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In 2003 , the wreck of the ''Republic'' was located by Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., a commercial archaeology company in Tampa, Florida, which recovered over $75 million worth of gold and silver coins (estimated as being only about a third of all of the coins carried aboard). The search and recovery effort was depicted in a National Geographic Society TV Documentary , ''Civil War Gold.'' There is also a book about the search and recovery, ''Lost Gold of the Republic.'' The ship, built and launched in Baltimore in 1853 , was originally named SS '' Tennessee .'' She began her service as a merchant vessel plying the Baltimore - Charleston route. Not long afterward, she was sent on the first trans-Atlantic crossing by a Baltimore steamship, sailing to Southampton, England, and Le Havre, France. A short time later SS "Tennessee" was used to open the first regular passenger steamship service between New York and South America. Later, she transported "49'ers" to the shores of Panama and Nicaragua to travel to California's Sierra Nevada during the great Gold Rush. The SS "Tennessee" delivered the last group of "immigrants" volunteering as mercenary soldiers for William Walker in Nicaragua, and after defeat of Walker's forces took home hundreds of disconsolate, defeated survivors. "Tennessee" for several years regularly served the Vera Cruz, Mexico - New Orleans route, often transporting immigrants to America as well as large sums of Mexican gold and silver. She was tied up in harbor at New Orleans when the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861. During the Civil War, "Tennessee"was seized for use as a Confederate Blockade Runner although she was never able to escape blockade of the harbor. After capture of New Orleans, the ship was put into armed Union service, including as the flagship of United States Navy Admiral David G. Farragut for the conclusion of the Mississippi Campaign. As USS " Tennessee " she was not only a fast and effective blockade ship in the West Gulf Squadron, but also a powerful gunship used to bombard Ft. Morgan during the Battle of Mobile Bay. In September, 1864, she was re-named USS "Mobile" to allow a famous Confederate armored ram ship to carry the name "Tennessee." The CSS "Tennessee" had been taken during a dramatic encounter at Mobile Bay. USS "Mobile" was damaged in a hurricane off the mouth of the Rio Grande in October, 1864, and sent to New York for repair. Instead, the ship was judged too expensive to re-fit and was taken out of U.S. Navy commission in December, 1864. She was sold at auction in March, 1865, re-named SS "Republic," repaired, and soon returned to the New York - New Orleans route hauling passengers and cargo. She was lost on her fifth civilian voyage after the war. SEE ALSO |