CSS Stonewall Jackson

CSS Stonewall Jackson was a cottonclad sidewheel ram of the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War.

G. M. Phillips she was detached from Montgomery's main force and sent to Forts Jackson and St. Philip on the lower Mississippi to cooperate in the Confederate defense of New Orleans.

On 24 April 1862 a Union fleet under Flag Officer David Farragut, USN, ran past Forts Jackson and St. Philip on its way to capture New Orleans.

In the engagement Stonewall Jackson rammed USS Varuna, which had already been struck by CSS Governor Moore.

The shock of the blow turned the Confederate vessel, and she received five 8-inch shells from Varuna, abaft her armor.

CSS Stonewall Jackson rams USS Varuna .
Engraving published in "The Soldier in Our Civil War", Volume I. It depicts USS Varuna (center), being rammed by a Confederate ship identified as "Breckinridge" (left) while engaging CSS Governor Moore (right) during the battle off Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24 April 1862. The ship identified as "Breckinridge", is more probably the Stonewall Jackson .