CSS General Rusk

History
Confederate States
Name	General Rusk
Fate	Destroyed by fire after attempts to refloat the ship failed
General characteristics
Type	Paddle Steamer
Displacement	750 t.
Length	200 ft (61 m)
Beam	31 ft (9.4 m)
Draft	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion	steam

CSS General Rusk, built as a merchantman at Wilmington, Del., in 1857, was seized from the Southern Steamship Co., by the State of Texas at Galveston in 1861. She served as reconnaissance and signal boat with the Texas Marine Department in and about the waters of Galveston Harbor during the latter half of 1861, trying unsuccessfully on several occasions to slip past the Federal blockade. In early November 1861 she rendered aid to CS Royal Yacht following that vessel's capture and firing by Union forces from USS Santee, and managed to save her from complete destruction and tow her to safety. In December 1861 she was ordered to take part in the defense of Buffalo Bayou, San Jacinto River.^[1]

Her most memorable exploit was the capture on 17 April 1861 off Indianola, Tex., of SS Star of the West, the first Union transport to make news in the Civil War.^[1]

During the early part of 1862 General Rusk was placed by General Hebert, commanding Texas Marine Department, under the control of Maj. T. S. Moise, Assistant Quartermaster, who colluded to transfer the steamer to his associates, authorizing them to place her under the British flag and employ her in blockade running. After a single successful round-trip there under the name Blanche she was bound for Havana in October 1862 when pursued by USS Montgomery, Comdr. C. Hunter, USN. While attempting to escape the steamer was run aground near Marianao, Cuba, and seized by a Montgomery boat crew. Efforts to get her towed off the bar and underway again ended when fire broke out and consumed both ship and cargo. The incident occasioned strong protest from England under whose flag she sailed, and Spain in whose territorial waters she was captured.^[1]

References

1. "General Rusk". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved March 23, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.