Governor in support of the relocation from the riverbank. Approximately 15,000 artifacts, including armaments, tools, and personal items recovered from the hull, underwent electrolytic reduction and processes to remove salts and , with repeated re-conservation cycles in subsequent decades to address ongoing degradation from environmental exposure. The hull was first relocated in 1964 to an outdoor exhibit at Caswell Memorial Park in , where a dedicated state historic site was established to display the remains alongside interpretive elements. This site provided public access but exposed the structure to , prompting concerns over accelerated wood deterioration from humidity fluctuations, UV radiation, and biological agents. By the early , state officials determined that indoor housing was essential for long-term viability, leading to the of a climate-controlled facility at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. On June 23, 2012, the hull—measuring about 120 feet in length and weighing several tons—was dismantled into sections, transported via heavy-duty trailers through Kinston streets, and reassembled at 100 North Queen Street. This relocation incorporated advanced monitoring systems for temperature, humidity, and , significantly reducing risks of further material loss compared to the previous open-air setup. Ongoing maintenance includes periodic inspections and non-invasive treatments to maintain structural integrity without altering historical authenticity.

Legacy and Replicas

Historical Assessment and Strategic Impact

The CSS Neuse represented a microcosm of the Confederate Navy's ironclad program, which aimed to counter naval dominance through riverine warfare but was undermined by chronic shortages of iron plating, skilled labor, and reliable machinery. Constructed beginning in October 1862 under a decentralized initiative, the vessel featured a armored with railroad iron and armed with one rifled 7-inch Brooke gun and one 6.4-inch Brooke , yet persistent delays left its armor incomplete and engines underpowered at launch in March 1863. These deficiencies, compounded by a 7-foot draft ill-suited to the Neuse River's shallow channels averaging 5 feet, limited its mobility and combat readiness, as evidenced by Robert F. Pinkney's assessments of its inadequacy for offensive roles. Intended to spearhead the recapture of Union-occupied New Bern and secure eastern North Carolina's inland waterways, the Neuse attempted deployment in April 1864 but grounded on a sandbar, aborting the operation and stranding it upriver at Kinston for months. A second effort in May 1864 faltered without infantry support from Robert Hoke's division, which had been redeployed northward. In its sole combat engagement on 12 March 1865, the ironclad shelled advancing Union cavalry during the Confederate retreat from Kinston, providing brief covering fire before being scuttled and burned to evade capture as forces closed in. This action, while tactically supportive, yielded no decisive gains and highlighted the vessel's role as a defensive asset rather than a strategic offensive tool. The Neuse's overall strategic impact was marginal, as it neither disrupted Union supply lines nor reclaimed key positions like New Bern, contributing instead to a pattern of ironclad ineffectiveness that strained Confederate resources without offsetting blockades or inland advances. Its presence at Kinston tied down local Union reconnaissance but failed to prevent the erosion of Confederate control over North Carolina's sounds and rivers by late 1864. Historians assess it as emblematic of broader naval shortcomings—innovative in yet operationally disappointing due to logistical constraints—ultimately reinforcing the Confederacy's defensive posture without altering regional war outcomes.

CSS Neuse II Replica Project

The CSS Neuse II replica project was initiated by the CSS Neuse Gunboat Association to construct a full-scale representation of the original Confederate ironclad CSS Neuse, based on historical plans similar to those of the Albemarle-class vessels. Construction of the replica, measuring approximately 158 feet in length, was completed in 2005 as a community-driven effort in . Managed by the CSS Neuse Foundation, a 501(c)(3) , the replica serves as an educational exhibit highlighting the design, construction challenges, and limited operational history of Civil War-era Confederate ironclads. The static vessel, located at 118 N. Herritage Street in Kinston, allows public access on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where visitors can board and explore features replicating the original's armored , systems, and armament configurations. The project emphasizes authentic replication using period-appropriate materials and techniques where feasible, though adapted for modern preservation and safety standards, distinguishing it as the world's only full-scale of a Confederate ironclad . It complements the nearby CSS Neuse Interpretive Center, which houses artifacts from the excavated original wreck, providing a comprehensive view of the vessel's legacy without operational functionality.

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