One of the most significant ironclads to be built during the Civil War was the C.S.S. Tennessee. Launched on February 28, 1863 at Selma, Alabama, the Tennessee displaced 1,273 tons and was 209 feet long. Armed with six muzzle loading guns (four 6.4 inch and two 7 inch Brooke rifles) that could be pivoted out of the ironclad’s ten gun ports. The Tennessee also mounted a ram at the bow and was protected by four inches of armor plate on the sides and stern of the casemate and six inches of armor forward.

 For all of the ship’s strengths however, the Tennessee had some serious shortcomings. The most severe being the exposed chains that controlled the rudder, running along the deck at the stern. The iron shutters that covered the gun ports as the cannon were reloaded could also be jammed by enemy shellfire. The Tennessee also suffered from unreliable engines, which came from a Mississippi riverboat that was originally set up for a paddlewheel, not the screw propellers that the ironclad used. All of this left the Tennessee with a top speed of only six knots.

 The Tennessee then made for the line of wooden ships, followed by the Confederate gunboats Selma, Gaines, and Morgan. It was at this time that Farragut, on board the sloop Hartford, made his famous “Damn the torpedoes!” command. The Brooklyn was steaming ahead of the Hartford when one of the crew on board the former spotted the mines in the water ahead of the fleet. The captain of the Brooklyn then put his engines full astern trying to dodge the “torpedoes”. Farragut then had the Hartford pass the Brooklyn to port. As the Hartford steamed past, the Brooklyn’s captain told Farragut of the mine field in front of him. Farragut then gave his reply of “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!” 
 

 Buchanan then decided to make another run at the Union fleet. Farragut ordered his monitors and larger ships to engage the Tennessee. The Monongahela and Lackawanna both rammed the ironclad, but received more damage then they caused. Then the Hartford rammed the Tennessee, again with little result. Then the monitor Manhattan opened fire on the Tennessee’s port side with its 15 inch guns. One shot penetrated the casemate cleanly. Then the monitor Chickasaw opened up on the Tennessee with its two 11 inch guns. Soon the vulnerable chains leading to the rudder were shot away, and the gun port covers were jammed. The Tennessee was then dead in the water, with her funnel gone and her guns put out of action. Buchanan had been wounded in the leg, giving up command to Lt. James Johnston, who ordered the Tennessee’s surrender.

 In an ironic twist of fate, the CSS Tennessee was renamed the USS Tennessee, quickly repaired, and was used to help in the capture of Fort Morgan. The very fort the ironclad was supposed to protect. The Tennessee was used on the Mississippi river until the end of the war, and was scrapped in 1867.

 The model is from the now discontinued Sea Eagle 10mm series from Thoroughbred Models. The scale for the model works out to be about 1/160. Having already built the smaller casemate ironclad CSS Albemarle, I was looking forward to sinking my teeth into the Tennessee. The ship’s hull and casemate are all one piece, with a separate floor section that is the gun deck. There is also a metal roof section that glues on to the aft part of the casemate that houses the chimney (the term used for funnels in those days). The lifeboats, chimney, guns, carriages, and crew are all cast in metal. No lifeboat davits were included so I used some from Bluejacket ship crafters. The guns were nicely cast as the four 6.4 inches and two 7 inch Brooke rifles, as on the real Tennessee. 

  Like the Albemarle, I found the Tennessee to be very well detailed and well cast with only one small pinhole on the deck. At slightly more than fifteen inches long, the Tennessee is an impressive sight. I found it a shame that Thoroughbred discontinued this line of ships, you certainly get a lot of detail for the money.
 I started out by cleaning up the resin parts, and filling in the one pinhole. I then put on several coats of flat white onto the gun deck and the inside of the gun ports. I painted the decks with Model master wood acrylic. As for the armored casemate, the instructions list either gray or brown for the color. From the different accounts I have read of the Tennessee, I believe the aesthetics were the least of the builders concern. The Confederate Navy was trying to build as many ships as possible, and as quickly as possible for the defense of Mobile Bay. Add to the fact that the first iron plating intended for the Tennessee would not fit, and I could not imagine the time being spent on worrying about paint. I decided a nice red / brown shade would probably go well. I then painted the casemate with Floquil D & LGH Building Brown, which has a slight red hue to it. 

 I then painted the guns, chimney, vent funnels, davits, and anchor chains Floquil Steam Power Black. I also took this time to find out where the boat davits were located. According to most references I looked at, I found that the boats were located on the stern deck, not mounted on the casemate like in the famous painting of the Battle of Mobile Bay by J.O. Davidson.
 

 I found I needed to do some minor filing and sanding to get the gun deck to fit in flush with the casemate. I then mounted the guns, with the 7 inch guns facing directly fore and aft with the broadside guns in their respective ports. After the guns were secured and the glue well and dry, I placed the chimney in the small metal deck piece and glued the whole thing onto the casemate. After having looked at a few photos, I found that the hole for the jack staff was in the wrong place. On the model it was located on the top of the casemate at the stern (shown there again in the Davidson painting). I drilled out a small hole on the stern deck to mount it there later, and filled in the hole on the casemate.

 After the boats were painted, I realized due to weight I would need something strong to secure them to their davits. I obtained some surgical grade stainless steel wire, which although thin enough, proved to be very strong. I then drilled out two holes in each of the boats, and mounted the wire in place to resemble rope. This was a little tricky, but I eventually got the boats to seat flush and to stay put. I then drilled out a hole in the bow to place the staff for Admiral Buchanan’s flag (solid blue ensign).

 I thoroughly enjoyed building the CSS Tennessee; the beastly look of the ship makes it a nice display piece.