CSS Chickamauga, originally the blockade runner Edith, was purchased by the Confederate States Navy at Wilmington, North Carolina, in September 1864. In September, when she was nearly ready for sea, the Confederate Army sought unsuccessfully to retain her at that place for use as a troop and supply transport. On October 28, 1864, she put to sea under Lieutenant John Wilkinson (CSN) for a cruise north to the entrance of Long Island Sound, thence to St. George, Bermuda, for repairs and coal. She took several prizes before returning to Wilmington on November 19. During the bombardment of Fort Fisher, December 24–25, 1864, a portion of Chickamaugas crew served the guns at the fort. Although not immediately engaged in defense of Fort Fisher, the ship rendered further aid in transporting ammunition. She lent support to the fort when it was bombarded again on January 15, 1865. After the evacuation of Wilmington, Chickamauga went up the Cape Fear River where she was burned to prevent capture on February 25, 1865. Service history The ship, Edith, from Tallahassee, Florida, became the new Confederate cruiser. Its name was CSS Chickamauga. CSS stands for Confederate States Ship. Lieutenant John Wilkinson, who was a lieutenant of the new Confederate Navy, commanded the ship. Wilkinson as he was commanding Chickamauga, ran into the same problems faced by Woods, who was the previous commander. The ship had been a productive blockade runner, but it did not have the qualities needed for a Raider. Chickamauga was fast, but she could only be at sea as long as they had coal supply. On October 26, Chickamauga set sail for the open sea. After she also grounded on the bar, backed herself free, tried once more again, she finally cleared the obstruction, and made it out into the open sea. Chickamauga was once seen by . Dumbarton as well as two more Union ships chased Chickamauga. However, speed saved the ship, and she sailed off into the ocean, once again. US ships reported that another ship, Tallahassee, was sailing out and about again, and was searching for exactly the same thing as what Chickamauga was looking for. The ship then captured in quick succession the Mark L. Potter, the Emily L. Hall, the Albion Lincoln, and the Shooting Star. All the prisoners were put aboard the Albion Lincoln, while the other vessels were burned. The Lincoln'''s captain headed straight to New