The Crimean War was responsible for the evolution of the modern ironclad. In 1856 the French used ironclads that were nothing more than floating batteries of cannons on rafts. Later these French built ironclads could move about on their own power. The British also built several ironclad rafts but theirs were towed into position and anchored. In 1857, the British used them to reduce the coastal defenses at Lithuania. A new era in warfare had begun.
The
French had experimented with rifled cannon and armor plate in the early 1850's.
These experiments culminated with the building of the Le'Gloire. The Le'Gloire
was the world’s first modern ironclad warship. She was built by the French at
Toulon, laid down in April of 1858 and launched on November 24th, 1859. Napoleon
III, Emperor of France, was determined to make France Master of the Seas.
The story of both the Le'Gloire and CSS Stonewall started with their construction in France. The Le'Gloire was designed by Stanislaus Du'puy De'lone. He was very likely also involved in the design of the Stonewall. The Stonewall was of a design called a Ram and would have been heavily reinforced in the area of the bow. This type of construction made her prone to drive her bow into heavy seas. Pictures of these two ships clearly show similarities in their design.
On the eve of the completion of the CSS Stonewall it was rumored that she was designed
for the Confederate Government. 
This rumor reached the ears of the Mexican
Government and thus started some controversy. Emperor Napoleon III was
informed, that if the Stonewall fell into the possession of the Confederate
Government, Mexico would be made off limits for French troops. The Emperor
worried a bit more what his people might think because of his policies in
Mexico. It was decided the ship would be sold to Denmark instead. Shortly after
the ship arrived in Denmark, Danish Naval officers took her out to sea for
trials. These Viking descendants were use to sleek sailing vessels and didn't
like the way the ship plowed her way through the sea. After sea trials the
Danish government received the report from their Naval officers and decided to
return her to the builder.
The builder's agent soon took position and before she was returned to France, a secret deal had been worked out between the builder and the Confederate government. The ship entered a small harbor and the anchor was dropped. There was another ship waiting with the Stonewall's new crew. The Confederate crew came aboard and received her as their own. The Confederate flag was raised the crew was in attendance, so the commander now announced her to be the CSS Stonewall.
The Stonewall, was a small twin-screw ironclad man of war. She weighed twelve hundred tons and was armed with one three hundred pounder and two seventy pounder guns. The information listed here is a very short history of the development of ironclad ships. I enjoyed doing this research and hope you enjoyed reading it.
