Ironclads are iconic ships that can be found on many high seas battles. An ironclad is essentially a steam-powered warship designed from iron or steel hulls, built between the late 1800s to the mid-1890s. The ironclad was primarily developed due to the increased vulnerability of flat-bottomed wooden ships to explosive or combustible shells launched from shore. This vulnerability was addressed by placing an armored cruiser with a long-range gunship at the front of these ships, where it would fire on the enemy’s vessels from above.
Although ironclads did not see much action in the Civil War, they were very successful in other engagements including the First World War. In the First World War, ironclads helped to destroy German submarines off the coast of Ireland. Ironclad frigates provided much needed support to allied fleets in the Pacific Ocean. During the Civil War, Ironclads again served as the primary warships for the Union Navy, which used them to bombard the enemy vessels that tried to blockade Fortifications in San Antonio.
Two ironclads entered the famous Alamo during the Texas Republic’s battle of San Antonio during the height of the Civil War. These two ships, the Frigate Call of Courage and the schooner Frigate Comfort felt the necessity to use gun towers, mounts, and armaments in an attempt to thwart a massive German fleet blockading Texas. As the battle raged on into the night, the ironclads fired upon the German ships many times with great success, sinking many of them.
When the ironclad Virginia came under attack by the British, General Gordon Meade attached his forces to this ragtag group of sailors, including the Virginia, and led the fight back to victory. There are many ironclads that served in the Civil War. One of these ships was the CSS Virginia, which had been built in San Diego, California by the Rio San Diego Company. The ship was assigned to Rear Admiral Henry Wise’s squadron. This group of ironclads later changed their name to the New Orleans.
It wasn’t until the middle part of the nineteenth century that ironclads participated in the Civil War. In fact, they were so instrumental in the war effort that the US government turned to them for assistance when it came to providing the cannons for the Navy. Because of their massive size and cannon fire capabilities, ironclads were an important part of the arsenal for the Navy. They also provided support to Army units when they were on the sea. Indeed, the Virginia became one of the largest sea-going warships in the world.
During the Civil War, ironclads from the New Orleans became particularly important as the Navy fought for control of the port of Mobile, Alabama. At one point in the winter, General Robert Lee ordered an all out bombardment of the city. This occurred despite warnings from the New Orleans battery located on Magazine Street. The bombardment killed over one hundred and fifty civilians. The Union commander in Mobile, General John B. Gordon, also had ordered a similar bombardment the prior month in the same area of Mobile Bay.
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