Luck Runs Out for Raider Sumter ; Rebel Ship Finally Falters Amid Storm
The Washington Times › October 24, 2004
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Summary
Some ships are favored by fortune; others are not. Although the CSS Sumter had some successes as a raider, it was dogged by ill luck throughout. The name was bestowed upon the ship after Fort Sumter fell, and perhaps it was tempting fate.
The fledgling Confederacy was acutely aware that its puny navy was no match for Federal warships and realized that urgent steps must be taken to remedy the situation. Cmdr. Raphael Semmes began to assess the value of vessels in Southern waters that could be requisitioned and converted into men-of-war. One such was the Habana.See the full content of this document
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Luck Runs Out for Raider Sumter ; Rebel Ship Finally Falters Amid Storm
A 437-ton screw steamer, barkentine-rigged and with a single stack, the Habana was 184 feet long with a beam of 30 feet. In New Orleans, it was transformed into a naval vessel, lightly armed with an 8-inch shell gun amidships and four ...
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