One of six "Richmond Class" single-screw ironclad steam sloops, CSS Savannah was constructed under contract by H. F. Willink for the Confederacy at Savannah, Georgia. Her keel was laid in April of 1862, and she was launched in February 1863. She was 150 feet long, with a beam of 34 feet feet. She drew 13 feet of water, and could make 6 knots. Her armament consisted of two 7-inch Brooke rifles pivot-mounted fore and aft, two 6.4 inch Brooke rifles mounted on the broadside, and a 12-pounder coastal howitzer mounted on the shield deck. Her naval compliment totaled 25 officers and 150 sailors, and her marine detachment totaled 1 officer and 20 marines.