The CSS Neuse was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. The remains of the ship can now be seen at an exhibit in Kinston, North Carolina. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
Construction
A contract for the construction on the CSS Neuse was signed on October 17, 1862 by the shipbuilding company of Thomas Howard and Elijah Ellis and the Confederate Navy. Work began in October on the bank across the Neuse River (her namesake) in North Carolina from the small village of Whitehall (present day Seven Springs). She was designed similarly to the CSS Albemarle. Her hull structure was 158 feet (48 m) long by 34 feet (10 m) wide made of mostly pine wood, abundant in the region. Many delays were incurred due to the lack of materials, mostly iron for her deck plating. The Confederate Army exercised priority over the Navy on use of the railroads.
Armament
She was fitted with two 6.4-inch (160 mm) Brooke rifled cannon (similar to a Parrott rifle). Each weighed more than 12,000 pounds.
Naval service
She was supposed to help with the battle for the Confederates to recover New Bern, North Carolina. She was burned by her crew at Kinston in March 1865 as Union troops entered the town.
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