Huntsville, launched 7 February at Selma, was completed at Mobile Ala., and commissioned in 1863, Lt. J. Myers, CSN, in command. Although designed an ironclad she was only partially armored. Owing to defective engines and the lack of a full complement of guns Huntsville rendered no active service although she guarded the waters around Mobile. After the battle of Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864 she escaped up the Spanish River only to be sunk 12 miles from Mobile on 12 April 1865, upon the evacuation of that city.
Huntsville was a propeller ordered by the Confederate Navy from Henry D. Bassett, 1 May 1862, for $100,000 and delivered about 1 August 1863. Her high-pressure engines are believed to have been transferred from a river steamer, although it had been intended to supply them from Columbus, Ga., Naval Iron Works, commanded by Lts. Julian Myers and James McC. Baker, CSN. Her armor plate was delivered at Mobile by Shelby Iron Co. and Schofield & Markham of Atlanta.
