Georgiana (side-wheeler)

The Georgiana was a large, iron-hulled side-wheel steamer built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1863 and considered by many to be the most powerful Confederate warship built during the American Civil War. Intended as a commerce raider, she was significantly faster and more heavily armed than most blockade runners of the time. She was sunk while attempting to run the Union blockade of Charleston, South Carolina, on her maiden voyage in March 1863. The wreck was discovered in 1965 and has since been the subject of extensive archaeological investigation, revealing important details about Confederate naval capabilities and blockade-running operations. Her construction was financed through private Confederate investors in England, and she was designed to prey on Union merchant shipping. The Georgiana's sinking represents a significant loss to the Confederacy and highlights the challenges they faced in procuring and deploying effective warships.