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The '''CSS ''Tallahassee''''' was a twin-screw [[Steamship|steamer]] and ''cruiser'' in the [[Confederate States Navy]], purchased in 1864, and used for commerce raiding off the Atlantic coast. She later operated under the names '''CSS ''Olustee''''' and '''CSS ''Chameleon'''''.
The '''CSS ''Tallahassee''''' was a twin-screw [[Steamship|steamer]] and [[cruiser]] in the [[Confederate States Navy]], purchased in 1864, and used for commerce raiding off the Atlantic coast. She later operated under the names '''CSS ''Olustee''''' and '''CSS ''Chameleon'''''.


==History==
==History==
The iron Confederate cruiser ''Tallahassee'' was named after the Confederate state capital of [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]] in [[Florida]] and was built on the [[River Thames]] by [[J & W Dudgeon]] of [[Cubitt Town]], [[London]] for [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway|London, Chatham & Dover Rly. Co.]] to the design of Capt. T. E. Symonds, [[Royal Navy]], ostensibly for the Chinese [[opium]] trade. She was previously the [[Blockade runners of the American Civil War|blockade runner]] ''Atalanta'' and made the [[Dover]]-[[Calais]] crossing in 77 minutes on an even keel. She had made several blockade runs between [[Bermuda]] and [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina|N.C.]] before the Confederates bought her.
The iron Confederate cruiser ''Tallahassee'' was named after the Confederate state capital of [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]] in [[Florida]] and was built on the [[River Thames]] by [[J & W Dudgeon]] of [[Cubitt Town]], [[London]] for [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway|London, Chatham & Dover Rly. Co.]] to the design of Capt. T. E. Symonds, [[Royal Navy]], ostensibly for the Chinese [[opium]] trade. She was previously the [[Blockade runners of the American Civil War|blockade runner]] ''Atalanta'' and made the [[Dover]]-[[Calais]] crossing in 77 minutes on an even keel. She had made several blockade runs between [[Bermuda]] and [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina|N.C.]] before the Confederates bought her.

[[Image:John Taylor Wood.png|thumb|left|150px|[[John Taylor Wood]]]]
[[Image:John Taylor Wood.png|thumb|left|150px|[[John Taylor Wood]]]]
[[File:CSS Tallahassee.jpg|thumb|Confederate cruiser and blockade runner CSS ''Tallahassee''.]]

After the ''Tallahassee'' was commissioned and prepared for sea she was placed under Commander [[John Taylor Wood]], CSN. Wood was a grandson of President [[Zachary Taylor]] and a nephew of [[Jefferson Davis]], who at the time was President of the [[Confederate States of America]]. The officers and crew were all volunteers from the Confederate gunboats on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] and North Carolina waters.
After the ''Tallahassee'' was commissioned and prepared for sea she was placed under Commander [[John Taylor Wood]], CSN. Wood was a grandson of President [[Zachary Taylor]] and a nephew of [[Jefferson Davis]], who at the time was President of the [[Confederate States of America]]. The officers and crew were all volunteers from the Confederate gunboats on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] and North Carolina waters.


The ''Tallahassee'' went through the blockade on August 6, 1864 from her home port of [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina]]. Her first day out, four cruisers chased the ''Tallahassee'' without incident.
The ''Tallahassee'' went through the blockade on August 6, 1864 from her home port of [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina]]. Her first day out, four cruisers chased the ''Tallahassee'' without incident.


She made a spectacular 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as [[City of Halifax|Halifax, Nova Scotia]]. The ''Tallahassee'' destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others that were bonded or released. Wood sailed the ''Tallahassee'' into [[Halifax Harbour]] on August 18 to take on bunker [[coal]] and water. Neutrality laws limited her stay in Halifax to 24 hours. ''Tallahassee'' was granted an extra 12 hours to fix a broken mast but was only allowed to load enough coal to take her to the nearest Confederate port. Two Federal war ships, the [[USS Nansemond (1862)|USS ''Nansemond'']] and {{USS|Huron|1861|6}}, had chased her north and were believed to be waiting for the ''Tallahassee'' at the harbour entrance. Wood hired a legendary Halifax [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] [[John "Jock" Flemming]], who is believed to have guided the warship through the narrow and shallow [[Eastern Passage]] between [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]] and [[Lawlor Island]], a route only suited for small fishing vessels. ''Tallahassee'' succeeded in negotiating the passage out of the harbour, although no Northern warships were in fact waiting. The first Northern warship, the gunboat [[USS Pontoosuc|USS ''Pontoosuc'']], arrived at the harbour entrance several hours after the Confederate cruiser departed.<ref>Marquis, Gred. ''In Armagedon's Shadow: The Civil War and Canada's Maritime Provinces'', (1998) McGill Queens Press, p. 233</ref>
She made a 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as [[City of Halifax|Halifax, Nova Scotia]]. The ''Tallahassee'' destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others that were bonded or released. Wood sailed the ''Tallahassee'' into [[Halifax Harbour]] on August 18 to take on bunker [[coal]] and water. Neutrality laws limited her stay in Halifax to 24 hours. ''Tallahassee'' was granted an extra 12 hours to fix a broken mast but was only allowed to load enough coal to take her to the nearest Confederate port. Two Federal war ships, the [[USS Nansemond (1862)|USS ''Nansemond'']] and {{USS|Huron|1861|6}}, were rumoured to be waiting for the ''Tallahassee'' at the harbour entrance. Wood hired legendary Halifax [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] [[John "Jock" Flemming]], who guided the warship through the narrow and shallow [[Eastern Passage]] between [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]] and [[Lawlor Island]], a route only suited for small fishing vessels. ''Tallahassee'' succeeded in negotiating the passage out of the harbour, although no Northern warships were in fact waiting. The first Northern warship, the gunboat [[USS Pontoosuc|USS ''Pontoosuc'']], arrived at the harbour entrance several hours after the Confederate cruiser departed.<ref>Marquis, Gred. ''In Armagedon's Shadow: The Civil War and Canada's Maritime Provinces'', (1998) McGill Queens Press, p. 233</ref>


Being unable to procure enough coal to continue, Wood was forced to return to Wilmington where he arrived safely on August 26.
Being unable to procure enough coal to continue, Wood was forced to return to Wilmington where he arrived safely on August 26.
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==Prizes==
==Prizes==
#The [[schooner]] ''Sarah A. Boice'' of Great Egg Harbor, N.J.; A.S. Adams, master; 381 tons. Her crew and their personal effects were brought on board, and she was [[Scuttling|scuttled]]. The ''Boice'' failed to sink, however, presumably because she was in ballast. She came ashore at Fire Island Inlet on Long Island, where she was salvaged and was reclaimed by her owners (after being ransacked by her "salvors", resulting in litigation) and was put back into service.
#The [[schooner]] ''Sarah A. Boice'' of Great Egg Harbor, N.J.; A.S. Adams, master; 381 tons. Her crew and their personal effects were brought on board, and she was [[Scuttling|scuttled]]. The ''Boice'' failed to sink, however, presumably because she was in ballast. She came ashore at Fire Island Inlet on Long Island, where she was salvaged and was reclaimed by her owners (after being ransacked by her "salvors", resulting in litigation) and was put back into service.
#The pilot-boat schooner ''James Funk'', No. 22 of [[New York City|New York]]; Robert Yates, master; 120 tons. Was turned into a tender of the ''Tallahassee'' using 20 of the ''Tallahassee's'' crew.
#The pilot-boat schooner ''[[James Funk]]'', No. 22 of [[New York City|New York]]; Robert Yates, master; 120 tons. Was turned into a tender of the ''Tallahassee'' using 20 of the ''Tallahassee's'' crew.
#The [[Barque|bark]] ''Bay State'' of Boston; Thomas Sparrow, master; bound from Alexandria to New York, with wood; 199 tons; burned.
#The [[Barque|bark]] ''Bay State'' of Boston; Thomas Sparrow, master; bound from Alexandria to New York, with wood; 199 tons; burned.
#The [[brigantine]] ''Carrie Estelle'' of Grand Manan, New Brunswick; Mark Thurlow, master; bound from Grand Manan to New York, with logs; 248 tons; burned.
#The [[brigantine]] ''Carrie Estelle'' of Grand Manan, New Brunswick; Mark Thurlow, master; bound from Grand Manan to New York, with logs; 248 tons; burned.
#The brigantine ''A. Richards'' of Boston; Charles Dunovant, master; from Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island to New York, with coal; 274 tons; burned.
#The brigantine ''A. Richards'' of Boston; Charles Dunovant, master; from Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island to New York, with coal; 274 tons; burned.
#The schooner ''Carroll'' of East Machias, Maine; ____ Sprague, master; ___ tons; taken by the ''Tallahassee's'' tender ''James Funk''; bonded in the sum of $10,000 and released.
#The schooner ''Carroll'' of East Machias, Maine; ____ Sprague, master; ___ tons; taken by the ''Tallahassee's'' tender ''James Funk''; bonded in the sum of $10,000 and released.
#The pilot-boat schooner [[William Bell, No. 24]] of New York; James Callahan, master; 123 tons; burned.
#The pilot-boat schooner ''[[William Bell, No. 24]]'' of New York; James Callahan, master; 123 tons; burned.
#The [[packet ship]] ''Adriatic'' of New York, from [[London, England]] to New York, with emigrants; 989 tons; burned. During the seizure, the ''Tallahassee'' collided with her losing her main mast.
#The [[packet ship]] [[Adriatic (ship, 1861)|''Adriatic'']] of New York, from [[London, England]] to New York, with emigrants; 989 tons; burned. During the seizure, the ''Tallahassee'' collided with her losing her main mast.
#The bark ''Glenavon'' of [[Thomaston, Maine|Thomaston]], [[Maine]]; James Watt, master; from Greenock, Scotland, to New York; 789 tons; scuttled.
#The bark ''Glenavon'' of [[Thomaston, Maine|Thomaston]], [[Maine]]; James Watt, master; from Greenock, Scotland, to New York; 789 tons; scuttled.
#The ship ''James Littlefield'' of [[Bangor, Maine|Bangor]], [[Maine]]; H.N. Bartlett, master; from Cardiff, Wales, to New York, with coal; 547 tons; scuttled.
#The ship ''James Littlefield'' of [[Bangor, Maine|Bangor]], [[Maine]]; H.N. Bartlett, master; from Cardiff, Wales, to New York, with coal; 547 tons; scuttled.
#The schooner ''Atlantic'' of Addison, Maine; P.W. Look, master; from Addison to New York; 156 tons; burned.
#The schooner ''Atlantic'' of Addison, Maine; P.W. Look, master; from Addison to New York; 156 tons; burned.
#The schooner ''Spokane'' of Fremont, ? ; C.H. Sayer, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 126 tons; burned.
#The schooner ''Spokane'' of Fremont, ?; C.H. Sayer, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 126 tons; burned.
#The schooner ''Billow'' of Salem, Mass.; M.A. Reed, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 173 tons; scuttled.
#The schooner ''Billow'' of Salem, Mass.; M.A. Reed, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 173 tons; scuttled.
#The bark ''Suilote''; (no other information given); bonded and released.
#The bark ''Suilote''; (no other information given); bonded and released.
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Wilkinson made two attempts to enter one of the southern ports, but finding it impossible, he took ''Chameleon'' to Liverpool, England, and turned her over to Comdr. J. D. Bullock, CSN, financial agent of the Confederate Navy Department.
Wilkinson made two attempts to enter one of the southern ports, but finding it impossible, he took ''Chameleon'' to Liverpool, England, and turned her over to Comdr. J. D. Bullock, CSN, financial agent of the Confederate Navy Department.


On her arrival in England on April 9, 1865 the ''Chameleon'' was seized and sold by the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] authorities and was about to enter the merchant service when the United States instituted suit for possession. She was awarded to the United States Government and handed over to the consul at Liverpool on April 26, 1866.
On her arrival in England on April 9, 1865 the ''Chameleon'' was seized and sold by the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] authorities and was about to enter the merchant service when the United States instituted suit for possession. She was awarded to the United States Government and handed over to the consul at Liverpool on April 26, 1866.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} ''Chameleon'' was sold at [[auction]] on orders from the consul on 14 June 1866. She sold for [[pound sterling|£6,400]].<ref name=BNL180666>{{Cite news |title=The Tallahassee and Sumter under the Hammer |newspaper=Belfast News-Letter |location=Belfast |date=18 June 1866 |issue=33402 }}</ref> On 21 July 1869, [[telegram]]s were received at New York stating that she had been wrecked near [[Yokohama]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] with the loss of 22 lives.<ref name=MP220769>{{Cite news |title=Wreck of a Steam-ship, and Loss of 22 Lives |newspaper=Morning Post |location=London |date=22 July 1869 |issue=29834 |page=4 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 1958, a new school in [[Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia]], near Lawlor Island, was named after the ''Tallahassee'' to commemorate Flemming's 1864 navigational feat. After a replacement school with the same name was built in 1992, the name grew controversial due to the Confederacy's support of slavery. Following several community meetings, the Tallahassee Community School was renamed Horizon Elementary School in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lau |first=Rebecca |title=Two Halifax-area schools unveil new names after efforts to lose controversial namesakes |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7731963/halifax-new-names-schools/ |work=[[Global News]] |date=March 31, 2021 |access-date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.astrococktail.com/PDF/CNHSnewsletters/CNHS6.pdf CSS Tallahassee] The Confederate Naval Historical Society ~ 4 – Newsletter Number Six, February 1991
*[http://www.astrococktail.com/PDF/CNHSnewsletters/CNHS6.pdf CSS Tallahassee] The Confederate Naval Historical Society ~ 4 – Newsletter Number Six, February 1991
{{commons category-inline|Tallahassee (ship, 1863)}}

{{CSN Cruisers}}
{{CSN Cruisers}}
{{1869 shipwrecks}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallahassee}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallahassee}}
[[Category:Cruisers of the Confederate States Navy]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the Confederate States Navy]]
[[Category:Cubitt Town-built ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Cubitt Town]]
[[Category:Culture of Tallahassee, Florida]]
[[Category:Culture of Tallahassee, Florida]]
[[Category:1864 ships]]
[[Category:1860s ships]]
[[Category:Military history of Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Military history of Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1869]]

Latest revision as of 03:14, 19 July 2024

CSS Tallahassee
History
Confederate States
NameTallahassee
BuilderJ & W Dudgeon, Cubitt Town, London
CommissionedJuly 20, 1864
RenamedCSS Olustee
FateWrecked 21 July 1869
General characteristics
Displacement700 tons
Length220 ft (67 m)
Beam24 ft (7.3 m)
Draft14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion2 – 100 h.p steam engines. 2 screws. Mast and sails
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement120
Armament1 rifled 32 pounder forward, 1 rifled 100 pounder amidship, 1 heavy Parrot aft

The CSS Tallahassee was a twin-screw steamer and cruiser in the Confederate States Navy, purchased in 1864, and used for commerce raiding off the Atlantic coast. She later operated under the names CSS Olustee and CSS Chameleon.

History

[edit]

The iron Confederate cruiser Tallahassee was named after the Confederate state capital of Tallahassee in Florida and was built on the River Thames by J & W Dudgeon of Cubitt Town, London for London, Chatham & Dover Rly. Co. to the design of Capt. T. E. Symonds, Royal Navy, ostensibly for the Chinese opium trade. She was previously the blockade runner Atalanta and made the Dover-Calais crossing in 77 minutes on an even keel. She had made several blockade runs between Bermuda and Wilmington, N.C. before the Confederates bought her.

John Taylor Wood
Confederate cruiser and blockade runner CSS Tallahassee.

After the Tallahassee was commissioned and prepared for sea she was placed under Commander John Taylor Wood, CSN. Wood was a grandson of President Zachary Taylor and a nephew of Jefferson Davis, who at the time was President of the Confederate States of America. The officers and crew were all volunteers from the Confederate gunboats on the James River and North Carolina waters.

The Tallahassee went through the blockade on August 6, 1864 from her home port of Wilmington, North Carolina. Her first day out, four cruisers chased the Tallahassee without incident.

She made a 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Tallahassee destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others that were bonded or released. Wood sailed the Tallahassee into Halifax Harbour on August 18 to take on bunker coal and water. Neutrality laws limited her stay in Halifax to 24 hours. Tallahassee was granted an extra 12 hours to fix a broken mast but was only allowed to load enough coal to take her to the nearest Confederate port. Two Federal war ships, the USS Nansemond and USS Huron, were rumoured to be waiting for the Tallahassee at the harbour entrance. Wood hired legendary Halifax pilot John "Jock" Flemming, who guided the warship through the narrow and shallow Eastern Passage between Dartmouth and Lawlor Island, a route only suited for small fishing vessels. Tallahassee succeeded in negotiating the passage out of the harbour, although no Northern warships were in fact waiting. The first Northern warship, the gunboat USS Pontoosuc, arrived at the harbour entrance several hours after the Confederate cruiser departed.[1]

Being unable to procure enough coal to continue, Wood was forced to return to Wilmington where he arrived safely on August 26.

Part of a series on the
Military history of Nova Scotia
Citadel Hill in Halifax
Notable events
Battle of Port Royal1690
Siege of Port Royal1710
Battle of Winnepang1722
Northeast Coast Campaign1745
Battle of Grand Pré1747
Dartmouth Massacre1751
Bay of Fundy Campaign1755
Siege of Louisbourg1758
Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax1758
Halifax Treaties1760–1761
Battle of Fort Cumberland1776
Raid on Lunenburg1782
Establishment of New Ireland1812
Capture of USS Chesapeake1813
‪Battle of the Great Redan1855
‪Siege of Lucknow1857
CSS Tallahassee escape1861
‪Halifax Provisional Battalion1885
‪Battle of Witpoort1899
‪Battle of Paardeberg1899
Imprisonment of Leon Trotsky1917
Jewish Legion formed1917
Sinking of Llandovery Castle1918
Battle of the St. Lawrence1942–1944
Sinking of Point Pleasant Park1945
Halifax VE-Day riot1945
Notable regiments
Mi'kmaq militias1677–1779
Acadian militias1689–1761
40th Regiment of Foot1717–1757
Louisbourg Garrison1717–1758
Gorham's Rangers1744–1762
Danks' Rangers1756–1762
84th Regiment of Foot1775–1784
Royal Fencible American1775–1783
Royal Nova Scotia Volunteers1775–1783
King's Orange Rangers1776–1783
1st Field Artilleryfrom 1791
Royal Nova Scotia1793–1802
Nova Scotia Fencibles1803–1816
Halifax Riflesfrom 1860
Princess Louise Fusiliersfrom 1867
78th Highland1869–1871
Cape Breton Highlandersfrom 1871
Nova Scotia Rifles1914–1919
No. 2 Construction Battalion1916–1919
West Nova Scotiafrom 1916
Nova Scotia Highlandersfrom 1954
Related topics

Prizes

[edit]
  1. The schooner Sarah A. Boice of Great Egg Harbor, N.J.; A.S. Adams, master; 381 tons. Her crew and their personal effects were brought on board, and she was scuttled. The Boice failed to sink, however, presumably because she was in ballast. She came ashore at Fire Island Inlet on Long Island, where she was salvaged and was reclaimed by her owners (after being ransacked by her "salvors", resulting in litigation) and was put back into service.
  2. The pilot-boat schooner James Funk, No. 22 of New York; Robert Yates, master; 120 tons. Was turned into a tender of the Tallahassee using 20 of the Tallahassee's crew.
  3. The bark Bay State of Boston; Thomas Sparrow, master; bound from Alexandria to New York, with wood; 199 tons; burned.
  4. The brigantine Carrie Estelle of Grand Manan, New Brunswick; Mark Thurlow, master; bound from Grand Manan to New York, with logs; 248 tons; burned.
  5. The brigantine A. Richards of Boston; Charles Dunovant, master; from Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island to New York, with coal; 274 tons; burned.
  6. The schooner Carroll of East Machias, Maine; ____ Sprague, master; ___ tons; taken by the Tallahassee's tender James Funk; bonded in the sum of $10,000 and released.
  7. The pilot-boat schooner William Bell, No. 24 of New York; James Callahan, master; 123 tons; burned.
  8. The packet ship Adriatic of New York, from London, England to New York, with emigrants; 989 tons; burned. During the seizure, the Tallahassee collided with her losing her main mast.
  9. The bark Glenavon of Thomaston, Maine; James Watt, master; from Greenock, Scotland, to New York; 789 tons; scuttled.
  10. The ship James Littlefield of Bangor, Maine; H.N. Bartlett, master; from Cardiff, Wales, to New York, with coal; 547 tons; scuttled.
  11. The schooner Atlantic of Addison, Maine; P.W. Look, master; from Addison to New York; 156 tons; burned.
  12. The schooner Spokane of Fremont, ?; C.H. Sayer, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 126 tons; burned.
  13. The schooner Billow of Salem, Mass.; M.A. Reed, master; from Calais, Maine to New York, with lumber; 173 tons; scuttled.
  14. The bark Suilote; (no other information given); bonded and released.
  15. The schooner Robert E. Packer of Bath, Maine; Joseph E. Marston, master; from Baltimore to Richmond, Maine, with lumber; 222 tons; burned.
  16. The schooner Lamont Du Pont of Wilmington, Del.; L. C. Corson, master; from Cow Bay. Cape Breton Island, to New York, with coal; 194 tons; burned.
  17. The bark P.C. Alexander of Harpswell, Maine; A.B. Merryman, master; from New York to Pictou, Nova Scotia in ballast; 283 tons; burned.
  18. The brig Neva, of East Machias, Maine; E.J. Tolbert, master; from Lingan, Nova Scotia, to New York, with coal; 286 tons; bonded in the sum of $17,500 and loaded with prisoners from the previous captures.
  19. The brig Roan, of ?; C.E. Phillips, master; sailing to Cape Breton Island in ballast; 127 tons; burned.
  20. 14 small schooners ranging from 39 tons to 148 tons, sunk.

Renaming

[edit]

CSS Olustee

[edit]

The Tallahassee was renamed CSS Olustee after the Battle of Olustee in northern Florida and placed under the command of Lt. W. H. Ward, CSN. The Olustee ran through the blockade off Wilmington again on October 29, 1864 but suffered some damage from Federal guns. She captured and destroyed six ships off the Cape of Delaware before having to return for coal. She stopped attempts by USS Sassacus to capture her on November 6, 1864 and by four other United States ships on November 7, 1864 finally passing into the safety of Wilmington harbor.

CSS Chameleon

[edit]

The Olustee was renamed the CSS Chameleon with Lt. John Wilkinson (CSN) commanding. The battery had been removed and she ran through the Union blockade on December 24, 1864 while the United States fleet was preoccupied with bombarding Fort Fisher. The Chameleon proceeded to Bermuda to obtain provisions for the Confederate army.

Wilkinson made two attempts to enter one of the southern ports, but finding it impossible, he took Chameleon to Liverpool, England, and turned her over to Comdr. J. D. Bullock, CSN, financial agent of the Confederate Navy Department.

On her arrival in England on April 9, 1865 the Chameleon was seized and sold by the British authorities and was about to enter the merchant service when the United States instituted suit for possession. She was awarded to the United States Government and handed over to the consul at Liverpool on April 26, 1866.[citation needed] Chameleon was sold at auction on orders from the consul on 14 June 1866. She sold for £6,400.[2] On 21 July 1869, telegrams were received at New York stating that she had been wrecked near Yokohama, Japan with the loss of 22 lives.[3]

Legacy

[edit]

In 1958, a new school in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, near Lawlor Island, was named after the Tallahassee to commemorate Flemming's 1864 navigational feat. After a replacement school with the same name was built in 1992, the name grew controversial due to the Confederacy's support of slavery. Following several community meetings, the Tallahassee Community School was renamed Horizon Elementary School in 2021.[4]

See also

[edit]
Part of a series on the
History of
Halifax, Nova Scotia
History
Events
Other
  • Canada in the American Civil War
  • History of the Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Military history of Nova Scotia

    • References

    [edit]
    1. ^ Marquis, Gred. In Armagedon's Shadow: The Civil War and Canada's Maritime Provinces, (1998) McGill Queens Press, p. 233
    2. ^ "The Tallahassee and Sumter under the Hammer". Belfast News-Letter. No. 33402. Belfast. 18 June 1866.
    3. ^ "Wreck of a Steam-ship, and Loss of 22 Lives". Morning Post. No. 29834. London. 22 July 1869. p. 4.
    4. ^ Lau, Rebecca (31 March 2021). "Two Halifax-area schools unveil new names after efforts to lose controversial namesakes". Global News. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
    [edit]
    • CSS Tallahassee The Confederate Naval Historical Society ~ 4 – Newsletter Number Six, February 1991

    Media related to Tallahassee (ship, 1863) at Wikimedia Commons

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