ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, ɐ kˈɑːntɹækt wʌz plˈeɪst wɪð lˈɛɹd ænd sˈʌn kˈoʊ. baɪ kˈæptɪn dʒˈeɪmz dˈiː. bˈʊlɑːk, ɐ nˈeɪvəl ˈeɪdʒənt fɚðə kənfˈɛdɚɹət stˈeɪts ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkə, fɔːɹ tˈuː dˈʌbəltˈɜːɹɪɾᵻd wˈɔːɹʃɪps dɪzˈaɪnd fɔːɹ ɹˈæmɪŋ ɐtˈæks æɾə kˈɔst ʌv pˈaʊnd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː,sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈiːtʃ, ɛksklˈuːsɪv ʌv ˈɑːɹməmənt ænd ˌæmjuːnˈɪʃən.
In March 1862, a contract was placed with Laird & Son Co. by Captain James D. Bulloch, a naval agent for the Confederate States of America, for two double-turreted warships designed for ramming attacks at a cost of £93,750 each, exclusive of armament and ammunition.