I saw a post on Facebook and did a little digging.
Teaser was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Purchased at Richmond, Virginia by the State of Virginia in 1861, she was assigned to the naval forces in the James River with Lieutenant James Henry Rochelle, Virginia State Navy, in command. Upon the secession of Virginia, Teaser became a part of the Confederate States Navy and continued to operate in Virginia waters. With Lieutenant William A. Webb, CSN, in command, she took an active part in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8–March 9, 1862, acting as tender to CSS Virginia. She received the thanks of the Congress of the Confederate States for this action.
Teaser was a pioneer "aircraft carrier", serving as a base for an observation gas filled balloon; she also became a pioneer minelayer when ordered on June 17, 1862, to assist General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Under Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, CSN, she was used by the Confederate Naval Submarine Battery Service to plant and service "torpedoes" (mines) in the James River. While engaging USS Maratanza at Haxall's on the James on July 4, 1862, a Union shell blew up Teaser's boiler and forced her crew to abandon ship. When seized by Maratanza, Teaser was carrying on board a balloon for aerial reconnaissance of Union positions at City Point and Harrison's Landing.
Well I've learned to double check any source so I also found this --
CSS Teaser (1861-1862).
CSS Teaser , a 64-ton armed tug, was originally a civilian tugboat that was purchased by the State of Virginia in April 1861 and was later transferred to the Confederate States Navy. While under the command of First Lieutenant William A. Webb , she participated in the 8-9 March 1862 actions in Hampton Roads in which CSS Virginia engaged a succession of Federal warships. Afterwards, Teaser was used to plant and service mines and served as an observation balloon carrier in the James River.
This view shows her 12-pounder Parrott rifled gun mounted on a slide pivot carriage at her bow. A gunners' sponge, a shovel and a two casks are also visible.
Source of this section.
Cool Beans, I had no idea about this !
Thanks to Robert Hoover for the original post !
Thanks to Robert Hoover for the original post !
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