With the design approved, construction of the new vessel began on October 14th, 1861. The Tifts soon recognized that their craft would require a wider beam to seat both of the intended boiler systems and thusly the vessel was widened by some twenty feet in response. The added space also led to the adoption of two more guns for a total of twenty - four of these to become 7" (178mm) types with appropriate firing arcs at the bow and stern. Delays became commonplace, both in the changing design, the lack of proper shipbuilding facilities and access to the resources required. Additionally, local bureaucratic interference and labor issues added to the CSS Mississippi's slow building phase. The Tift brothers had originally convinced Mallory that they could deliver their three-screw ironclad as early as December 15th though the reality was that the vessel, in its unfinished form, was taken over by the Confederate navy personnel on April 20th, 1862. At this time, the vessel lacked the required engines, armor protection and armament essentially making her a rather useless "hulk".
The situation at New Orleans was growing perilous with the under-construction ship in peril from approaching Union naval forces. Union Admiral David Farragut has emerged from the Gulf of Mexico and began the journey up the Mississippi River with New Orleans as the intended target. The threat to Memphis upriver by the Union Western Gun Flotilla forced the CSS Louisiana to be committed to its defense, intending the CSS Mississippi to follow suit when ready. However, Confederate Captain William Whittle, assigned to New Orleans by Mallory and arriving in March, was given orders to relocate the CSS Mississippi upriver to complete her construction. He then passed the order to Commander Arthur Sinclair of the CSS Mississippi who attempted to have the vessel towed by two steamers. When this endeavor failed, Sinclair gave the order to set the vessel alight left she fall into enemy hands - the enemy now within sight of New Orleans proper. The CSS Mississippi was then passed by advancing Union naval forces, bringing about her rather short-lived naval career in the American Civil War. New Orleans fell to Admiral Farragut on April 25th, 1862.
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