Taking On The Blockading Ships

With the help of a thick fog, on January 31^st 1863 two Confederate ironclads the CSS Chicora and CSS Palmetto State made an attack on the Union blockading ships in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.

On January 31^st 1863, in a thick predawn fog, the CSS Chicora and CSS Palmetto State; both ironclads, attacked the blockading force of unarmored Union ships stationed just outside of Charleston Harbor.  Using her ram and guns the Palmetto made the USS Mercedita surrender and disabled the USS Keystone State.  While this was going on the Chicora took on the other Unions ships with long range artillery.

Following this duel the two Confederate ships laid anchor safely back in the Charleston Harbor.

Lifting The Blockade

The CSS Palmetto State and CSS Chicora made a surprise attack January 31^st 1863 on the Union blockading force off Charleston, South Carolina.

The CSS Palmetto State was an ironclad ram built by the Cameron and Company of Charleston, South Carolina and under the command of Confederate Lieutenant Commander John Rutledge.  The CSS Chicora was her sister ram, also an ironclad was under Commander John Randolph Tucker.

The two Confederate ships slipped through a pre-dawn haze on January 31^st 1863 to make a surprise attack on the Union blockading force located off Charleston, South Carolina.  The ships sat low in the water, which allowed the Palmetto to ride under the guns of the USS Mercedita.  The Palmetto rammed the Union ship and fired into her, disabling the Mercedita.  The Confederate ram then went for the USS Keystone State.  The Keystone was hit by shells, puncturing her steam chests, putting her out of power and needing a tow.  As this was going on a long range gun battle ensued between the Chicora and the other Union blockaders, with little damage being done to either side.

The Palmetto and Chicora moved safely back into Charleston Harbor.  The battle caused a temporary lifting of the blockade of Charleston.