Hunley was built privately by the firm of Parks & Lyons in Mobile, AL. Hunley, James McClintock, and Baxter Wilson, the submarine H.L. The Civil War spawned a variety of designs for submersible warships. All told, the raider captured 37 ships, second only to CSS Alabama. That November, Florida sank near Hampton Roads, VA after being accidentally rammed by a transport. Though the capture occurred in a neutral port and protests were made, no action was ever taken against Wachusett's captain, Commander Napoleon Collins. While at Bahia, Florida was attacked, captured, and towed to sea by USS Wachusett while Morris and most of the crew were ashore.
Charles Morris commanding, the raider captured 11 more Union ships before reaching Bahia, Brazil.
Putting back sea in February 1864, with Lt. Florida then proceeded to Brest, France where it underwent a lengthy refit. During the first eight months of 1863, Florida terrorized Union shipping in the Atlantic and Caribbean, capturing 22 prizes.
