CSS Selma ( 1856 ) CSS Selma was a steamship in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War . " Selma " was a coastwise packet built at Mobile , Alabama for the Mobile Mail Line in 1856 . Little doubt now remains that she was originally named " Florida " . As the latter , she was inspected and accepted by Captain Lawrence Rousseau , CSN , on April 22 , 1861 , acquired by the Confederacy in June , cut down and strengthened by hog frames and armed as a gunboat — all , apparently , in the Lake Pontchartrain area . Her upper deck was plated at this time with ⅜ inch iron , partially protecting her boilers , of the low pressure type preferred for fuel economy and greater safety in battle . CSS " Florida " is cited on November 12 , 1861 as already in commission and serving Commodore G . N . Rollins ' New Orleans defense flotilla under command of Lieutenant Charles W . Hays , CSN . The " Mobile Evening News " editorialized early in December on the startling change " from her former gay , first - class hotel appearance , having been relieved of her upper works and painted as black as the inside of her smokestack . She carries a jib forward and , we suppose , some steering sail aft , when requisite . " Service as " Florida " . Although much of " Florida " ' s time was spent blockaded in Mobile , she made some forays into Mississippi Sound , two of which alarmed the United States Navy ' s entire Gulf command . On October 19 , " Florida " convoyed a merchantman outside . Fortunately for her , the coast was clear of Union ships and batteries , for " Florida " fouled the area ' s main military telegraph line with her anchor , and had no sooner repaired the damage than she went aground for 36 hours . Luck returning , she tried out her guns on , " a large three - masted propeller " she mistook for the faster . Being of shallower draft and greater speed , she successfully dodged " Massachusetts " in shoal water off Ship Island . The havoc caused by one well - placed shot with her rifled pivot gun is described by Commander Melancton Smith , USN , commanding " Massachusetts " ; The first sortie by " Florida " caused consternation . Captain L . M . Powell , USN , in command at Ship Island — soon to be main advance base for the New Orleans campaign — wrote to Flag Officer William McKean , October 22 ; Protecting CSS " Pamilico " , in contrasting white dress and laden with some 400 troops , " the black rebel steamer " " Florida " on December 4 had a brush with in Horn Island Pass that caused jubilation in the Southern press . Commander T . Darrah Shaw of " Montgomery " , finding his 10 - inch shell gun no match for " Florida " ' s long - range rifles , signaled Commander Melancton Smith for assistance , and when it was not forthcoming , ran back to safety under the guns of Ship Island . Shaw saved " Montgomery " and lost his command for fleeing from the enemy . Commodore McKean promptly sent Lieutenant James Edward Jouett to relieve him and forwarded Shaw ' s action report to United States Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles , noting , " It needs no comment . " Crowed " Richmond Dispatch " on December 14 , quoting " Mobile Evening News " , " The " Florida " fought at great disadvantage in one respect , owing to her steering apparatus being out of order , but showed a decided superiority in the effectiveness of her armament . That gun which scared the " Massachusetts " so badly , and had nearly proved fatal to her , is evidently a better piece or must be better handled than any which the enemy have . " Service as " Selma " . With the advent of cruiser CSS " Florida " , she was renamed " Selma " in July 1862 , Lieutenant Peter U . Murphey , CSN , assuming command . On February 5 , 1863 , while steaming down Mobile Bay with 100 extra men in search of a blockader to carry by boarding , " Selma " was bilged by a snag in crossing Dog River Bar , entrance to Mobile , and sank in 8 feet of water . Pumped out hastily , she was back in service February 13 . By the following year , " Selma " , CSS " Morgan " and CSS " Gaines " , the only ships capable of defending lower Mobile Bay , were having a serious problem with deserting seamen , and intelligence reported " Selma " ' s crew as having fallen as low as 15 men about mid - February . At the crucial Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5 , 1864 , " Selma , " captained by Lt . Murphey , particularly annoyed Rear Admiral David Farragut , USN by a steady , raking fire as she stood off ' s bow . After passing the forts , Farragut ordered gunboat cast loose from " Hartford " to pursue " Selma " . After an hour - long running fight , Murphey , unable to escape to shallows out of reach , had to surrender to faster , more heavily armed " Metacomet , " captained by James Jouett , who later became an admiral . " Selma " lost 7 killed and 8 wounded , including Murphey , who suffered an injured arm . That evening , Admiral Farragut commissioned the prize gunboat as USS " Selma " and placed her under the command of Arthur R . Yates , USN . Five days later , " Selma " joined in the Union Navy ' s bombardment of Fort Morgan . On August 16 , she participated in a reconnaissance expedition up the Dog River . In January 1865 , " Selma " was transferred to New Orleans where she served until decommissioned on July 16 , 1865 . Sold at auction the same day to G . A . Hall , " Selma " was redocumented for merchant service on August 17 , 1865 and foundered on June 24 , 1868 south of Galveston , Texas , off the mouth of the Brazos River .