The power of CSS Tennessee was well-recognized by Union war planners and commanders to the point that the assault on Mobile was to have increased numbers of available monitors at-the-ready. Union Admiral David Farragut led the charge on Mobile Bay and ran past the Confederate-held forts Morgan and Gaines to reach the bay and the waiting CSS Tennessee. However, as powerful a ship as Tennessee was, she showcased some inherent deficiencies in her design - primarily her engine fit which was taken from a steam riverboat steamer. The drive power, coupled with the weight added through armor and armament, made the Tennessee slow and cumbersome to maneuver in the water.
Her guns did well against the approaching Federal warships but the vessel and her crew soon found itself surrounded. Her steering had been knocked out by Union guns and enemy warships were free to engage with projectiles or ram her into submission. Her captain now wounded (Admiral Buchanan), his replacement (Commander James Johnson) finally ordered the surrender before a death knell was delivered to the ship - certainly sparring the lives of the crew (two had already been killed and a further nine now lay wounded - including its captain).
The ironclad was captured by Union forces intact, repaired and placed back into service - retaining her name as USS Tennessee. Now in service to the North, USS Tennessee continued its fight and participated in the attack on Fort Morgan on August 23rd, 1864 which led to its capture soon after. She was, again, repaired, this time at New Orleans and joined up with the Mississippi Squadron operating up and down the Mississippi River. She held this station until the end of the war in April of 1865 before being laid up at New Orleans. From there she was sold on November 27th, 1867 to be scrapped - some of her guns saved and currently showcased at the Washington Navy Yard.
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