VERBATIM
 In latter part of 1861, the keel of the ‘SS Oreto’ was laid down at the shipyards of William Miller and Sons of Liverpool, England. From the outset, the ship was designed to be one of the fastest afloat in the 1860's, and for good reason. She was fitted with engines of a new design and manufacture by Faucett, Preston and Company, known and held in high regard for building some of the fastest maritime engines in the 19th century. On March 22, 1862, ‘Oreto’ embarked on her maiden voyage as a civilian ship, bound for the port of Nassau in the Bahamas. It is a widely held opinion that her early departure was to carry much needed war supplies for the Confederate States. History records however, the 'Oreto' would have a short career in the civilian merchant role - rather, later to make her place in history as a Confederate cruiser. Whilst 'Florida' was known in the shipyard as the 'Oreto' she was initially intended to be named ‘Manassas’ in confederate service. She had the distinction of being the first of several, foreign-built cruisers. For reasons unknown, Union records long continued to refer to her as the 'Oreto' and frequently, reports confused her with the CSS Alabama despite her being fitted with two funnels as opposed to the single-stacked AlabamAt Nassau in the Bahamas, ‘Oreto’ was intended to coal and had contrived to fill her bunkers although she was only entitled to take on enough fuel to make the nearest Confederate port. The Governor of the islands denied the 'Oreto' the opportunity to rendezvous with her tender in Nassau harbour and ordered the ship to be arrested - but on August 7, the British courts concluded that 'Orteo' was not an armed ship and released her. Only a few hours after their decision, the ship slipped out of Nassau harbour at night, making her way to the isolated Green Cay. Here, she met up with the British schooner 'Prince Alfred' carrying other essential supplies. By now, the yellow fever weeping the area had struck her entire complement with the exception of one fireman and four deckhands. 
'being hereby commissioned
as the Confederate cruiser CSS Florida on this day, August 17th 1862,
with the sole intention to raid Union shipping lines along the Gulf of
Mexico'.
The following day Maffitt
ordered the ship's company to began training on all main guns. It was at
this point, his executive officer, Lieutenant Stribling made an
unfortunate discovery. In their haste to break out of Nassau and away
from the U.S. ships in the vicinity, the Oreto/Florida's company
accidentally left essential naval artillery equipment in storage. As the
ship would now be totally helpless in combat Maffitt, also stricken
with the disease, decided to make for Mobile in Alabama, running the
blockade for the irst time – a risky move he knew and one that could
well see the end of the Florida’s burgeoning career.
Despite a raging fever, Maffitt was determined to get his ship to the relative safety of America. In an audacious dash the ‘Prince of Privateers’ braved a hail of canon shot from two Federal blockade ships before finally anchoring beneath the guns of Fort Morgann. Maffitt and his crew were accorded a hero’s welcome. Asked why the Florida had not returned fire on the Union vessels, he revealed the necessary rammers, sights, beds, locks and quoins had not been loaded in the Bahamas as intended. Maffitt, impatient to get back to sea, delayed no longer than absolutely necessary. Having taken on-board all remaining stores and armaments, along with added crew members, the Florida finally escaped to sea on January 16, 1863.
Embarking
on an extraordinary career which, over about the next year and a half
would see the cruiser cross the Atlantic twice while destroying ships of
the US merchant fleet. The spring and summer of 1863 saw the CSS
Florida sink several US ships in the waters surrounding the West Indies
and in the mid-Atlantic ocean. Maffitt during this period, made
considerable use and benefitted directly from several friends in the
British Royal Navy. On at least three occasions, the Florida found
herself in 'close proximity' to one or more British ships of the line;
and an exchange of goods and/or replenishment at sea was highly
probable. According to the personal log of Midshipman Stephen Forsyth of
HMS Resistance, a rare departure from Resistance's duties patrolling
the English Channel, reveals 'a chance encounter with the Confederate
Cruiser 'Florida' saw the transfer of coal, meat and light ordinance
from the Resistance, before signals of farewell were exchanged'. During
this period of Florida's operations, Maffitt made Nassau his home port;
but as the number of ships the Confederate raider was sinking or
capturing grew, the Federal authorities decided to dispatch a large
naval squadron to pursue this troublesome, Confederate 'raider'. On
being made aware of this; and despite many objections from the crew
Maffitt and his officers decided to move their base of operations to
Europe in the late summer of 1863.
Continuing to wreak havoc in the commercial shipping lanes between Europe and America, the CSS Florida eventually arrived in the port of Brest in August of 1863 needing to make repairs. French authorities impounded the Florida for the next few months, under France's neutrality laws. Immediately after this became known, United States diplomatic agents applied a near continuous stream of protests, threats, and requests for action to the government of Napolean III for the Confederate ship to seized on their behalf. As these ‘legal’ moves continued, employing the good offices of the Confederacy’s Naval Agent, Captain Maffitt ordered the vessel to be secretly repaired. Maffit however was now in declining health and was forced to relinquish his command to Lt. Charles M. Morris. Morris immediately had to contend with several serious discipline problems which had erupted during the ships period in port. Feeling the entire safety of his ship to be at risk, Morris finally discharged part of the original crew. In the end, American diplomatic efforts did not sway the French, and Lt. Morris was able to put to sea with his newly-equipped and newly-manned ship on 10 February 1864. 
Florida
crossed the Atlantic, making her way towards the shores of South
America where she continued harassing and decimating the US merchant
fleet for the next six months. On 10 July 1862, the CSS Florida enjoyed
its most successful day as a raider, taking four vessels including
'Electric Spark', valued at nearly $1,000,000. Despite these successes,
Morris decided his crew was in need of rest. There had already been one
unsuccessful mutiny and the Captain had lost confidence in his crew’s
ability to function effectively. Florida’s time was running out; and his
ship would meet its final end as a Confederate cruiser, through an
intelligence move and violation of international law by the US
Government.
In the October of 1864, the CSS Florida found itself docked in the port of Bahia, Brazil, refitting and allowing an exhausted crew time to relax. The US Consulate in Bahia began operations spying upon the activities of the ship and communicating with the Federal Navy ships operating in the area. In violation of international laws respecting the rights of neutral powers in a conflict, Commander Napoleon Collins of the USS Wachusett, attacked the Florida while she lay at anchor in Bahia. Catching the Confederate ship completely unprepared for combat, the USS Wachusett rammed the Florida, damaging her hull badly and forcing her Captain to surrender. The Wachussett then towed its prize to the US Navy's base at Hampton Roads, VA. Meantime, diplomats of Brazil and several other countries, filed legal protests against the US and the actions of Commander Collins. The US courts held that Commander Collins had indeed violated the international laws and treaties of the US and ordered the ship to be returned to Brazil. Before this could happen however, the CSS Florida was lost in a questionable collision with the US Army Transport, 'Alliance' in late November of 1864. It was widely believed the sinking was most likely arranged by Admiral David Dixon Porter, a close friend of the 'Alliance’s' Captain. Commander Collins for his action of illegal attack and seizure was court-martialed and convicted of violating Brazilian territorial rights; but the verdict was set aside by Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles. Collins subsequently won fame and eventual promotion for his daring and was hailed as a hero by the press and readership of the north. No one can deny the CSS Florida, in spite of meeting such an ignominious end, enjoyed a stellar career as a Confederate cruiser. Sometimes plagued by an often ill-disciplined crew, she was directly credited with thirty seven ships either sunk or captured. In addition to this her crew took two ships that were later commissioned as the Confederate cruisers CSS Tacony and CSS Clarence. These ships were credited with another twenty three Federal vessels sunk or captured. Through daring and bold actions against all the odds, the officers and crew of the CSS Florida ensured a place for themselves and their ship in the annals of naval warfare history. |
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