CSS Nashville was a brig-rigged, side-paddle-wheel passenger steamer constructed in 1853 at Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Originally serving as a United States Mail Service (USMS) vessel, she operated between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina, until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Her design featured a traditional brig rigging complemented by side-mounted paddle wheels, making her suitable for passenger and mail transport along the Atlantic coast. During the early stages of the Civil War, Nashville played a notable role in the Battle of Fort Sumter, sailing into Charleston without flying the US national standard. She was subsequently fired upon by the USRC Harriet Lane, marking the first shot of the naval conflict in the Civil War. After Fort Sumter's surrender, she docked at Charleston and was captured by Confederate forces. The Confederates repurposed her as a cruiser, fitting her out for wartime service under the command of Lieutenant Robert B. Pegram of the Confederate Navy. As a Confederate cruiser, Nashville became the first ship of war to fly the Confederate flag in British waters when she crossed the Atlantic to Southampton in October 1861. She undertook a raid near the British Isles, where she boarded and burned the American merchant ship Harvey Birch, marking the first action by a Confederate commerce raider in the North Atlantic. Returning to North Carolina in February 1862, Nashville had captured two prizes valued at approximately US$66,000. During this period, she was sold and renamed Thomas L. Wragg to serve as a blockade runner. Later, she was commissioned as the privateer Rattlesnake in November 1862. Her service ended when she ran aground on the Ogeechee River in Georgia, and USS Montauk destroyed her with shell fire on February 28, 1863. The Nashville’s service history highlights her versatility and significance as a Confederate vessel involved in early naval engagements, blockade running, and commerce raiding during the Civil War.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.