"css Albemarle Confederate Ironclad in the ACW" Topic

"It was the Union's turn to suffer. For three years its forces had steadily grown stronger along the North Carolina coast. Federal soldiers occupied most of the eastern part of the state. Few ports remained open, and even those were increasingly restricted by the dishearteningly effective Union blockade. Now, it was early 1864, and Confederate North Carolina was in dire straits. As their once consistent stream of supplies slowed to a trickle, Confederate leaders sought a way to break the Union blockade. Their solution came in the form of a mammoth ironclad ram named after the Albemarle Sound, where she had been built and where she would terrorize Union ships for months to come. She was the Albemarle, and there was not a Federal vessel afloat that could stop her.

The Confederates had been working on the Albemarle since 1863. Gilbert Elliott, a 19-year-old marine engineer and native North Carolinian, had been awarded a contract to build an ironclad ram capable of driving the Yankee invaders from his home state. Working under the direction of James W. Cooke, who was to command the ship, Elliott set up his'shipyard' in the cornfield of a Peter Smith on the west side of the Roanoke River, not far from Hamilton. The site was ideal: close to raw materials and able crewmen yet far enough upstream to be safe from surprise Union patrols. While Cooke collected the necessary men and equipment, Elliott scavenged for whatever iron he could find. After a year of dogged work, the hull of the Albemarle slid out of Smith's cornfield and into the river…."
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By the way… have anyone tried this one?…
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Amicalement
Armand

I found this link also…

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Amicalement
Armand

Thanks for sharing!

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand