Mississippi River Gunboats of the American Civil War 1861–65

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Mississippi River Gunboats of the American Civil War 1861-65

CONTENTS

ANGUS KOHSTAM h.lI. Irom tIM! Orllney I.l.nds .nd I. Ihe author of over 15 book., m.ny 01 which ar. publl.hed by ~y. Hi. other maritime tit}n indude Eilla 87: Pi""e. f660-'730, Elite 89: 8u<:~~'" 1620-'700 and Elite 70: Ellza".t""" S.a Dog. '~'605. Formerly th40 Curator of Weapon. In the Roy~ Announes .t the To.....r of London, he .110 . .tyed aa the Chiel CuralOf" ollhe Mel Fbher Maritim. Mu. .um In Key West, Florida II _ based In London, he.. he combinel • lreelanc. mu..um c:onaultancy bu.I.........lth • c:.~r .a • hl.torian and ....riter.

INTRODUCTION

3

THE MISSISSIPPI THEATER

4

THE UNION RIVER FLEET

6

• lilt.' I imlx:rd,llb • nil..' R,lIn, • Iinclad~ • OIlier l'niOll j{unbO,tb ,md ,el"yilt, trait

THE CONFEDERATE RIVER FLEET

12

• Ihc 1\.,.\\ Orlealh Squadron • I he Ri\l'r Ddelbe Fket

THE ROLE OF GUNBOATS • • • • •

16

FtllICtllJll ~1,tIIpo\\el

Ordn,mH' Lift' on BO;n"d (.unbo,tl' III \etion

SHIP LIST - UNION • nllllWlclad~ • R,lIl1' • Til1d,ld~ • Caplllrt'd H',~d, not

36

pre\'ilJll~h li~It'r1

SHIP LIST - CONFEDERATE

42

• Tht' Ne\\ Or!e:;l11s Squ;ldrllll • The Ri\er nden~c Flct'l • Ollll'r CUl1kdl'I~lle ).\"llnhoab uperatillg" "" lilt· i\li"j"ippi

TONY BRYAN I. alr.elanc:e Illustrator 01 many yea.. eJperlenc:e aller Initially qualifying In Engineering and ....orklng for a number 01 y.a.. In Military Re .......h and Dev.lopment. Tony haa a keen Int.reat In military hardware - .l11I4r, .mall arma. alrc:tall and ahlpa - and haa prodU<:H many Illuatrationa lor partwortl., megulnea and book•• Inc:ludlng a numbosr of tit'" In tIM! New Vangu.rd

u ....

FURTHER READING

44

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY

44

INDEX

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New Vanguard • 49

OSPREY PUBLISHING

Mississippi River Gunboats of the American Civil War 1861-65

Angus Konstam . Illustrated by Tony Bryan

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MISSISSIPPI RIVER GUNBOATS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-65 INTRODUCTION TIll: ~lfIlggl~' lor the ~Ii"i"ippj KiH'! \\O\\(,!t·c1 g'unhO;llS. 010<1('111 fortification .., ;ImphihlOIl\ riH.'rillt.' I.l11dill/-::... ,lIId ,lit' emplo\ 1IIl'1l1 uf mint.·.... \11 of tlll''>t.' \'l'ft' IH.'\\. rd;uhch tllllt,.,tt'(\ il"tnlllU'lIb nfwar. :"01 onh ,\ould thi~ Ilt'\\ forlll of \\'arfan' dllluil!,tlc' lilt" \trugKk lor the "pine of .\mcrica. hili the "lru~U~k would lt·1l \1,1' dc..'Mt'r1 of Confe(kr.lte..· 11,1\,11 forn"I, ntllt'r SOllllwrll n;I\";l! IlniL~ cuntillll('r1 10 oper.llt: till 11I,111\ (If 11le..' ~Ii,~i,~ippi'" triblll,uit::'!I. Fi~htil\g .1100lj.{ Iht'''>t' se<::OlldOlf'\ '\,IIl''''' 'IOllld l'll~t1n' lhal gllnhoah of both ,idn \\ollirl Continul' 10 ~l'(' 'l'r...i(l' UlIllllhe ('lid lllllw \\t:, the..·,e rem;arkahl,' lillk \\;lr~hip~.

The Mlm..IP91 R....... port 01 Mempnl., Tenne..ee,

.......ed •• the

prinel~l

n.v.' yard lor ttMl Confederate River Dalen.. Fl. .t on the upper Ml..lulppl. • I\llScenl n.....1 b... h.d boMon

created on the city..

riverfront before the w.r,

3

THE MISSISSIPPI THEATER

l

At Ihe Olllhn'ak of the Chi! \\'.It", both ..ides Wl'fl: l....gt.:h llllprl'J}art.:d for the lOlllli \1. Luis "('III <\ plOpO...11 lu the :\'.1\'\ Dl'pt' in \'ilgilli,1 l'rhurNI lilt: Conledt:I~lleS had ,\(("('''S 10 sufficil'llI j{llIh 10 de!t'rI(l the rhl'l ..lIld "l'\l'ral po\\t.:rful h,Htl'de" l\t're pl
The n.v.1 y.te1 .1 Mound Clly, Illinois, seNed ••••upply .nd rep.l. b... for Union m... gunbo.lls, The l.elUlles were _sic but, following the tnln.ler of lhe river neet from Anny 10 Nevy control In August t862,

more e,denslve flo.llr'lll IWP'lr

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Uniol1 ~tratq.,"", E\l'l1 it tlH:V ollh hdd Utll' baslioll on the ri\cr, ot' ~q)l orH: \\erit'l> of il11po"ing lortifiClllon,. Allhough Ihe fonification' at hl.mel :"\0. 10 and Fon Pill()\1 \Il'r" r.lpwred h\ Olht'r IIlt·'Ill". l'nioTl \\OOdell gunooab haelthl'ir ch;lllre lor glon ill t\\O bOlttk" ,It Furt Pillu\, ,lilt! .\1l'lllphil>' In the'l' \1\0 CllgagCllll'J1b the COUll'e1I'I,Il!" R;\t:r Dcfcn ..e Fk-cl \\';IS ckr;lll;llt:d, ~U1d onh Ihe gUll' of VichhuIV; pn'\I'IlIt:d Ihe entire rher falling into l'nion hands, [H'1l tht'lI, COllft:I!t'lall' llil\al unit.!> 011 Illl:' \';1100 Ri\t'r (,I\l'l'd;t ncarcolhlp~c of II Ie UllllHl n~l\itll'lTllrt hd(lre lhe cit\ of\'irk,lnlrg: It'll to Gc11"I~lll;I"l1lt in.llll\ IHli:\, \\'111'11 I'ort Ilud'Oll fell it \\('t'\.. tiler. the cmirc ~ti,~i.,.,ippi ];1\ ill Uniol1 h;tmk ami d(J/t:n~ ot \\OO(ll'll g:unhoith p,ttrolkd Ihl' hard,woll W,l1er, Control of tlihlllarie, ,11th ii' Ihl' Cnrnht..-bnc\ :llId Il'lllle"l'l' RiH'r' l'l)\lllt:d th,tl Union /{llllho,u,. U,ul"pon .., alld ~llpph ho,t'" could \1,;\\'('1 ullimpeded illlo !L'111I1"M'I'. Kctltuck\', J\li"i"isippi. ,tnd Ilppt:r ,\Iab,tlll:l. Fllrther Il) Ihl' \\I'~I, Conll'd"I';\tc tortl'~ ()pl'I,lled ('II tht' Rl·d Ri\el', and a ClIllp,dg'11 Ihen' would cuhnill:lIl' in a Illltllilialing: ICtt!:'al by llie Union, iUld \\oldd ensure thaI Conkdeml" I't'~i~t,tllft, in Arkan~a~ and 1l0rth\TIl l.olli'i:tll,1 would continuc until tht: l,t1(1 of tht: 11'<11'. Tht: gunhoal" produccd h\ hoth north .lIld l>OLllh Il'plnt'llled iI solutioll to lhl' ~Imu'g:ic and log:i,ticil problcnh which lac('d Ihe 11,1\,11 COlll1mllldl'r~ 01 hotll "itk" 1\11111 cOll\cned 'Illd pllrpo'e-Ililiit Wl'lldt'll gunboats would pl great conl1icl. ,\hhough to 1110'1 sailors. tlll'\ Wt·\{, illerI' ~lInh;p~ \lere unable to !)l:'1 101m. I AI' a g;am f~lII. ell(' ~Ii"i,,;ppi Ri\l.'r .md ill> uibutark" "prl,;td <1\10" tholls.l.ne!, 01 milt" 01 tilt: ,\nU'r;can heartland. The link WOtlc!t'll gunboall> ul bOlll cOIIII),lt.llll, \I OllIe! reach into \'irtualh e\ l'n p.lrI ul IIii, brown·\\,ltl·rl'd arell,I,

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Union river l,..nS9Of'ls pl.yed

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vlt81 pilrt I" In. C:8mpillgnfrt; .tong In. Mississippi River .nd II. lributari••, nil. nt...

phologr.ph Is of IIMI rivor tr."sport Chklt:8m8ug8, o~"'led by the W.r Depllrtment, eN.llon.1 Archlv••)

5

THE UNION RIVER FLEET The Tlmberclads \\'111.'11 J.HIIl>' It Lid, \lIhlllilll.'d a proposal 10 build a flotilla de\iKlwc! to IHI',I (OIHIlIl of lhe :'.li,~i"ippi I{ht'l from the Collledl.'l'lIl.'~. he \\,\\

pchoilll{ the call hI Ct'rleraJ \\'inlkld ScUll 10 make the riH'r a m.yor !()Cal poilll 01 Lniun '11,11eh..... I~.td, Wi\\ it ~1l(T(''-''llll S, LOlli" bu"ille.....l11.lIl. ,mel clI.p<·riellu;d ill riH:rbo.tl ("ol"lruoiOiL lilt:" i'an \\a~ h.lrd-prt:'~dju"l to (',l;lhli,h .1 hlod...l{1e .m IUI,d Ihe (Amrcdl'r;lI(' coasllim·. 'iO ...he lIlilllcr \\.1, p""t'd 10 the \\,,11' 1)\·p.1I11l1I'nl. \.hkh r.1Jl lhe L'S .\nll\. \\lldl the :\'an Dl'IMrlIll1'lII could do \1.1\ 10 \l:nd .1lI t'XlkneTlced IM\';.\1 unlet:!' to \lIIX'f\;·.e ope" atiOll". I II \ 1,1\ I Rfi I. COIllIll
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lIIu/ pm/",,/\ urlll('(/ (111(1 (,(IIII/I/Ntl [01 tllflt }I'Il'lff' ••• II H o/7lnr(1 11'(11 IIII' wb)"1 l~ l1'[fTTI'd 10 (;""n"fl/ .\lrClI'I/(lII. 1<'110 11'11/ ((1/111111 Willi .\11. I·.ar/l uf/d witli Hull 11(11'(11 oJflO',- 1/1 tI,l' .\(IT':' IH/K,,-IIfII'1I1 111m Wild oul [lir /lwl PUlP0II'. fIIj(/ Ibl'n. (H hI' l1wll jim/ ~t. Inkl' mdn jm II" /1Iu/lt'r/m'/mmlulI/ oj Ihl' bon/~. -

6

Ru(lg('r, II." .lllnCll(·r! .lfTl''-' 10 1I
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The gunboat USS W8S the most powerful of lh. lhree tlmbe~lad gunboat, which saw ,ervlee In the Union ri....r fleet. Sh' can be distingut,hed from the USS lexington by the mIdshIps positIon of her smolteslaelts. end from the USS Conettoga by her shorter hull.

I

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I 1M tw-no.n:lad gunbollt USS

".drifton uwally CGrljunctIon with

~".ted Ifl

u.. USS 1}'HH",

8I'ld . .rved with di,tinctlon

thl"oughollt the w'r. SM I, probaOIy blt,t remembered for jIrO'tiding n.....1 gunlir. support

to aen.,..l Gnln'" Union Army .t the Ibttle 01 Shiloh in April 1862.

The tlmben:l.d gunbott USS

e-.,OS/. 11rs' nw ......ie. In September 1881,.r>d

aubnqu.nlly took pert In the

ItUleki on Fort Henry and Fort Oonel.on. She wat .unk In 8 tolllsion with the USS G.ner,' Price In March 1884.

~lcanwhile. \lcCll'llan h.ld OCl'lI 1\'pl.l<.c(l I" (o('\WI-;:tl hl'moll!. .md lhe 11('\\ reh>ional commander .I..,ll'd fOT RuclH:er,\ n'mo\';.,!. due IU the complainL' 01 IOGtl bliSiIK"'lllt"1l IIMI Iw \\,1\ nUl di\p\;l\;n~ ('I!Hugh I,lr~t.......' o(· \\ilh naval CUIlII-;:ICL\. TIll" ("IMhk RodHl"" \\.l\ dllh .....·nl 1l;ld. (';1.'1. .\\ LOlli~\ille. Plwlp~ \IIl.l~kd In cOlllpll'h' llw ~lIllbO.II", Phdp' c0ll1pl.lil\l~1 -,het t" j., 110 p.lInl lor tilt' IXhlL,,- ,l1Id qll("liul\t'd Ihl' CJII,llil\ 01111(' rin'lllu'll hif("(! hI hi.. C()I1(·'I~lll'''' Fin"lh. lhl' riH.'1 nN: l'llllug-h for lhl' Ihn:,(:, g:unboilL' 10 cnntillllt' nn 10 (:;,iro, \1111'1"(' lhei! g:1I11' ,lIId ~lOre~ I\ailed 10! thelll Ull lht." qll,il..,ide. nil' Ino cun,tltlll('d tilt' Ollh rin'r ddl'llW' al,lilahk to thl.' l'ninll, ,lIId Il('n' dlth pill to lUll\" hI lht, ,\mll, \\11ilo: Iht'l I\('re newt'li hI ;-':an 1)('l,->(JIllld, lhl'l (alld ,Ill IIlhel l'nioll ri\ t'r g-uJlboa~) Gillie llndt'l Ann\ {I)lllrol. nit, 1111'1 11\ IlilLl Wtlllid onh he 1rall,ft'lTe.:ill{..r/Oll rMrit·d IWO :{2-pollml,'I'. ,\lid tour H-incb ..llltlllll,llIll'l·... 1\llile Ihe..: ·'\'ncarricd ~It' ~2'po\llldt'r ami ,i;-. H-inch "lIIllIllhh01l' pit·ct·... Ahhotlg-h all 111(:\1' \\t'.II)(111\ \\t'rt· ..muulhbnn:... chang-t·.. I\('rl' 1ll,trlt' tu Ihnt' ordll.l1ltt· "lIil('" during: lilt' 1\'<11'. I hi' '.r.>.:IIII.."OI/ ,md '){rrl\l'n· 1''''led \lith :{("POIllUIt... rille, hI LIlt· IH()2 (twu ,llld Ihn't' Inpl'clIH'h) hUI Ihe

l

7

(:.t"II'I/01!'1 1\,1" not "illlilarh 1l1l-g"1II1rll'd. Tht' dkctiH'!W"" or rifled J.:"lln~ .llfolill"t "holl' po"ilion" hild IX't'n c1l'l11oll"tralC-'d 011 both Ihe i\1i~~i~sippi ,Hid Ihe LI:>leru M:'illxMrd, "u Ihi" It·-('qllippillJ.:" rdll,rtl'd;t {h.HIKe in tht' perct'iH'tl mit:- 01 tht' /o{llI1ho,II'" fmm \t.·,.'~eb dl'\iJ.{lIt'd 10 fiJ.{hl Ulht'! ".lr"llIp" In Ollt" {illMhlt' 01 "lIppn.",,,ing" fire' Irolll ( ..onft'dt·l~lIt' "hon: po"itiun"

The Rams

In IXol Ch.lrk., Ri\t·,.., 1:.111'1. Jr.. \\.1' .1 li\il t'1lg-inn'l \Iilh t"lx'rit'nct' in the building" or hridKt" ilnd danh. Dtlling: Iltt' (.Iilllt"!!! \\.Ir (IXjl-j6). he Ir.l\dt·d In Ru . . ,. i.1 a~ an ol)';;t·Jl,t,t. .Uld had bt.'collle com ill{t'd Ih.ll Ihe It·d b\ the 11,lr"lllp' 01 allliCluil\ nmld 1)(' .leI.lplt'd. B\ 1I,i1lK 'tt'.lIll POllt'I, il <.ould benJIIII' •• Vi.lbll· modt'ln IM\OII 1II',IpOll, lie {OmilKI'tl Iht' Ll n iOlI \\'ill DI.·IMrtllll·lll 01 Ihe \,unh ul hi" ilk.• ,111d, in 1.\1111 I Htit, Iw II,L' II1M[I'" ("lllont'1. wilh ImIIT' 10 HI'.llt' ;1 I.UtL Hulil1a. whit h lIolLlcl join Iht' lilllbcnLtd, on Ihl' IIli"j"ippi. During: ,\pri! ht, IHlH.h,t,,'d lIillt: It:,,~t:h, bolh "idt'lIhl'('kr" ;mel "1('nlldWt')I'I"', al \,Iriolt, porh Oil IIll' Ohio Rill'l, ,I lid bC1fo1i1 Iht' \'01 k 01 (OII\t'lling" tht:111 inln "~Ir,hip'. I hi, IllIIk look place in ~e\eral ",rd,: thl.' Q.IIffll /1/111' Ilhl and l.fII/{(I\(n \1('11' (1I1l\1'rlt'd ill Cindnn.lli. ()ltio, the .\II'I/:I''''fII/(/ ill ~1,I(li"on, IlI1Ii,mil, ,hI.' ,\lUllmrll in ~I:\\ .\111.111\, Itldi,llla, and lilt' ,\lmgt!, 1/0/11'11, .IIHI \tlln/NItI in Pit ....blll"J.:"h, P('1l1hlhalliJ. \\'hl:n tht'\ Ix'nulIl.· rl.'a<.h 101 fin,ll linlll/-; UUI Ihe\ \\t'!"1' 1,1\"('11 III '\;1'\1 \lham or \Imllld (:il\ lor cumpktion. ,\nuthl'r 1';'1111. Ihe Il). 1/011ln; \\iI:> dt,t'IllI.'r1un'lIi,;,bk, ;111<1 \I...... eI ,I' ,Illig" ill'lead. \,hile .lllinlh \1.',,,,,1 \I.b U!>t"d.b tl,II"'pllrl. I hnt.' \1.·....."'·1, \~lril.·d in '"l.'.. IPlx';II~IIl(I.'. and propul,iOlI '\'Iem, hUI .11I ..h.lrl.,
Colon.1 Ctlart•• En.1 w . . a

.taunch advocat. of the wooden rllm. and hi. f1otill. 01 "ElI.t rllm." helped tum the tid. of

the war on tlMo

Mi$$issippl

.. the B.ttle 01 M ....ptl.. in June 1862.

t

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Rjy.r. He was mortally WOllnded

•

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TIM "'te-war ram USS

~~10l"

photographed moored to a

ri¥etbank on the Mlululppl In .... 18&-4. She f<X>ght tn. CSS Webb when lhe Conf'O'... I. ram made a daah from the Red Rlv.r down the Mlululppl In April lMS. (US Navy}

comp1t'lioll lht·\ werc lran~rt'rrl'd to tltt' t'\;l\}- Thl' lil...t of thc't.· to ellter ~(·",,'i("t., "~Ili~,ippi ~ltl,l(hon in Ill(" "1I1111lU"1" of IR64, ilud p,lrtiop.ltt.·d in palruh .Irtltllld \'id...d lllrg. ,11I£1 on the YMOO RiH:r. rhc\ ,\cn' nOI p,lrticul,..-h ~lIcce...~ful. .Ilthuugh the' \\cre formidable gunboal'" comhining their ram \\'ith a l)(l\\I:rful armament. including ;l IOO-po\lmkl' 1'.IITult IXl\\ rille 1ll01l1lled ill ,I \\Otlkeldlt.'~ 'lIg).{I"t ,ht., (",uTiI'd eight hTJII1~, probabh a mixed suitt" of 12-lxlIlI1der I1o\\'il/t.,I..... ,tlId 21~puulIdl'r rille" or <;lIIoothhon'", "pHI IwtWI'l'1l two broachidt·... A, uthl'!" 1~lIn~ \\cre lI"t"d in !>horl.' IXlinbardlllt"lllS InUll l'ltl.' IHG2 till, il 't.'t'lll~ prohahle that the n'lIIainitlR Sllips of Ellet'" flt'et were c(l\l\'crted ,llOltll altt.·r Ihl.'\ I\el"t' tl
lEFT The EII.t ram USS Swifzwlaml Wilt lin ungainly, aIab-.ided v•• tIll, but h.r room., -.n.lI1. permitted the addition of .......rmllm.nt followi", lh. destn.Jc:tlon of the Confed.r.l. River Del.n•• Fleet In June 18&2.

II ~oon IX'C;lllll' apparellt Ihal Ihe Union lIcTc/(od Inure thall a kw pOI\l'llnl ironclads and ralll~ Oll 1he 1"-li~~i,~ippi. \\'hilt' tht, principallillits of Ihe Ri\'er Flolilla wcrt.: occllpinl ill lite ~t·i/'lIt· Of hOlllbardllll'lIt of Confedera1e ..hore po~ilion~ or the (k·..tnlftilJll 01 t.:llelll\' war~hip" other ri\l'r g-UUOO;IIS W(:'fe needed to IMtfol the hundrl.'d .. of mile" of ri\er~ wl1ich kd lhrough occupied tt'ITilOry. Tltdr rule..:.. WCll' 10 ('St.Ur! "llpph IXlatS alltllroop 1ral1~port", to patrol ror ~iJ.(lI~ of c'm'ml actLl'itl. or to act as di~palch boa~. liuking tht' Uniun armil" ill tl\l' \\'t.'~It·fTI Theater wilh their depots and recruiting basc' lunhl.'r uortlJ. For thi:.. purpo!>e dO/em uf flal-bottomed rh-er stl'ameN \\('I"e purcha~cd and cOl\\erted into \\.'>l'lIger ferries). Tu prott.'cllhl'lII hom CllCIII\ '1Il,lll arm.. l"ire frnm the shore, tlwsc \essch wert: lighlh ....lIIon..·d with thin 1111'1,11 "hcctillg. Thb

9

WI\'t' ri'l' 10 1111: I\;Ulll: "lillclad," FromJlll1l' 19. IH{i;~ (j1l~1 hefore lll..:

The Union tlmberc:lad gunboata USS U . -ington .nd USS ~ler enpging Confede,..t. ahof'e

batteril.. et ColumtHn, Kentuo::k)'. In January 18&2. The.......11 but power1ul "'....1. prob'bly ..w more HNk:. t"-n 'n)' oth... gunboat. In the Weat.m The'ter.

The USS O4Il1Chit, "". . Ih. I,rg•• t 'nd beat_armed Uncl'd

gunboat on th. Mississippi. c,rrylnll almo.t 40 gun., Including five 30-pounder P,rrott rill... She p.rtlclpated In the c:apture of the Conl.derat. Ironclad CSS Missouri on the Red RI",er In June 1865.

!

... •

10

-

Clil uf Vitk,blll',I{),

apart

frol!1 Ihe IWO bfgc'l \c,!>..:b. lh('~..: til1r1ad" I\'('fe .'>lllllCd cOlllllMnel of Cnion riH'r force... in ~.'pl":lIIbc:r 1862. TIl(" mu,k IIllll'k W.I' built ill :\t.'\\ .\JI:> IHli:t Sht' \'~I" dllil ("oll\erlc,d into a H"tlllhoalo and elllel"c.,d st'r\'icc oll.!all11.I .... I H. IHfi I ill lillie Iu panicipale in the Ike! River Campaign. Sht' ('arried lilt, :lO-pourl(kr Partull rif1e:1> amI ..:ighllTII 2-l-pollllder and fillet'll 12-pollmkr ,mool hborl'~, making hl'r tit..: mosl pU\\'..:rflll gUllboal ill the \\'e'lt'lll Theatcl". Thl'~('" two \'esscl~ were the t'xC"c.'plioll. :\10'1 of Ill.' olltl:r 69tillclMb 10 ,'111<;'1 ~t' .... icc di~placl't1Ic,s thall 2()() 1011", ;lI\d wI'n' ;trIl1nl Wilh far les~

I

illlpn:~j\l." ~llitn

(If ordn,met'. Alrno:'. 11u- laq;;::c"l h'lIl1" C'.tn;c."d \\ell" :{()..pollll(lt.-r rilk.. ur :t!-puundt'f 511'00Ihbon·.... lhht)\l~h 2().IX)llndei lint,,,. tJ..polllld(·r ;;moOlhbore<; and 12-poumll"'" of holh t...pt·" wefe

1.'1" mort' common.

Tht' t:''-c t:J>tioll I\.h lhe L'':-,S }mlll'l TllOm/J:lOII (n."namcd .\1(//111011. tlll'l' Fort IImdma/l in tilt' IR6:l) \\hich w;!;; L")O f('c'l long: al1.I.lfch IH6:i, ,lod ('llh" I,d 'en'icc jll'" Iled.s lau:..... Ilel h,l\'ill~ sllips of tin nail('
T~

pow1tI1ul lind_ USS Fott

HindmMI (No, 131 had her name

cnanged ...,.nli time., be+ng comml••1oned a. t~ USS Jame. Thompson, H... I\ltme w . . eltered

to eel"nlte the capture 01 the Conleoenlte lort guarding the NUn... flllle" IUS N'vyl

She carrit'd ,Ill \l1ll1'IMlh hr,lv\ ;\1 manWll1 or IWO 8-inch ,month b(lrt'~ ill her how, wilh IWO l11un: on cdch bruad,ide. TIl(' l!S~ ,\Iflrlll/Jw (No.~) 11,1~ a more t\viraltindad. SIlt' w;:." built in \Ionollg'ahda, 1't.'lln,,\lmni,l, 11lt.'11 'old tu lhe ;\Jit'''' Depanlllt'IH in ScptClI1bCl IH(i~, Shc \IOIS I:):) lectl011g' and di~placed ~07 tull\. I ieI' twin engine\ ,mel hoilt-r~ pO\I'('!"i'd a '1I'l"I1wlH'd ,11"1 Wil~ capahle ot propt'llillg til(' ,hip ill jll'l \Il1dt.'1 7 \...noh. Sire \\~l' armed willi IWo 14-polllldl'r imd t\\"o 12-pt)1111l!cr ri!lt,~ arnl11f.\"t'(! ill hroadsides ill Ilcr tinctad caSt.'lllillt.', ahhllllg-h flllir mOl"(' ~4"POlllldl'r\ lITre ;ullkel ill 111id-IHIH, She ('nll'red service in 0('1ohl'l lHtj~, amI piinicipalL"d in L"xpcditiull" up lhe '1':1100 J.ud Whill' Rivet"\ (!llrillg a di'lillg-lIi,IH'el wanil11e career, I\hicll ;11'0 invoh"t.'d allack" on the eldc11'e, or Virhhllrg- and Fort II indrnan. All in "II lhe"t' tilH,:I,ld Ihel gllnhoaL" were ll11gainl\, ,,10\\ and llnprl'po~~t'~"ing-, hill wilhout them the Lnion wOllld 11('\<.'1' h:t\e manag:l'd 10 'Ilpph ib fidel an11it.,~ in til(' \\'t'~I, or I..et'p Ilwrn in COllllllllllicatloll Ilitll cach olhel. Other Union gunboats and service craft

In addition tu lhc\c maill gunboat l\peS, the LS ~a\'\ ;md the \\"<\1 Deparlllleill Opt'nllt'd .. lHlmbel fir OII1('r vt:'~ls on the ;\Ii'si'>.sippi ami its Irihut,uie". SOUlt.' or thl',\(', ,uch as till' L'SS r.n"'1'ullJragj!ol lilt:' LSS Sumfn-. \\l'lt' gllllbtMI' clplured fnUll lhe COllred('r..lte~. Othel\ perfonm:c1 non-colllhat,lIll role... Several captured C.onfl'tkr..lIe H'~\d,

11

The US NiII""" fl,.1 ftolJ9ltal ahlp

tonner Conleoenl. met" .Ie.mer wnk:h CiIIptured.1 l..... net No. to In April 18e2. She c.nied ill medk:.l .1.fI of 30 doclOf'$ iIIlMf nu~ •• net hiIId f.eliltloes lor t~ lreilltment 01 over 200 c.,..."le•• (US H• ...,l w ... tM USS R«I Ro_••

w.'

\\l~rl' 1I'l-d ;I:. 'Iort':..hip:.. or ordn,'llu' bu.Ill>. "hill, tuher ,1IPIXJn cl';:tfl \\l'n' purchased b\ lhe War I)epanltll"nl. The'-(" H,<;;St'h included til(' 6~j..um l ,,~ /(1'(/ /(m'I"Y. tilt:" l ... :'I. •• n " Iii...., hu'pil,11 ,hll)' .-\rmmd ,I do/cll lll~' \\erc .ut.lcht"d to lilt" rher nCl"t, .lIId IlIl",-(" \\ell" IrclluClIlh called OIl 10 h'llide til(" lafJ~er waf"ihip, thnlu~h llanO', trihlll.lI;e,. nr 10 plllllhl'lIl till '\..lIIdb.I~. .-\hhollg:h the 1II~' \\l'n' 1I1l.lnul'd. O1hl'r 'iOlIPlxln Cr.lf! tICC;L"i()lJ.llh c;:ln;cd a mininl.ll .lrll1.lIIll'lll 01 12'lxmlldl'~ or :.omt"lime:.. larger piece". Thl'ir role wa!i: 'Iricth ;I <;upponing one, and Ihe<;<> gun" \,ele pUleh prm'idcd for '\.(,11-<.11.'1(,11'("

THE CONFEDERATE RIVER FLEET The Governor Moore pk:lured .fte. I~ light with the USS Vanlne below Hew On••n•• momenl. before Ihe e.ew .banOOned ,hlp .nd her comm.nder .et he. on II.e. She not ofllelaUy a Conlederate n.vlll ve"el ., 'he remained part of the Loul.lana Provl.lonal Navy until her destrvetlon.

w.,

12

The New Orleans Squadron

III the :"1Irt1111t'l" and lall 01 IHtil .. lIip\;ll"lh ill ,lIld .trollml Nt'\\ Orleans cOlln'lwd or laid dO\\I1;l ..mallllotilb ()r\'~lr'lhil':-. hUllt woodl'll b'lmho. or tOrl\elled \l(e,lIl-goilll{ 'lealller,. A !lccl of [0 WOOell'Il \,,"....hip, (inch Idill~ lhrec 11Ig:~) "a... n:;\(h 10 C011le~1 Ihe :ltIack on lht: ddt:ll,n ht:low Nt,\\, Orkarh hr C011l1ll0dort' David (;. Fan';:lglll\ \\blcf1\ Gull Blodadilll{ Sqll;\d1lJll lin April :24. IH(i~. In additioll, IWO ironclad .. W("I"I' ;\vail;lb1t:, ;\[lhol1/o\"11 011<'. lilt' 1.0011~ifll/(/, w,,~ ~lill 1I11fini,lwd, alld needed 10 be lllwed iillo po~ilion. The ~idewllecl j.{llllbilal CSS jwksQI/ wa, :tIN..~l\1 trolll the !leci whell lhe Union alt;\cked. and the remainder cOIl'lilliled Ihe core 01 the 1l:1\~ll delerl:<>e.'> of New Orlcan~. Polilic
and

h·lHkr~.

~/wr Moore and Gnll'ml QuillllOIl b\ the l.nlli~ialla State Na\}' rather than the Conh'dl'r;llt'

Tht· cOllondad mrm

IICf{' opt"~llt'd

gO' t'nllllt'lIl. \1 hilt- ..ix ulher cotlondad gunboats or r.UllS belonged 10 Ihe: Ri\t'f Ddt'rbl' Fle-t·t. filII hy the C.onfedcr,lte Anm (fHjillllrl'. (~""I"(II H,.('(k"/I,."IJ.,Tf'. (;P""ml 1.01,,11. Hrmlllit', \\'",10r, and SIOIIl'l/lfIlIJnrkwll}. i':l'ithl'r group \\,L" I,'illin/{ 10 laJ...c orders from the Na\"~. and all 11111'(' t',i"ll'd ,h scpar;uc adlT1illi"II~t1i\l' and tanical entities. TIll' '\/rHof\'"" ,.Iurtner ~ftoxican sleamerwhich had been ~i/ed for pir;lC\ ill 1860. Shl' \'~I'" .. till impounded in ~e\1 Or\~ans \1 hell I.Olli~l.lll.l SC(er!ed from Ihe L'nion. Tlw long. ~Icek, b:ll'J...-riggcd gunhoal \I~L" po\\t'n'd h\ ,I .. ill~k "("1"('\\. and anned wilh a 9-inch D,lhlgrl'll ~lIIOOlhborl' 011 ,I n'IlII~.1 phot mounting. ill addilion to .1 rt'J.;"u1.n bmad"irle ilrll1:llIIt'l1I of .. i" :\2·pollndt·l... ,md a 12-pounder. B\ ("(Jllll':L~1 Ihc')(01I1'1NIII !(lrlOOII \\.h ,ll'ITlt'd wilh a ..inglt' J.,'llll. 1Il01l1ltl·d 1111 Ilt'f quant'rde:cJ..., Iler prilll.ll'\ .lrm,lIl1elll \I,b il r;un, and during lht' B.udl· tlf ~('\, Ork,ITl" ill \pl;1 IH6~ ih ('fT(,cli\ene~ .. \\"a$ demon..Il.lIed whell Iht' \~l l':1111111t:d
Union aNlrplhooten lrom tM 75th Hew Yorif, R~lment pklOng

off

t'" gunners 01 e Conlederate

gun~t

on • LoYI.l.,.. rtYer In J.nu• ..., tBe3. Ambu..... from the IJhonl _ .... lrequent

I'"

occurrence Of' Mlululppl River end ..... tribulIlri. . throughout t", war.

....

d('~(Tiptioll.

MTIU' ,'('\V( lI'lurl! I a}/!ll!l(/ut!l't! 11'11\ /nrmrd" Ill,

Off(l/l-lllli/l woot!f/l /)(/""'f-\I('(jll/Illi/l Ch
5igilfl'd). (lI,d

t1

jlrilJI oldjillhwl/rd jllIl rlll/rumi lrull, hdd i" Ilfoff I')' ~/1fI,., ~/mpI of IIkf kllld III III,. /(1). III Ihl' "·lIln1illl'. "1/(/ (II III,.rf IIII"f/l/rdmll" Imlllil. f 11('1(' j/ra/Jl f:o.lfll//,.t/ (100111 IlI'(J frl'l (1)(//1 Illf /(IU of Iltf 511'11I 011 frlrll lUff', 11,1,,,,.,, lIu... 11''''1' )mlll'tI ill 'Jfllff. Thl' oil",.,. 'I"tI1l11' lu/(/llIrll '''0'0(,\' !lal"dflll'd III IIkf //lUlll/n: ,Ill Iu/(/ Illf IHlUd-'oltulH'd l/l'/IU. Sol 0111'

had (/II iron "('uk (Ir /Jffl}ff'fIl1K Ir/Tlw IIm/,.,.tll, l/'afn: of I1IPlIl I/Ild 111m umlPT-hflll\fI, f1lgT"f'o, fIIltl 1101/1'1) pmlff'frfl b) (I blllklU'(/(/ /1 mlloll Ixdt'j whjflt

11//

at""'/ffl [mill Ilif floor flf Ih,. hold 10 "I}(JIII fil~ J"f Of" //l0"" ((bm¥' th, 11)"1' I/ffk. 111t'\I' (//1(/ oil"., wrll

,

13

TWI.II'!I f!Pl'lr fiurd QuI V)' tlII'S{a{r find IlIr fll)' oj Sf'll' Or!rf/lH aftrr ,II,. I',.""lIm mll'l' 1I"!!',,r/,," 10 IflR"

IlIrm, (lnd 10 1.lrlllrl/(IIII,C()/oll"{

WS.

l.fIl,,./f

(ro,:-{irlllf'lUlllf

l'lI/ln/ ."llf/(('\ Sm!)} II filii' 1111'

'. ~.,

,r,.d" of IIwn ",n'rl (lJIn/rur/iOlI. ~()f fh, rr"'fI;lIi"l! ~I'l'nl ',(11I/\' til,. Ct:ncl,.1 Quitman 1"(/\ Itk,. "'.I 1111/), bllt ~mfllJer. "/1,,· ,.,.mamilll! \/.\ Jllld fHyr, IIIK" lJOtlll,

",/(/ 1I'f'11'

of Tl'OQd.

11'1111

Im{klllj!.Qr(l1l/ nlgim'J. &uh oj IiiI'm mmm(m Imr or tll'O f!:IIIH. (lml 1IINII/lYftIIUJI!u,-jmm J 'HJ 10111, n,,,~ 'n/",! "1"," lIll

\/\

The el89ilnt scr.... gunboitt CSS

hnd about ]5

McR_ was formerly • w.,.hlp In the Mululn N_vv, _net w . .

",d~//(/f','t (011111/(/1/(1.

bcH.>ght Into

Conf~rIlte . .rvlee

iro 1881. Sh4 09"rIltlld In tlMo

MJ. .lulppl Deltl

until

hef'

IIVII,

(11/(/

('Om>nllnuf'; Wid

it

would dtfmd til,.

liP/>"

!I'(l.!

rrrOJ..m/:Rlllu QI/flul,. (11/111001.' IlIIlrj.!j il J/IIlnllh,.;r

f'x/J«If'(/ film //1/\

rmd

11"'" (11"/

Ifl bmllfh

(0/1," .\lm/ul/J/JI. WI/hOld

11/

.\If'1nl)''i.~

011111'0'" IIii' /11!1I111r

1Iat')',

deetructlon .t tlMo Battle of

N_ Orle_ne In April Hle2.

14

The River Defense Fleet Initialh. a llllMll nOlilla. con..i'ling: nl liw gUlIlJ(),lb Ut'lIIpton. C"'tU'ml Polk. POII/rhar/min ilnd .\l""I"1'JHH, \\,I~ ,1\~lil,lbl(' for ~nice and \\'<\:. ,I.uiolled .11 bland :'\:0. 10. rh~,t· lour KlllllxM~ IWIt' ,Ill ~idt',\het'krll. and di'placed bel\H.'l"1I 390 .md 160 Iun' ....adl. Tln('(' \\'cle built in :'\1."\ l\lham. Indiana. and purcha..ed inln 'enict, in ~(''' Ollt'OIn, in IHfiI. I\hile L1w !.willJ,'\toll was oliginath de,igllnl ,IS a tOld)CJilt, but \\";:IS purchil~ed while ~til1lx'ing huHt in :'\:e\\ Orlcan~. ami ~he was completed as a Jrlllhoat. The (;"'IPml/~olk,\'<\~ a long. ~l('t'i.. 'C'iSt'\, bUI onh canicd thrt'e ~J2-pollndel' gum, 1\\0 01 I\hich were rillt·d. rht· lelll,lining lhrt'e \c,sd.. werc shorter. 'locl-icr. and ..lmH'r. but carlied a larg('r aflnanWIH. ,ix to eig-hl glln~, indudill,l{ ar k,lSI 1\\"0 32-pOlllldcr rilk' per \"e"!>t'l. Thrce of lbclll I\'ere de:'lro~t'd tv pre\(;lll rhdr Glpture .Irtel tht' Lilt or ~klllphi~ in Junc 186:l bur tilt' Pon/rhflrlW/II cOrltirltled 10 Opt'l"'ille 011 1111.: Red Ri\"n lIlItit lin (k~trllniorl in tum ill OClober IH6~t Until ~Iarclt 1862 lhe flutilla I\~IS allgllll.:1l1t·d b} the COllledl.:r'lle naml 1't'~,c1~ MrR([(, and .I([rH\fJli (described ;lbovl'). hlll rlH'~l' l'I'lllf1l('d Mllllh 10 defend New Ork;ul~ whell Uniorl 10rcl.:' thre;l1el1cd the Cil\". The Iloaling balll.:l"} NI'Il! Or/N/lil also ;Ni~rt'd tht, lIal~ll flotilla ar I~lalld No. 10. It wa.~ inllllohi1e, and had to IX' lowl'tl into plaC(', tlH'1l moored. Con~('qllellll}'. when rhe l'"ld dcrenst'~ I\t're tlan~l'd, the 1I;1\~11 Ilotilla escaped downriver. hur lilt' Nnv 0111'(1/15 had to be dt·,rro~t·d ro pre\"('lIt her caplllrl'. While this smatillolilla I\~l" opcl'llillJ.; ;u'()llnd hland No. 10. a ,{'col1(1 forc(, wa.. bcillj.{ comerted in )~Irds ill and ,tr(lund New Orlt·;m". l.il-t' lheir coul11e'1)an.s in the i\'ew Orlean" St')uadron. lhi, ('.onreder;lIe Ri\'er I)l'fen ....· Fleet \\"'il~ oper'lll'd b\ lhe War Departmellt, ;md charged \\itb lhe defense or 1111.: upper siretches of thc ~Ii"!iisllippi. \\ hile the :,oulhern cOlllingent remained around New Orleam. This forcc, which lOok pari ill the defense of Fon PillO\\' amllhe U:utle of ~lelllphis UUIIC 6. 1862). centered around a forct' of ciglu Ii"cr steanu.'I'Ii. lllost 01 \Ihich \\ere CU!l\erled into ram~. L'nder 11ll' command ofCapl;linJ.E. ~Ionigolll('n.

.....

'."

.. ...-

-

--

\\ho"t' f1.I!.",hip II ....., the Llul, /UixI. the t:"ighl-H.-ssel flet't consi..,led of the C.nu·ml/JrtlfJ{. (~I1"(//\lnflll/{ Pnu. C",II"(/1 'wm'". Gm"(/I f:tlrl lim lkllI. Cnl"fli .\1. ./,/1 nlOlII/I)Oll. ColoII,1 /.Ul'f'1/ and (;f'/I~mllkau'W'rd. \\'lwII tilt' four liglll gullhoa..... retirl'd from hl.md ~o. 10. this £1<."el comliwled till' onh drecli\{> 11:1\'(11 force on Ihe upper ~trelche" of Ihe \li,-~i~.. ippi. bc"ll'l'n Curo .lIId ~lt-'lIIphi,. TIlt' tlrge'l of the..t.· .,hip' '\iIS the CSS &,,"(/1 8H1~. fonnerh iI brigrigg<'d paddlt'llhN'1 pa....'ellgcr "le;IIlWr called the Mt'X;fO. I\hleh had oper;tIl:d ill the (.lIlf uf ~It-':-.icu. She W;:IS huilt in ~e'\ YOI'I.. in IRjO lUI the Suulhl."lll Slt.·;Ulhhip C:ulllp;tm. h;l"cd in i\cw Orlc;U\\.•lI1d '\iI' pllrch.I"t'd h, the COI,!t-(!t'r;\t(' ~O\'('rnml'l1I inJanlian IH6~. ,\ lour-inch oal.. Ix-arn W'h adl!l·d III hel bOIl, thell (,OI'('n'd in a om'-inch 1.1\(:'1' 01 iron, mal..ing iI nldillll."l1l.ln 10111\, .\.' till" \'t'"e! di'placf"d o\t·r 1.000 1IH1' .mll could allain ;l 'p('('d of ()\t'" I () I..nOI", "he was a powerful r;:ullmin~ n',sd. In "ddili01l tulll:r 1,1111, ,he '\;1, filled 'Iilh a ~\().poulJ(it:'r Parroll rille 011 her furl'(';l'lk', and:t :l2-potlndl'r 'lIIuothborc on her qU;Il·l('l'(kck. Of Ihe OIlwr "('I ell \(:'",e!, in Ihe 11('('1. lhe (;f>//{'ml Sinh,,/{ l'riff. the (;#'/11'/(/1 SlIlIIlr•. ,lIId tIll' ColOllrl LOlI('l/ all di,pbced uver JOO \Oil" The Gflll'm( ,\/f'rhll/{ I'.l.r 11,1" 101'll1t'rh lhe l.mtrf'711 ,\lll/muloll. a ,idewht'd riverhoal huilt ill Cillcinllali, Ohio, ill 1H:)fi. Apart from her ratll. ,he wa~ Mllll'd Ililh 10111 glill'. Ulle on I Ill' fUI'('ca~lk, :ll1olhel on lhl' quant'r(!I-,k, and tllO ill hl'oathide mOIlIlI, ill~idl' het" wood('11 (',l'emall', All wel't' !l-inch n;,hl~l't'll '1I1lhhol'l'~, tn;lkill~ her Otl(' ot lht, ht'~I' arllled wuodell \'l'''eh Oil lhe rilet'. AltlH/Sl a.' pOlH'l'flll \\'a, til\' Cl'lwml !Jmlll'f'f.,r(/n{ (fonllt'rh lhe Nell Orll'an" lowhoal ()(f'fIU) , Ilhid. CirriI'd f'\l.t" 8-inch and Olle 1~-pOlltl(kr SllIt)OIIII.>uI'l." gltll~, Il\ cOllt]'a,t, lIlt.' (~'llI'ml Slill/II'I' (once Ille Ne\\' Olll';!"" LOwhoal Jllllilil /Yl'br) carrit,c\ tOllr ~\:!-POlilldl'l alld IIIlI' I:!-poum!et" ~moolhl)llrl."" Bolh 111(' ChI( iHlI,lIi-hllilt "teamer UJ/Ollf>/ I,Ol'f'1/ ,Hid llt(' fOI'llIt ... towhoat rlf'lIfml Eurl \(11/ f)UII! 1\('1'1: .\lllll'd with a ,ingl\' smoolhbore ~'"1. t1\Ul1l11t,d 011 Iheir foreca...t1e.... Thl' annalll('lli of lIlt' ,\/. ./1InW1II/l5o/l \\,a... mosl probabh a ~in~::k 1,01\ gUll, ami the 1.IUlf' /Vbel (fonl1erh llw Pl,.lIt." 1,.II,i.• '0 I'll ,Ieaml:r R. & J. 1\£1&1'1) "n-ril'd thr('t' 12-pollncler Iillt'.,.

I

.'

The Confederate colt_1M! ram StonewMI JlICbotl ••

sn. Ioolled

belore the Bettie of N_ Orfe_. A "",.11 of cotton bale. protected Mr, .-eachl", lrom her keel to ebowe .... top 01 her wpe,..tructu....

The cottonelad ram CSS General Sterlltlfl Price "",e. one of the Conlederete RIver Delen.e Fleet which fought et Plum Point lind Memphl, In 1882, Although she was .unk In the Battle 01 Memphll In June t8«12, ,he was raIsed, rep.l.ed, and operated by the US Navy •• the gunboat USS aene ••/ Price, Thl. photogr.ph was t.ken when she "",as In Union .e",lce,

15

The CSS G.,...-

8~

..... the

la<98.1 "'..... In the Confedet1ll. RI\/.r Del.n. . F,..t. Although she ..... IMlnk ., the Baltl. of

w"

Memphi., she t1IlMd and . .,..,eel aoa'n.t hoer fonn.r _ .... In thl. pnotogt1lph tIIken In Mound City, llIi~, she Is ~ng

t1I1l8lred belore ... t.rlng

,..,Ic., (US Navy)

Unlon . .

With their \~Iried ann tu their bo\\'s .md till' Mldition of ord1),(1I('l". the\ \Il'rl' further proll'("\l'd b\ tlw cT('onion flf l'xtra hlll~lll'ad~ .Irmmd Iheir machine.... .lIld gundl'c\":". ,lIId C(llIon \\.h C01l1plt·,.... ·d into Ihe ~paCl' bl'tween the ~id('" of tilt.' ,upt-'I'l>tnICHlre .Uld .1 1.lhe itllu'r hul~lll'.ul (Ii~e .1 wood and Cfltton s,'lnd\\ich) crealing .. h"..ic form of ("oHond.ul prou.'ctioll. \ddilional bale:> were prob'lhh "l,(('~t'd around their c'!>O"l'd "'''11th and around their pilot hou!>t.'~, Follm\ing the de"tmclion of tilt' Confl"(k'r,ltt.' gunhuat f1otill.b at :S-e\\ Orle.lIl .. and ~kmphi" onh on(' 011 WI' \\(H,dell Conl'NIcr.llc h'llllboal c,lll"Cd serioll!> prohkm~ for Iht" L uioll. In J.lllU,II"\ 18(.3, Colond \\'.S, Lm-e1I, til(' crealor of th(' 1,IIn Ikel \\.1" 'l'llt 10.\kll..lIldria. wlli..iana, 10 com en tilt.' rilt"rbuat I\fbb into.t \I.II""IIlP. I hi" woolle, She wa!> ,Ihu l·qllippt.'d Il'illl two I:!-pounder hO\\II1(.'t"~, a~ ;lllti-p'-'Nonnt'l Wt·apon". Colton IMlt" \1l'l"e "tacked around Iwt" IIIMhinl.'l"\. ~o Ihat onh 11l'1" IX:,IIII t'ngill(' rL'I1l.• ined unprotected. The CSS \\,bb pCl"fol'nll'd \11'11 in <111 t'Illf-Ig:t.·Illl.'llt \..itll the ironclad U~S Illdul/lolfl, and elldl'd Iwl' carcer itl a clram:llic chat"gl' down lhe ~Ii~i~ippi ill lilt:: 1.1~1 d.I\:> 01 lht" \\,11,

THE ROLE OF GUNBOATS Function

,.

Str:'ltegkally, lht~ Utliutl \\';h cOlllltlitll,d lCl IIll' 0lwnitlg lip of the i\li~!>i~~ippi Rivcl', fmm Cairo. 11lilloi~, tu the Gulf of i\kxico. Thi" could not be achieved by n;mlllorn'" ;.IOlH',:h troop~ hartlO St'i/t' and hold lhe kl') poil1ls along the rivct". thell usc lhc,t' \ill''' to lautlch alt:tr"-s which would dlive the Confedf't
Doncl~on wOllld open the route 10 the enemy to Nasl1\ille, giving ,11('111 the mean~ 01 hreaking bridge~ and dcslI'oring lhe ferr)' boats on the ri\er as far' as navigable." I lis prediction was correCt, and afler losing I.xuh fons. the Conf('dt'r:HC~ were forced to \\ithdraw to the ~llth. The Confedcrate~ lacl..ed the gunbo.lls which might have been able to contest control of the tWO ri\crs, and consetillelllly, the\ \,"ere forced to pull back Ix'hind the twO ri\'eN, giving up Kentucky. Similarh, control of the i\lissb.:.ippi .md it~ tributo;us \\ere alhK
Union rI.. er gunboata eng.glng aho,.. I.rgela on the weatem 11..,,... Att.c:ka on enem~ patrola, n....1gunfire aupport, .nd the bomb.rdment of aho,.. poaltlona we,.. .11 ,..gul.r taaka for the gunboat fleet.

l

17

pro\('Clion for

~llpport \·c,,~<.:l...

III .. hort tlll'\ wcn' lilt' \\,orkhOl-..('" of the

W('\lt'l"ll Theater, opcraling cvcr)'wIH']1.: lhev \\en~ Il('t-dt'd, and

ptTfonning a range of dillies. Whell Conf('(kraIC gucrri1la\ raided into Ineli,lIla and IIlinoi.., gunboats led the plll"'lIil, and hdped to contain the raidcr~.

Although larger, more

illlprt'\~i\l~ \\;ll~hip\ ...uch

a.. the irunclads or Confederate ocean raiders. gained Illl' J.{lon. lhnc ,>imrle wooden gunlXl3ts helped win the \Im lor the L'nioll. Manpower

ue.rt.nant Thoms. B.

H~

••

of lIMo f_ .-..gul•• Conf.o.nt. na'tsl offlc.,. to CSN, w.. __

Hf'I. In lIMo W•• t.m TIMo.t••

during

tlMo wsr. H8 commancMd tlMo gunbost CSS MeR.. during tlMo &.ttt. of N.w O....n. In April 1864.

18

Before the war. the ~Ii'isi'isippi Rhcl" ali(I il<; tribmaric'i made up a bU'itling 'i'1>tcm of \\,11('1"\1;\". Hul-illl-: rher poll."> ,IS f.lf Ilonh as ~Iillneapoli'i, ~linnc'iOla, and I)imbllrgh. Pt'llTl'ilh'lIlia. \Iith thri\ing mad.. eLS dO\\llSlream. The ~Ii'i~.ouri Riler hranclH:d wt',,'ward.. through l\..... n ...lS. "hile oth~r tribUL.lri~~ cOH:r~d much of th~ Southern states which bordered the great ri\~r. Within da\~ of Ill(' ~uce.ssion of Tt"nnesse~. Arkansas, :\li~i~sippi. ,md Loui~i,lIIa. ilCCt:"·>.~ 'Iolllh of the Kentud" state line was d~l\ied to th~ ~orthern ~t.lle... ,md th~ thrhing river trade was brought to an abnlpt ~t:llld~till. In theon. thio; meant there should ha'~ b~en a rich pool 01 l·'I)(:ric.'nced riH.'rmen for both sides to recnlit from. In practice. this ,,,as far from the: G!Se, At first, the cre,,'S of both ~irll''1 \\t'rc a ..trange mixture of ri\(~nnen, 'SOldie~. ci,ilian ,·oIlIlllcen.. lind PIUfl'~sional "'Iilor... RiH~r pilo~ '\I.:rc at a premium. and v.hile lJlall\ had an imim;lll' kno\,lt:dgc ofponions of the rl"cr network, fcv. "IW" more than a limited stretch of the ri"er. The~ men 'Ier~ im.tlu,lble. and if captured, financial incenthe<; wen.' uSllalh ofTt"red to cllcour.lge a change of allegiann'. For the Cunfl'dt:r:lln, 1l1.lnpOv.L'r 1,.15 ah,~,I\'<; a problem. 1\, the til1ll.' thl.' fir"t gunboat fleets were read\ for sel"\'ict.·, mosl riH:nncn and mechanics \,'t:re alfl.'illh ~ef\ing in thL' Confedt:l-att: Anm, and vcr} fel' Arrm timet' I"; were willing to pan I\'ith men IInder Ih!'ir command. hOll'e,er dig'ible thl.'} might ht· tUl n,I\,1I rather than land sen ice. Throughollt lIlt" w;lr on the rhers most Conkderal~ <,hip<; II'CfC lIndcrmanned, Tllt"fc wa~ al.;o ,I ~hon in its command'i, A na'~ll n:crlliling ~lali(l11 (known as a Naval Rendezvom) 1\~IS l.',tabli~hl.'d in New Orleans. run b) a staIT of threc office,..." :,\It'\I'~paper adwrtiselTlcnts, n}el"S, and recruiting dri\~~ ,,'cre ll'icd LO encourage volunteers, \,'hilc officer.. ctlnlillllalh pleaded with their Arm" coul1({'rpans for 111l'l1. C'.onfederate :\larine recruiunent OfliCl'S wert' al~() opened in :\lemphis and i\ew Orleans during 1861. The 10'>$ of lhe t\l'O cities meantthal.

aller lI1id-IHli~, IIImt recruit.. for gllllho1 I;H'fllwn \lert." l'llcoum~ed to ~ ..... e ill Ille nUlill,l~ 1~t1hl'1" IIUIl to ..ign up for 'l'r..'ict, ill Ihe \nl1\. l'mil \11~1l"1 I HI')2 Ihe L'nion I;H"r fleel was nm b\ Ihe War Dcp.lnllll'llI, so ri\{'nnl;'n \Il'rl' (h~lhl;'d from regular militan ~n-ice IU the rill;'r Ot't'l. Officer.. \\{'rt' prmidt,ihilit\ lor Ihe ..hip" in "\u~ust IHli2, theil crew, ~illlph ,wildll'd [rom onl;' ~ ..... i(l." 10 anOlher. III ,ldditiol1 10 the officer.., ,I <;;111,111 pl"I)ponit)l] of t'\.pt'rienc('d naval mlinK' and pt'ln offict'I'" pro\";dec! ,I (ort' oll1'l\i11 t'\.peril'net'. and en~l1n'd .,omt' Iinl.. wllh the pro
,

".

Union offic.... phot09"'phed wtli'-' off duty. The offlctH" (The

Ship" IMstetlln the "ent., is shown c.rrying • tIIoInl;ng rine .nd K"omp8ft1ed by two ttunti"" dogs. Hunting .iong the she,.. w••• popul8r KtMty

wnen

the

opportunity Pl"eMnttKI 1t. .I1,

Ordnance

Th<'-J"(' \\';1'> no ll-pical annatl1('nt for a \Ii'isi..sippi RiH'r j.1;utlbo;1l during Ihe war, "'hilt, rnatl\ l\t'rt' ;1f111t'd 11·;,11 I.trJ.:t" \moothbore \\eill}(Jl1' ,udl a" 24-polllldel' ,111l1 ~~2-PIHIlldt'I", rifled gUII~ were aho \\ideh U'>el!. ,I'> \\el t' \l11all howirtt'!"', Occasioll;llh. '0111(' gunlMhI.... carried brger pin't". ' I I ( h as tht· 1:~O-p()lllHkr fitit-. ill IH E", Ihl' LIS ~;t\'\ had ,ldOplt'd lhl' ::l2-pOllndt'r .,l11oolhhort' ,I'> it .. ~Ialldanl A"llll IIp'', dt"ig:nt'd 10 all~l11enl lar~l'r "~1lt'1l" HUll' (61-p
I.",

,.

RK""ltment Into ttHt Union

NilII)'

took plllCe .1 N.".' Rendezvoy. otflc_. IlUCh •• thl. one In New York City. Simllllr office. weAl "tabll.nect in the mIIjof river port., IlUCh •• Clnc:lnnllll, 5t Lou....nd Pitt.burgh. Ill....,,..tlon from Le.,ie .. 1II....tnfH NeWllPllper. lM1.

1...... lhor'$

CoUKtlon)

Tht: slllvOlhbon: ~hcll Kilns intwduced iTllO US i\'a\~11 ~er\'iCl' b)' Jolm A. Dahlgren from IH!lO oll\,·ard lX'g,m to chang{' lhis. as his pieces m.llc1u:d comentional gllns in 1>OIh range ami aCCUl'IC\. Ahhough r.lrel\, ~eel1 on the ~Ii~~i~~ippi Rh·er unless carried OIl tile IKc,ln-going \\,u-ships oflhe regular ~.l\'\. Dahlgren pieces exerted lheir 0\\ n influence mcr other. earlier forlll~ of urdn.mcc. ~l;llldani long guns (comclltiOltal ~l1loothbore piece:.) ,\cre ad'lpled to fin' ~hdl a, wdl a~ '\Olid shOl. 'lI1d.1 h.mdful ofhi~ 8-inch and 32-pounder gun<; appeared 011 IMger Lnion gunboatS. A ~'(ond rnodillcalion 10 earlier gUlls wa~ lhe cOll\el~ioll of ..mOOlhbore gUlls mto riflcd piece... Gelleral Charle<; T. ].U11(:<; pioneered lhis cOIl\ersion proces!>. which imohed lhe cuning of narrow. deep gro()\"cs into lhe bort:s of older br0l1l.e "'1m~. A:. lht: ne\, rined projeClilcs weighed .Ippro:l.imateh tw;ce that of lilt.' original '\Olid ~hot used h, the cmnon. gun de...ignalions \\ere doubled. COIl~·qut:lUh. a f~pounder became a 12-pounder and so Ull. The large..t Jollnc.. rille found on ~lissiS!>ippi gunboats wa~ the 130-pounder. conlt'rted from a 61-pounder ..mOOlhbon:.•md cilnied on II\(' woodcn ram ( \\fbb. In general, mosl Confeder;:ne rin(.'(1 pieces were JoIIllC" ril1t:~. "hile lhe Cllion had a plcllliful ~upph of the more efficiclli Parrott picccs. and these were widell used in the ri\er flee!. Roben P. I>anoll Ildd ililruduccLl his O\\ll dl'si~lI of iron lilled ordnance for na\'al ~en;c(' in 1861. Till' 20-pounder ll1uoth bort: ~hot or :.hcll. at k.bt again'l ull,lnIlOr{'d laq:::eL". B\' conu,l'Il. rifled guns 1ll0lmterl in lonillc;uioll' could hit and penell"lt;: lhe ironclad neet med b\ lilt.· l'nion on tl\l' ~Ii,~issipp;. and could disable a I\()()dell gunboal at long nlllKt: wilh it ~illl{k ~hot. The followi ng li~1 COlltains MIllIC of tlIt: more CI)llllllOll gUll.'> mounted on II'()0den gunhoat); 01 IXllh s;{k's which 0lwrall:d on till' J\1ississippi River and it.'> triblltaril'~. In lact. ~1lc11 a wick l tl~ltally 75-85 percem 01 the nmge for ~olid shot projeCliles.

Smoothbore Gun

80"

20

12,pOlllldl'r (IRII p.lllerll) :?-I-llIllllult'r (IMI1 IMllern) 32-pllll1\(1I-1 (1M-II l),llll'm) H-inch ( :Ollllllhi;ld) ~I-Ill(h (1).lhlgn·ll)

I-v.. in :'l}( in 6)(, in 8 in 9 in

GUll m?igllt

1.757 6.240 6,832 9,210 9.000

pounds pounds pounds pound.. pounds

GIIII Ltmgt1l

umstrudioll

in 6in

Bronte Brolltl' Bron/(' 11'011 Iron

lOft
Effective Rlmge 1.663 \'ards 1.901 \'ards 1.922 \
The crew of t ~-Inc:h Othliren ImOOthbore gun openIti"'ll their piece duri"'ll t gunf1efl' drill on t gunbott. AlthOt.lgh only t fllw Mi..i. .ippi mer gun~ts h8d gun' of thl, mil, the 'Iring drill ,."...Ined In. ume. (US NtV)')

Rifled Guns

9-pullrl(kr (RtK!lll,ln) IO-polllldel (P.1l101t) 12-pOlIIHit'r (J,1111t·~) 20-poulI{l....r (1'.IITOlt) 30-poullder (P.IITolt) 13O-pollmit'r (Jallws)

e,m

Height

Bore :\in ~\i 11 ~h in :Win "Y:in MY.in

I.T,O pOllnd~ '1.200 ptllllHb I4.H96 pOl1mh

Bore "Y-i 1\ !'",Xin

GIlII Weight 788 pound.'> 1,:{18 pOllnds

M~O pOllnd~

S90 poulI{b R7:1 1)Ol\Iul,

G,m Lellgth ,",II 9ill {ill 2i.,

Collstntclio" Hr01l/t'

:'If, itt I Irll ill Ion lOin

I\nl1llt'

11011

InJl1 IrOll 1\['(111/('

Ef/mive Rallge I,H:\O l';lrd~ I .850 I ~Ird!'> I. ,00 1~lf{ls I .900 I,ml" ~.201J

I,ml,

2.1:\0

\~Ird~

Howitzers

12'pol1mkr (UH I paller.,) 2·I.pllllllt1Cl ( IHII palll'l'll)

Gil/I Lel/gtll 'I II !'"Ii 11

COllstructiQn

,r,ll !'",i 11

Brol"....

1\1'011/....

t.YIee/illc Rallge I ,Oi2 \'ards 1322 vanh

Life on Board

111 bUIll lhe Uniol\ allc! Conlt'deralL' /lcels, t:olldilillllS 011 hO~lId thl' wooc!t'tl g"lltlhoat' that opl'1"all'd 011 Iht' ~Ii~,i,~ippi KiH'r wcrt" !J{'[\('r th,ul lhu~c !olllld OIl lilt: tl'lI11pecl lilt'r irond,ld,. 01 Clt"11 1111' \ IOl\lkd c1I'tk' of 1ht: L' nion OII.',m-!{oillg" 'lealll flct·!. [\t'11 when Ill(' (i1'S1 limlwrcl;t{h or lhl' Union !let'l or Ill(' imlq}t'lHII'nl 1~lrn flotillas of lhe COllit'dt'I,llt" II crt: hloll!{11l il1\o ,eni((', dnpile Iheir uwncNhip. lht" (lew, I\t'tl' or~H1i/l'd ,I long 11,1\,11 lim"_ ,\ 'mauI'ring or experit'llCf'd lM".1 ollkl·,.... and P<-'l!\ nflict'r, p,o\'ided t"IHltlgh inlluenct· ror thl.',e \e'.scl, 10 he rllll lhl' :'\',11'\ \\,11. ,I!though lht· 1t'leI~ of discipline and ~'pil-~lIld-lX'li~h~ would 1,Irt'II h,l\l' i11lpre"t:d ,('lIior 11;:1\,11 ofTicer~. Later, as ,\dmiral Foote hrouglll 1IJ(' l-lIil)Jl riH'r fI('ct under his COIllrol. a morc <-'X,lclillg Ic\t'! ur lla"ll ,lUll!oril\ 'lI1d di'>Cipline \I'iS imroduced ilHu the li\l'I

21

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,}4.1

Jail

1.11'1"

.;KJ ualp PlllO,'\

\pl!';JJ

8 w

'lln~

••

01

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]),,,,\.1,")0,

lP!II\1 'lwl"1I';uq 1I.1111 'd!q~ ,}41 10 jfU!lll!.JP \tj P,}'\UIlOI "W"I! 1l1~)

12

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",[[!"'\... }!

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'p.J.8ll1!lp

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JI

'uod U! 'lq~!U .10 \I:p 'lilli'

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' 1 _ MIl u""",1!.q 'IIXJ:) 8

, 10 IlrIll 8

:.-iOOll rn,lrkcd tllC oOidal st.lrt of the ~hip's da}', and II~\S till' hour 11111;'11 rhl' 111;lin 111l'al of lhe cia> II~LS served (uslIall)' meal. n::gelab1cs and colke) ..\lrl·nI0011' wcre u"lIally -"pent at drilL Around 4 p.l11 .. lhe n"~l'l W,I~ 1I100rni I(ll Ihe night. and lhe crew were ght:lI a Il'll hou .... to lIl('rn~l-'hl" bel ore lights out. \'lwlI till.' H"'l'l \I'a~ not on aClive dUlY, the davlight hour.... Iluuld be ~pe1H p;lillting the ship. main milling lhc enginc.. or KUlI'" or cll.'.lIling, LIIIII''-~ llll' vessel was in iLS home pOrl, whCH' it could IX' rollt:d OUI of Ihe waleI', maimenance work W,IS limited 10 Iht..' hull alld "upc..slrllClure above lhe walerline. !'>und,ll.... wl.'n' d('{'lIwc\ ~make and Ilwnd- dav, when the crew could \I.I,h or rl-'!),Iil clothing. 01' enbrage in socialising, Short.' IcaH:: \1,"" gl~lIl1t.·<1 in frit.·lIdh po....... mam of I\hich COlllaillt"d lhl.' 1I-'ldi,ifJn,11 "Uurn" (II '1I1ll1'\.t'IIlt.'1lI fo.. "'-'lilors ashore fOllnd Ihl.' \Iorld mcr. \\'hl.'l1 tilt' cre\1 \H'n' un;\blt' to t:1~0\ lhdr Id~tlIt' hOlll.... ;I"horl', thl'\ '1)(:111 thdr lillie fishing, pl~H'il1g cards. \I·tiling (for Ihe lell (....I·\\"mt.·n \\hn wert.· liler::\u.·). or pla\ing mu,ic. .\hnO'SI l'\t'n ,hip till I'ilhl'r ,idl' h.ul ;t !X'I, ilnd lhcsc ma~o.... \It.·rt: It'd .md temlt·c\ in thl-''''' ki'lIrt.· hu\ll.... For lilt" (;onkckr:llt.·<;. "lIpph of food. p.·Jx. and C10lluIlg W;lS a con,t.lnl 'Iruggle. Ilhile lor lhdr L'nion countl'q)an~, Mlpph plohl('m, II'l.::tl.:: for lilt." IHO'I p.lfl owrcollle h\ Ihl' !>unHller of 1862. B\ IR63 I.XI~c, ~lIch a~ CailO til' ~10l1llc\ Cill maituained floating warehou'c\. leceh'ing ~hip!>. 111,lillten.llICe \Iurk,hup~. ,mel .Idminbmuivc olliccs. While Il,nal ullifulllI' \H'f(' hard In ('(1II11' h\ :11 IiI'S!. bOlh ~idt.'S inlnKluH'd rq;·ul,lr IM\, bllle~ ("hitt.·, ill 'lllIllHt'r) during the firil \ear 01 the war. ginng thl.' \l'\~t.'l, Ihe ,lppl.::.Il,IIlCl' 01 fegn!'lr \1';.lfShips, Allhollgh C1-ampt'd, humid :lml Im('olllfor1;thh·.lift' Oil hoard thc,e wooden gunboats \\',IS rt'al,un;lhh 1)(."II~Iblt,. .11 k;I'1 l\llI'n tht' H',~d~ we..e not ('ngag-('d in a("lion, Cullt.1iliulh ill ,Lulon 111·a.' a dillt.-l't.'rH ~lun.

A ..... photog...pn of _n un~lffied Confede...

..emen.

le

When uniform. were

I..u-.:l 10 Confederale ....110... on th
Gunboats in Action

\\'hl;'l1 rlw war 1)(.'1.;<111, llobtlt.lv \,ho \\';.\s gi\Cll command 01 " IIOOt.lCI1 g1l11hoat 011 tht" ~Ii, .. i,~ippi Rilcr knew what 10 t'xlwCt whcll hi, \nst.'l II'I'nt into:tt lioll. Ahl1011gh cxpcriellced l1al'al olTicer.. had rt.·'It ulthc Iale~t dCH;:lopIlIClll.' ill 1l:l\;11 and (Irdnan("t· rl'clllloloj.,f\, thl' dkcl of ~hcll guns, sleam l'l1gilll'S ;l1ld 1'1'1'11 :n rllor daddil1~ wt'rt.· Lll'f.{clr untested when lI11:: war hl'~al1. Sil1lilarh. lhe illlrodliClioll uf tlLc 1~l1n was arl unknuwn quanrit\', The I{unhom r;Iplain, on Ihl' ~lis~i~~ippi would haw.' 10 karn dwil' tI'ldl' lilt' hard lI'il\", All I.'S;Il11in'Hiol1 01 Ilrrt::e acli01I' in\'olving gllnhoats, at Nt'\1 Or1cam (Aptil 21, lRli~). Plulll Point (~la\ 10, 1862). ,J1ld f\kmplri' (Jl1nc 6. IH62), Ilil1 pro\'idt' ;1 hroad outline of the "lIl'ngth~ and lill1ilatioll' ollht.·w Hull' 11.lrship~. TIll-' ri\t.·r ;!l'prtlMh 10 :\e\\ Orleans II';:IS prolected b\ two lotls: Fon J.lck~on on lht.· Ill'..tl'..,1 shtJH.· of till' ~li'iSissippi, and FOrl St Philip on till' I',ISI. To .1Il!{lIlt'lll Ihl' 12H I{un~ in thl'~e fonilit:d pU!>ilioll'>, tlw COl1fl'dl'l~lIt" h.ld tol\ed £101111 tht.' unfinished ironclad LouuililUl and moored her a, a Iloaling hallc.·n. The small ironclad mill c:.")~ .\ImmwH and ,I lIolil1,1 01 10 \\oockn gunboaLS 100J,., lip positions upti\'l.::r lrom lilt.· forb, O\l'mll COIIIIII.lIlCl of bOlh ~hore and na"ll defe!l'>cs W;L' gi\t.'l1 10 G<"nt'ml \l,m,lil·ldl..mt.'ll.

23

The wooden eoltonc:l.-d ,..m Sf_willI Jaehon depk:ted

ramming t"- damaged wood.n gunboat USS VMlInIt, Th. Union '1••••1 unk, but the Confect.,..t. ,..m was .ubseql.lently ,..ked by the rem.lnder of the Union fleet, then ..::unled by her own crew,

At 2 a,rtI. on April 24. Commodore F;uTagw's wooden steam neel approached the forts, trying to b"pass Ihe stalic defellScs. lie broke throll~h a line of ran~ and hulb oppo~ile FortJacksun. unh 10 have his flee! auackc.:·d by the ,\(r/llflSSas. This ironclad rammed thc USS ,ltississiP/1I and the L'SS BrooM)", but call~t'd rnillirnal d,llIlagc. As FonJackson was b\ passed. it wa:. llP to the gunncrs in Fon SI Philip ,md tilt: \Iooden gunboat net."1 to stop the Union allack. The leading L'nioll ship was the L'SS \rlrllllfl. and Ihe (;m"rtlor .\100ll' of the Louisiana Pro\'i:.ional :\'a\'\ ch.lrged p,lst Ihe milling crO\ld of Confederate \e~ls to .lIlad. her, In the process she rammed and s.,nk a Confederate LUg which got in tht· \\,1\. Fir(' from Ihe Lnion ~hips W,b itllt'lise. \s the Confeder,lIe capt.lin recalkd, -"1l1i., combined allad. killed and \\'ollnded a large llumlx'r of our men and Cllt the \t'~s(.'l up lenibh. Sliddenh t\\'o, thell one COIlit.'dt'I'Ilt.' ram(..) d,med through tJle thid smole from the right to lhe left 1).llll of the rher. p'lS...ing clost' to all of m.~ Thc<w \'e~sels ran agroulld OJ' \H'rc di!i.,bled before the\" could mill 0\1'(.'1'. theu aimed his ram ,It the \rlrlllla. lie opened fire 011 her \\'ilh her 00\1 gUll. then ",ullmed the l'nion \\....rship. L"nable to (kprt'~\ the I)()\\ KIIJI ~uffici('nth to hit the enelll\ hull in Ihe normal 1\.1\. the Confl.'der.ue gun ere\\ fired through the bo\\ of their O\,'n \cS.!oel. The '>I.'cund such ..hot diSo~sible.~ rhe \(/flUW drifted inshore, \\here her cre\1 tried to beilch her, hut the II the ram ~Io"ell!all jarlwm came lip and fini~lu'd the job, ~inkinK the Cnion gunl>O:ll in ~hal1O\I w:ner.

USS Lexington

'.

.. CSS McRae

/

.I

/

CSS Stonewall Jack.on

I

/

The GOlfernor Moore and the USS Varuna at the Battle of New Orleans, April 1862

n

--L

USS QUEEN OF THE WEST

IIil III

/

D

/ /

1---1Iil

\i

1. Coal Bunkers 2. Cotton Bales for extra protoctoo 3. &gnaI Masts 4. Berth Deck (Crew"s Quartersl 5. PIlot House

6. Ship's Office 7.

w.woom

8. $rnoI(e$tacks 9. Ider1llic:at>Ol'l Letter

10. ShIp's Galey 11. Magazw'le

12.

~. S~:e«XWnS

13. CaJ)!aPO's Day CabIn 14. GaptaPOs Stateroom

15. Ver1t'13tlOfl Slots 16. Ensign Stall 17. MaIn Dect< 18. TllIer Ropes

19. Boalsw<Wl's Store

20. Heads 21. After Coal 8l.I'lker 22. Dry Store 23. PaddIewheel 24. PaddIeY.rheeI 80)( 25. Steam Coodenser 26. Steam Inlet Ploes 27. EngIne (one 01 t;YO) 28. Upper Deck Walkway

29. Boller (one 01 three) 30. 12·pounder Ho'Mtzer and carnage 31. Forward Coal Bunker 32. Forward Store 33. Remforced lowef Hull

34. 3D-pounder Parrot nile al1Cl carnage

\

35. Ram

Bow (timber, With iron cladding)

m

CSS Generat Sterling Price

,

CSS General Brag9

I

The USS Tyler fighting the CSS Arkansas on the Yazoo River, July 1862

on

"-------------------------------USS Slack Hawk

USS Rattler

"'i1HlU'~

!all'r' the

G01JI'TIIO"

\\~L' l'IlIPgt'd h> Iht' USS ClI)'Ugtl. 101l0\1,t'd Il\' Iht' r'l"t of

Moo,-,.

Ihl'

Union

~l{'allwd

nOlilla and

pa~1.

a~ ~h('

lhe) \\~I~

riddkd Ililh ~hellrirc. Buming from ~lellllO ~Il'rll, ~Ill' 'i;lnl.., her Lolli~i:llla ~t,lIl' culm.... ~till fh·ing. The badh d,lI11agl'd S(OIIl'lLwll j(lt'/csoll \I"~ al~() .Ibandolll'd, Furthl'l dU\ln~tll';un ,hl' {' S "'tRt'" ;Iho l'lI}f.lgl·d ,Ill" Jim' of passing- L'ninll ~hip~, l'xehanging broadsieks Ililh the 1)()\lcrflll LISS Brook(HI .lIId Iht, L'SS lroqllolJ I)('for(' Ih(' n'~' nf 111(' fll'ct beb....n 10 pOll! lirt' illlo ht:'r. Riddled amI ~inl..ing, ,hc \\<1' bcarhcd and ahandoned h\ hl'r ere\l. nil' '!oHIU' Ell(' bc.'fell 1II0~1 of Ihe Confedl'l";1I1' \\oDelt'li gunhoal.S in lile' flc'l't. L-n.lbll· 10 I}re\elll Iht' L'nion progrl'''s, Ihl'\ \\l'rt' Clll on- [IOIll (heir lillt' uf rClre.1I up till: ri\t:r. Tht, ft'\1 \l''I~l'h th;lt ~lll"\i\l'd till" light IIC'1'(' c!t-"lIu\t'd In ,Iwir own (T('W<; (0 prc\('llt capture. AlthOllgh till" dll'cti\'l'1l1'~'I til l";llllming lank, had beell demon,\r-:'Ilt'd, Ihc~l' gU1IIxJ.lL' hild ,1['0 proH·1l 111Ic"ii ,",Ihll'l-:'Ibilit\ 10 elll"lll\ ,hdllill·. On ;\la\ 10, IR62, till" L1 n ioll rhl'l" Iket \\'a~ ahO\l' Fort l'il1<m. providing en\l'r till' mort,lr ho.ll~ Ilhit-h 1\ en:' bOlllb;lrditl~ th(' Confl'dl'l-:.Itl' pO'itioll', 'I he \l"'1d 011 poitlt gu;u'd rurllll"~t dOlllhlll';IIl\ \IW.ll> till' GN'llIatt' irolldad l'SS C/IIt'III/lnli. ~ll)ol..e \1<1' 'polled, and 1/rm/l;w /Jom rq)lil'll b\ I1ri1lg: 1\10 ~2-pollllCkt ~11C'1I~ irllti lhe mortar IXM!, di';Ihling: it completeh. The ntmtht'll ~tc':nllt'd p;L;;t .llld nll11111('d the ,\(lJ/ll/({ Clf), jll~t seeumb .Iltt:r till: ironcl.tel II;L~ r,unml'd b\ lhe ",/llI/ln: rllt: IHmd,ld limped lilT, ;md ,.1l1k ill ~halltl\l \I~ltt'l". :'\ell.t, lhe ironclad l'!\.'1 8Pn/lJIl an;\"l'd :lnd lilw! 011 lilt' c.,;s Co/lJIl,1 I.QI"II, while the CmvmllJid hit ,hi' ~umln:, IXlilt'l. \1 hieh l"pl(Kkd, c;Hl~ing hean C
1ll
.-.m GooremoI' Moore Mown Ioelt.-d In combat with the """boat USS Verune. eft.,. ramming her. during the Bettie 01 New Ofte-. 1llult in onler to

hit

the

enemy vessel.

33

An e,rla' repre••n..1Jon 01

Commodore Farragut" Union fleet forcing I.. way pa.t the

tol1. below New Or'e.n. on April 24, tSe2. In the bottom ri"hl

comer. , number 01 Conlederate lIunbo.11 a.. shown supporting

the attack 01 the Ironclad rllm CSS Man....n.

34

1',I(nl with ;llll1ihi1.lIioll, ~1\ull~ornl"n \"i'hdrew tht, relll;lincicr orhi~ he \10\\ f,Kt.'d lilt' l'lllin' L' lliUl L ri, l'r il tIl\( 1.t<1 lkc.:l. he 11MIlilLle option .. h lhl' 11/>11/(/11 and (.'lIml/(fn!r1 g";I\t' rh,I'(', ,Il(' Cill,illllflti S<1111.. ill II kt'l ol ,,
la'i minule the COllft'derall' ralll~ rt~H'rscd lheir paddk~ 10 ~low tht'l11,('h('~ (111\1'11. which rnadl' lhem llIrn. Ellet smashed inlo lhe ,iell' oj lhe I.Ql'dl. loppling tilt, Confedcnllc \'c~~er1> slllOkeqaCKs and Ie;l\ irlg' hl'r fillinl{ wilh \\~ll('r. Shl' cIriflecl oIT 10 the easlern ~horc and ',lllk, takillg mo"t 01 IlI''- nl'll with he!. The UmUlry(",r{ cIul\' .-"mllled lhe Qut't'II oj /11,. \\h/Oll her pon \\hl,'dhml'l'. and the L'niOll Ics.<>cIlinqwd ,1\\<11. Ellet wa~ lllor!alh wOllndl'r! h\ a "ha.-p"hoolcr during tbc c1a..h, and he dlcd ..hurth ,lftef\I,trd in Iht' 1I,I1t'r hI this time, <md Ihl' Mmwrrll headed "lI"aight for Iwr. rJw (~f"/U'1'(11 '\lIIIIIn~1{'('I{'d IIll thl' .\I(marrh, hill the L1nion ram ~Iipped pa~1 the t\lO (d:Jlllcdel,lll' \ L">"l'l~, ,'Ild I hl' 'IImln- and !JmUI"t']!fII1/ lollillt-d, 1II'lpll-"'. the Ikflll»'1!ttrr!ll;l' Iill'd UII h\ tlu' illllidad &1,/on, and h('1 hllikrllippi Rher lIot onh dClllon~lI,lled tilt: IlilnelUllt.'I'ful ,lnn
Atter I1Imming the V..-vM. the Confederllt. 111m Go...ntOI" Moore WIIS d.vIIsraled by fire from the UnIon lI. .t. In Ihls englll'ling the USS ,,-nucol. Is shown pouring

fire Inlo

the stricken lIunoolll.

SHIP LIST - UNION ~uIO:

th,ll 1he t.'IH riC' illt hllk !Iw \'e~~t:'l"' principal
USS", UMed Siaies ShiP NAME

TYPE

TIMBERCLADS

...........

USST~

_,

COMMISSIONED

SERVED

DISPLACEMENT

June 1861

MISSISSIppl and Teooessee AIYers

420 Ions

ussConest~

SidewheeI gunboal

August 1861

MlS$I$Slppl Ravet

572 Ions

USS le.oongton

Sodewheel gunboal

AugUSI 1861

MlSSl$5IpppI RIVel'

362'~

USSAveng.w

StOewheel gunboat

FebnJary 1864

MlssIsslppl RIVel'

410 Ions

RAMS War Dep.rtment {Elletl R.ml

USS Mmgo USSMcroMrh

Sternwheel ram

Apn11862

MISSISSIppi RIVel'

SldewheeI ram

Apnl 1862

MISSISSIppi AI-..

228 tons 406 tons

USS l.ancBsllY

SIOewheel ram

May 1862

MlSSISSIppI AI-..

375 tons

USS Lioness USS ~ of the West

Slernwheel ram

MISSISSIppi RIver

198 tons

........... rnm

May-.!862 May 1862

MISSlSSlppl RIVer

«lE

Sidewheel ram Sternwheel ram

May 1862 May 1862

M<SSISSlppl River

519 Ions

Ml$$lSSlppl River

230 Ions

USS 5W1uerland USSSampson

,~

~

Other Rami USS VIndicator

Sldewheel ram

May 1864

MISSISSIPpi and Red Rivers

750 Ions

USS Avenget'

Sldewheel ram

February 1864

MIsSIssiPpi River

410 Ions

USS SnlMnt (No. 18)

Sternwheeler

Augusl 1862

Mississippi River

227 Ions

USS Gtm&ral Pillow (No. 20)

Sidewh~er

August 1862

Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers

38 Ions

USS Fairplay (No. 17) USS 51 Clair (No. 19)

Sidewheeler

Seplember 1862

Stern wheeler

September 1862

OhiO and Cumberland Rivers MIssIssippi River

203 Ions

USS Marmors (No.2)

Sidewheeler

October 1862

MiSSISSippi River

207 Ions

USS S,gnal (No.8)

Slernwheeler S,dewheeler

Oclober 1862

Mississippi and YalOO Rlv~

190 tons

December 1862

Misslsslppi River (flagship)

902 tons

Sternwheeler

December 1862

Mississippi River

Sternwheeler

December 1862

MISSISSippi River

260 Ions 137 tons

Sternwheeler

December 1862

MISSISSippi River

157 tons

Sternwheeler

-,,., -,,., -,,.,

MISSISSIppi and While RIVtlf1;

157 tons

MiSSISSIppi RIVer

165 tons

TINCLADS

USS Slack Haw/<

162 Ions

(not numbered) USS Forest Rose (No. 9) USS Glide {I} (not numbered) USS Jullel (No.4) USS New

frs (No

7)

USS Rattler (No.1)

Sternwheeler

USS Romeo (No.3)

Sternwheeler

SsJver lake (No. 23) USS Cncket (No.6)

Slernwt1eeler

USS SpnngfI8kJ (No. 22)

""""""""

USS

36

Slernwhee!er

December 1862

""""'" '863 """"'" 1863

Misstsslppi and Yuoo RIverS ~-

-

Ml$$I$Slppi and Ohio Rivers

175 Ions

Ml$SI$$lppi and Red ~

236 tons 178 tons

RIvers

146 tons

MI$SlS51ppi and Ohto

~

The tlnel.d gunboal USS Pralri. Bird {No. 111 photographed at anchor off Vlck.burg. T.nn...... following the c.pture of the city In July 1883. She carried eight 24-pound.r howitzers, and uHd tMm twk:. In angar••t Eunice. MissIssippi, In JUM 1883, and at Galne" landing, Ark.n.... In "I>lIUSI 18~. She 1.1y9k:.l of the doz.ns of linclad st.mwnaale... wtIk:h "nred In 1M Union n.. l.

",J I

rtv.,

LENGTH

•eo "

--

ARMAMENT 6 II 8

Il'l

REMARKS

smoolhtlores. 1 II 32·pdr smoothbore ..

311 3().pdr t'IfIes September 1862

178ft

4 II 32·pdr smoothbores 2 II 32·pdr smoothbores, 4 II 8

Sunk Il'l coIIl$lOI'I. March 1864

210 ft

2 II 3O.pdr ntIes September __~'862:=====_-,6 OU"' _

Il'l

smoothbores ..

-=========~Sunk;;;> in colltslon. November 1862

Sunk. by K:;11 damage. December 1864 Sunk by Confederate gunf,re at VICksburg, March 1863

176"

Captured by Confederates. February 1863; destroyed

181 "

Il'l

achon. April 1863

178ft Converted IOto a fIoaMg mach'ne shop from September 1862

5 guns 6 guns

4 guns 2 guns

Former Confederate steamer, captured June 1862

4 guns

Former Conlederate transpol'!. captured August 1862

4 guns

2 x 24-pdr. 2 x 12-pdr nIles. 4 x 24-pdr

7 guns 2 x 32-pdr, 2 x 30·pdr ntles. 2 x 12-pdr smoothbore 6 guns 6 guns

Destroyed to prevent capture, May t86.•,~= Burned and sunk ,n accidental lire, Apnl 1865

_

Burned and sunk In accidental fire, February 1863

6 guns 6 guns 6 guns 6 guns

_ _-=======:-,Sunk 10 storm. December 1864

6,~

6 guns

37

TYPE

COMMISSIONED

SERVED

DISPLACEMENT

USS Lnden (No 10)

Sterl'lWheeler

~anuary 1863

MlSSlSSlppl and Mansas RIvers

177 Ions

USS Praure Bud (No. 11)

Sternwheeler

January 1863

MlSSlSSlppl and Yazoo RJvers

171 Ions

Sternwheelef

February 1863

MlSS/SSlppl River

196 Ions

NAME TINCLADS (CONTINUED)

USS

Curlew (No

12)

USS CovrJgton (No 25)

.......-

Febtuary 1863

Tellnessee River

224 tons

USS Petrel (No 5)

Stemwheeler

F~l863

MlSSlSSlppl RIver

USS Arposy (No 27)

Sternwheeler

.......-

""'" - '863

MISSISSlppl RIV$l"

226'~ 219 Ions

Apnll863

Tennessee and White RIV6fS

196 tons

M'SSISSIPPI and Tennessee Rivers

210 Ions

USS HastIngs (No 15) USS Queen Ory (No, 26) USS Champion (No, 24)

-~

Apnl 1863

Sternwheeler

April 1863

MissiSSiPPI R,vef

115 Ions

USS Jflmes Thompson

Sidewheeler

April 1863

Mississippi and Red Rivers

280 tons

USS Naumkeag (No 37)

Stem wheeler

April 1863

M,sslS&ppj River

148 tons

USS Fawn (No. 30)

S1emwtleeler

May 1863

White R,vef

174 tons

USS Kenwood (No 14)

S1efnwtteeler

MISSISSIPPI and Arltansas RIvers

232 tons

M,sslS&ppl and Tennessee RIVet'S

207 tons

(No. 13)

USS Key West (No 32)

S1efnwheeler

May ~863 May 1863

USS Moose (No 34)

Slernwheeler-

May 1863

MlSSlSSlppl Rrver

189 tons

USS Sdver CkJud (No 281

Slernwheeler

..............

May 1863

MISSISSIppi RIver

236 tons

May .!~

S,............

..... '863 ...., '863

"""""'"

Tennessee and Yazoo RJvers

86'~ 211 tons

MlsslSSlppl Rwer

212 tons

US$AlfredRobb(No 21) USS Exchange (No, 38) USS Retndeer (No 35) USS VietOf)' (No 33) USS Paw Paw (No 31)

..

-

.......Con,_

-

July 1863

MISSISSlppl and Clhto Rivers

160 tons

July 1863

MISSISSiPpi River

17510ns 204 Ions

USS PeoStfl (No, 36)

S,dewheeler

Cklober 1863

MISSIssippi and Tennessee Rivers

USS Tawllh (No, 29)

Sidewheeler

Cklober 1863

MissiSSippi and Tennessee Rivers

108 Ions

USS Gilde (II) (No, 43)

Sternwheeler

November , 863

Gulf of MeXICO

232 Ions

USS Wave (No 45)

Slernwheeler

November 1863

Slernwheeler

December 1863

Gulf of MeXICO Gulf of MexICO

229 Ions

USS Stockdale (No 42) USS AJexandna (No 40)

Sod........

December 1863

MISSISSlppl R,vel"

60 IonS

December 1863

MISSISSIppi R,vel"

203

January 1864

MlSSISSlppl River

572 tons

February 1664

MlSSISSlppl Rrver

62'~ 117 tons

Ml$$lSSlppl Alver

USS~a(No,41)

USS Q.Jactuta

(not numben:!d) USS Tensas (No, 39)

.......-

........... ........... ...........

188 IonS

",n,

Stemwheeler

February 1664

.... "'-

Sternwheeler

March 1864

MISSISSlppl River

192 tons 173 tons

USS Meroor (No, 44)

Sternwheeler

March 1864

Gulf of MexICO

221 tons

USS NaIad (No. 53)

Sternwheeler

April 1864

MISSISSIPPI RIver

185 tons

USS Nymph (No. 54)

Sternwheeler

Apfll 1864

MISSISSlP~ River

171 Ions

USS

GazeIJe {No, 501

USS ElfIn (No 52) USS FiIIty{No, 51)

February 1664

~ fonner IUkU!')' river .leem boat Hew Uncle s.m we. commi.fioned e. the USS e/KIt Hawk, and . .rved a. e ftoating command ve...1for Admiral

Porter during the .181Ie 01 Vlck.burg end the Red River campaign.

LENGTH

ARMAMENT

'" "

6 guns 8 guns

160 "

159ft

7 guns

126ft

8 guns 8 guns

156 "

"'" 146 It

150 "

_t-_: '" " _ _ _-""9M '" " _<--:,156"

--"5M

--

--

--

"5M

115ft

"5M

'" "

157ft

120" 151 ft 114 ft

160"

'" "

"'" 227 It

92" 135ft 155ft 157ft

'56 "

REMARKS

Abandoned and destroyed, May 1864

,.,."

'-''-'-0->0'-

Captured by Confederates, then destroyed. Apnll864

7 .,."

Captured by Confederates then destroyed, June 1864 Renamed MiIfI1lCNIn June 1863. and FOf1

__________H~"""""'= In November 1863

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Destroyed to prevent capture. Novembef 1864

'-'-'-''"-

Former Confederate transporl, caplaed In Apnll862

Sunk aftlll" stnklOg undIlfwatlll" obstacle, August 1863: satvaged and repaared, Septemoer 1863 Destroyed to prevent caplUfe, November 1864

'.~ '.~ '.~

Captured by Conleoerates, May 1864

6 guns 2 guns 6 guns 5 x 3O-pdr nfles, 18 x 24·pdr. 15 x 12-pdr, smoolhbores, 1 x 12-pdr 2 guns 6 guns 8 guns 8 guns 6 guns

157ft

12 guns

161 It

12 guns

Conf~ate gunboal,

captured 111 July 1863

Former Confederate nverboat Former Confederate gunboat Burned to prevent capture, Novembe!' 1864

r The tlnclad USS Peo.'. (No. 311) was converted from a Clnelnnatl riverboat bearing the ..me name In lata 18113. She operate-d on Iha Millilllppl and Tenne,_ Ri..a .., and uaed her powerful armament 01 1. gun, (inclUding three 3O,poUnOer rille.) to bombard enemy troop coneent..llon. at Paducah, Kenlucky, In March t8&4. (Marine..' MUSfilm)

3.

TYPE

COMMISSIONED

SERVED

USS Talla/larchl8 (No. 46)

Sternwheeler

April 1864

MISSISSiPpi River

t71 tons

USS Unc1lne (No. 55)

Sternwheeler

April 1864

MISSIssiPpi River

179 tons

NAME

DISPLACEMENT

TINCLADS (CONTINUED)

uss Carrabasser (No 49) USS Elk (No 47) USS Rodolph (No. 48)

58l

USS Huntress (No. USS Pen (No. 51

May 1864

GuM' of MexICO

2Q2 tons

May 1864

Gulf of MexICO

16210ns

S ternwheeJer

May 1864

Gulf of MexICO

217 tons

Sternwheeler

June 1864 June 1864 June 1864 July 1864

MISSISSIPPI River

21110ns

MISSISSIPPI River

155 Ions

M,sSISSlPPI RIver

176 tons

Tennessee

RIV9f

181 tons

July 1864

Tervoessee RMI(

20<'~

August 1864

Tennessee RIV9f

184 tons

-

Slernwhee!er

USS S,byl (No. 59)

Slernwheeler

USS GefIenIJ Sherman (No.

-

Sod•. -

601

uSS G9nefaI Gram

f.f.-

(No. 62) USS GefIenIJ Thomas (No 61) (No 63) USS Siren (No.

561

-

Slernwhee!er

USS Grossbea/o: (No 8) USS Colossus (No. 25) USS MIS! INo 26)

S lernwhee!er Slernwheeler

USS 0'I0Ie (No. 52)

Sternwheeler

USS Gamage INo

601

USS~(No.29)

pJ

August 1864

USS Gef'IeraI 8umSIde

-

Sternwheeler

AugusI~864

210 tons

February 1865

FIel;:eMng Sup. M,SSISSIPI" " ' M/SSISSlPPl RJver

February 1865

MISSISSIPPI

RIver

183 tons

....... '865 ....... '865 ....... '865

MlSSISSlPPl RIvet

232 Ions

MISSISSIPPI RIV9f

236 Ions

M,SSISSIPPI RNer

181 tons

232 tons 196 tons

I-

-

-

...f-

Mardt 1865

MISSISSIPPI RIVer

116 tons

Apnl 1865

MISSISSIPPI RIver

235 tons

S ternwheeler

Apnl 1865

MlSSlSSlPPl River

241 tons

Sternwheeler

Apnl 1865

161 Ions

Sodow_

Apnl 1865

MISSl$SlPPl River (tlagsh ,pJ MISSIS5lPPl River

206 Ions

MISSlSSlPPl and Yazoo RI ~

-

l-

USS General Pnce

MISSISSIPpi and Red R,v M'

-

f-

USS &!mrer

MISSISSiPPI River end GuIla!

-

-

USS Ibex (No 10) USS Kare INo 55) USS TempeSI (No 1) USS Abeona (No 32)

Sternwheeler

CAPTURED VESSELS NOT PREVIOUSLY LISTED USS General

USS

Bragg

Barntana

USS Little Rebel (16)

Mex~o

Gul! of MeXICO

-

Mississippi River

-

f-ll-

f-

fl-

40

Th. llnclad USS Nililld (No. 53) entered Arvlc. In the spring of 18&4 and saw action during a Ari.S of .ngagements with Confed.ral. sho,. ball.ri.s in Loulslan•• Be'o,.. baing bought by the US Nao,y, .... was the Prince... a pasnnger st••m... openoUng on the Ohio Ri"....

_ _ _ LENGTH

ARMAMENT

6 guns 8 guns --!,551t 156 "

14811 _ _ 150ft

168 "

Captured by Confederates, OClobe!' 1864; burned 10 prevent recapture. November 1864

6g~

6 guns 6g~

132 "

REMARKS

Sunk by mme, Apt111865

6,~ 7,~

, '"'" 5 '"'"

Oecommrs.sooned by Navy. March 1865

171 It 165 "

171 It 155 "

"'"

115ft 157 fl 125 tl

..

"

158 " 157 It

160" 162 " 157 ft

5,"",

5 '"'" 6 '"'" 7 '"'"

7g~ 7,~

'g~

'g~ 'g~ 7g~

10 guns 8 guns 5 guns

FClmlef1y the CSS General Bragg; details listed In

-

Confederate entry Fonnerly the CSS General Sterling Pnce; deta,ls listed In Confederate entry

FOfITlef1y the CSS General Sumter, details listed ,n Conf9d6fale entry; ran aground and abandoned. August 1862 Formerly the CSS Baratana: deta,ls I,sled in Confederate entry: burned to prevent capture. Apr.1 , 863 Formally CSS Little Rebel: details listed ,n Confederate entry

The erew 01. 100-pounder Parrott rifle al diyislons, awaiting In.~tlon. Thi. gun lormed the maIn annament

ollh. Sa.aKu. cl... gunboat USS MetKomet, whkh took par1ln the Sattle 01 Mobile S • .,.

(Pmate Collectlonl

41

SHIP LIST ess

- CONFEDERATE

= Confederate States Ship; L$NS _ louIsIana State Navy Ship TYPE

NAME

COMMISSIONEO

SERVED

DISPLACEMENT

THE NEW ORLEANS SQUADRON

CSS McRae CSS Jackson LSNS General QUttman

Screw gunboat 5Idewheel gunboat

........ ........ ........ ........ ........

March 1861

680'~

May 1861 February 1862

297 tons 9<15 Ions

January 1862

1,21510115

coltonclad ,am

lSNS Governor Moote

conooclad ram

CSSW~

March 1862

COllonclad ram

CSS $tonewaJI JiK:kson

MMoh ,..,

cottonclad gt.w1boal

CSS Defiance

SocIewheel gunboat Sodewheel gunboat

CSS Resolute CSS GMenllovei

CSS ~ 8ref;1lenndge

,~

Slernwheel gunboat

December 1861 March 1862

...

,~

MMoh ,..,

",,",''''

OTHER VESSELS AT NEW ORLEANS

5lclewheel gunboat

January 1862

CSSAtrow

Screw gunboat

MMoh ,..,

CSS_

SCrew tugboat

CSS A1IgIIo-Sall'on

CSS Star -

$clew tugboat

CSS_ -

508'~

---

CSS La/IdIs CSS W Burton

SCrew hJgboal Stdewheel lender 5Idewheel tender

THE RIVER DEFENSE FLEET

CSS Llffle Rebel

SKlewtleel

February 1862

161 tons

March 1862

L024 Ions

January 1862

633 tons

February 1862

524 Ions

...

coltonclad ram

CSS General Bragg

SKlow""'" cottooclad gunboat

CSS General Sterlmg Pnce

S,dewheel cottonclad ram

ess General Sumler

Sidewheel cottone lad ram

ess General Earl Van Dorn

Sidewheel

-

April 1862

cottonclad ram

ess Ganeml M.

Sidewheel coltonclad ram

April 1862

ess Colonel Lovell

Sldewh~

No~ember

ess General Boouregard

coltonclad ram Sid...... coltonclad ram

AprIl 1862

Jeff Thompson

~

1861

521 tons 454 tons

OTHER CONFEDERATE GUNBOATS OPERATING ON THE MISSISSIPPI

CSSCalhoun

SiOewheel gunboat

June 1861

508'~

CSS ""

SKlewheel gunboat

as privateer in

447ton$

May 1861

4.

ess James L CSS""",,"

Day

S!dewheel gunboat

May 1861

414 tons

SKlewheeI gunboat

June 1861

532 tons

~

174ft

3.~

Captured. January 1862, and lalS' used on UnlOO servICe, tran51ened

191 ft

4 guns

Destroyed 10 prevent capture, May 1863

to US Ivrny, June 1864. and renamed GenetaI SedgeWlCk

Fate unknown, but probably destroyed to pre~ent capture, April 11362

181 It 217 It

4 guns

Destroyed to pre~ent capture, April 1862

43

NAME

TYPE

COMMISSIONED

SERVEO

OTHER CONFEDERATE GUNBOATS OPERATING ON THE MISSISSIPPI (CONTINUEO) SternWheeI Ironclad September 1861

eSSBamtana

DISPLACEMENT

400 tons

gunboat CSS Tuscarora CSS Webb

""'......

August 1861

M'SSISSlppl and Arkansas Rivers

January 1862

MISSlSS'Pplllnd Red Rivers

5ldewheel gunboat StOewheel gunboat Stdewheel cottoodad

Seplember 1861

lake Pontchartraln

218 Ions

October 1861

390 tons

February 1863

MISSISSIPPI and Yuoo RIvers Red River

508lons

March 1863

Rod_

372 tons

Sodewheel gunboat

655 toos

cottoocJad ram

ess Pam/ICO CSS General Polk

CSS GIBfId Duke

gunboat CSS J.A. Corron

Sldewl1eel cottonclad gunboat

CSS LJvMlg$ton

CSS SI Mary

s.dewhooI gunboat Stdewheel gunboat Stdewheel glXlboat SIdewheeI gunboat

September 1862

CSS TomSugg

-gunt>oa,

August 1861

CSS """"'" CSS Ponfchantalfl

February 1862

MISS/SSlPPl and Yuoo A!vers

November 1861 March 1862

MISSISSIppi and V'/h'te RIvers

399'~

MISSISSIPPI and Red RIvers Yuoo RJv.er

454 Ions

FURTHER READING BalJef. Jack K., and Roberts, Stepheo S,; Reg,sterof $fliPS of

44

rhe US Navy, '775- 1990. Greenwood Press (Westport. CT. 1991) Bemett, Frank M .• The Steam Navy of the Untted States, Warren and Company (Pittsburgh, PA. 1896) Canney, Donald L.. Lmcoln's Navy; The Ships, Men and Or'garnzatlOfl, '8S1~. Conway Mantlme Press (Loncton, UK, 1998) Coombe, Jack 0" Thunder along rhe MISSISSIppi: The River Battles that spilllhe ConfedenJcy. Sarpedon (New York, 1996) Jones, Virgil Carnngton: The CIVIl War af sea [2 volumes]. Rinehart and Winston (New York, 1960), repnnted In 3 volumes by Broadfoot Press (Wilmington, NC, 1990) Musicant. Ivan; DIVided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War, Castle Books (Edison, NJ. 2000) Luraghi, Raimondo; A History of the Confaderate Navy, Naval Instllute Press (Annapolis, MD, 1996) Silverstone, Paul H.; Warships of the Civil War NaVies, Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MD, 1989) Stiil, William N" (ed.): The Confederate Navy: The ShipS, Men and Orgamzatlon, 186'~5, Naval Institute Press and Conway Maritime Press (Annapolis, MD, and London, UK, 1997) Underwood, Robert, and Suel, Clarence Clough, (eds.) Battles and Leaders of the CIVil War [Four Volumes]. C&f\tury Company (New York, 1887), repnnted by Castle (Edison, NJ. 1987). Note that thiS source containS articles Originally published In Century Magazine, Including accounts by participants in the river battles on the MISSISSiPPi OfficI8l RecOIds of the UfIIO(I and Confederate NaV16S IfI the War of the Rebellion [30 volumes], Government Pnntlng Office (Washington, DC, 1894-1921)

WM._

6O'~ 6"~

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY PLATE A

USS Lexington

One of the til'St three Umon gunboats to see service on the MISSISSIPPI RIver, the 362·ton USS Lexmgton earned a powerful broadside armament of four 8-lOCh smoothbore guns, and two 32-pounders (the latter guns earned In hef deckhouse). She first saw actlOf'l In a skirmish wrth the Contederate gunboat Jackson oH HICkman, Kentucky, in OCtober 1861. and also partICipated In the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. Alter the fort's capture she roamed down the nver as far as Florence, Alabama. during February t862. belO!'e providing gunfire support fO!' the army at the Banle of Shiloh In April 1862. She spearheaded other drives up the White River In Arkansas and the Yazoo River in MissiSSippi during 1862 bef()(e participating in the capture of Fort Hindman on the Arkansas River in January 1863. Further operations up the MissiSSippi tributaries in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee followed. One of the most active Union gunboats on the Mississippi, the Laxington SUrviVed the war, and was sold oul 01 service in )l,ugust 1865.

USS Switzerland One of the rams deSigned by Colonel Ellet (also known as War Department Rams), the SWitzerland entered service In May 1862, just in time to partiCipate In the Battle of Memphis on June 6. Although she was unable to ram anything dunng the battle, the Ellel Ram fleet dislingUlshed themselves, and confounded their cntlCS, Unlike the other rams In the fleet. her tall slab sides and sharp-angled superstructure perTnitted the fittmg of additional armament. and eXIra ordnance was accordingly placed Ifl a casemate on her upper deck. She took part In a reconnaIssance up the Yazoo River In MISSISSIppi before joining the main fleet outSIde VICksburg. She was damaged in March 1863 as she and the ram USS

Although num.rous Union oc_n~ gunboats were u-.ed to _lore. tn. na....' block.cle of the Confederacy, "9O-day~ gunboata HfVed on the Mississippi during 1882. TheHlUustrallon' show tM lack of sophi,tlcated shipbuilding '.elliUe, needed to produce gunboats during the w.r. Gunboats could be and were built In primlth,. ri...e ..loe ,hipyard•. (Pri.... te Collection)

_ra'

Lancasfet" ran south past the clty's delenses. to link up with

the ocean-gOll\g lloot below lhe city. Her consort was sunk. She was patched up. and repeated the action at Grand Gulf, MIssIssippi. For the remainder of the war she operated on the lower MISSISSiPPi and the Red River PLATE B ess McRae This beautllul Conlederate screw gunboat began her career in the Me)(ican Navy as the Marques de /a Habana. Her crew rebelled, and after commining acts of piracy. they were captured by the USS SllrDfoga in t860. She was still impounded in New Orleans when Louisiana seceded, and the Conlederate Navy duly purchased her. She became the backbone of the official naval presence on the lower MissiSSippi River DUring 1861 she escorted blockaderunners out through the MISSIssippi Delta. then when the Union lleet eslablished a close blockade. she attacked them in coocert with other Conlederate gunboats In October. Her final action took place on Apnl24, t862, when the Union lleet under Commodore Farragut allacked the naval and shore delenses below New Orleans She engaged several enemy warships at the same time, bUt was badly damaged. Left to founder. she hmped upnver to New Orleans betund the Unton fleet. then sank alongside the city wharf She earned one 9'II"lCh SIllOOthl:xlnl mounted on a 180-degrea pivot behind her mammaSl, and a broadside armament 01 SIX 32-pounder guns. plus a small 6-pounder nIle as a bow-ehaser.

ess

Stonewall Jackson One of a handful wooden vessels that had been converted Into warships. the Stonewall Jackson had her bow reinforced with wood and Iron, creating a crude ram. Armed with a Single 32-pounder smoothbore gun on her quarterdeck. the smali sidewhool steamer had her engine rooms. boilers and superstructure reinforced by a bulwark of colton bales, which extended 'rom her holds up to above her upper deck. creallng a protected bridge. In the battle ot New Orleans she rammed and sank the USS VaNna, which had already been damaged by the Governor Moore, but then succumbed to the combined firepower 01 the Unionl!eel as II steamed past her. She was run aground In a Sinking condition on the r'lOf1h bank 01 the nver near New Orleans, and was then set on fire by her crew to prevent her capture.

0'

PLATE e The Governor Moore and the USS Varuna al the Baltle 01 New Orleans, April 1862 In order to control the MISSISSIppi River, the Umon needed 10 control New Or1eans Its southern approaches were defended by the tWin forts 01 Fort Jackson and Fort St Ph,~p. and by a dtverse collec1lQ1'l 01 rams. gunboats, togs, and

..

. . . . . . . . N'

T·

,' •••

. ?:*-,',:. ,

PLATE 0

USS Queen of the West

l

"\'

.--

\

\

-,, w"

The "wlI1kl"'lil beam engl... ~ thetu... erlended _ t a l ,. .1 .oov. th
46

~k.

sank With her Louisiana colors stili flYing. The plate depicts the scene when the Governor Moore fired her second shot.

ThIs Is sn llIust...llon from ,

on ,Ipm engi",", lillted t8S2.!PriY,te CoIlectlonl

Ironclads Before dawn on Apnl24. 1862. Commodore DaVId G Farragut led hiS ocean-gOIng fleet ag3.1Ost these defenses. Advar'l(;Ing In three dlVlStOns. the two leading groups were held up breaking through the line of obstructlOOS In front of FOl1 Jackson. and the USS BrooJdyn collided WIth the gunboat USS Kmeo, In the confUSion the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Manassas attacked the leading Union shipS, creating more confUSion. The wooden gunboat USS Varuna was now In the lead. followed at a distance by the rest of the fleet. The fleet of Confederate wooden rams launched an attack, but most were unable to close With the mOfe powerlul enemy warships. One exception was the Governor Moore. a wooden collonclad ram In the service of the State of LOUISiana, She shadowed the Varuna. and as the Union gunboat reached and passed the Ouaranllne Station. halfway between the forts and the city, the Governor Moore struck. She cut between the Varona and the bank. then turned and rammed her amidships on her starboard side. As the two vessels were locked together, Captain Kennon of the Governor Moore found hiS bow gun was unable to fim on the enemy as the angle of !Ire was blocked by his own forecastle. He ordered the 32-pounder smoothbore to be fired down through hiS own deck, With the shot emerging through the bows of hiS gunboat to stnke the Varuna, The first shot was deflected by the Governor Moore's hawS8plpe, but the second hit hef bow gun. Next. the Governor Moore backed away, then as the Varuna turned. she rammed hef again, thiS lime on ner port beam, The Varona was a wrecl<. and a blow from the ram StonewaN Jackson timshed her off. By thiS tIme the rest of the UnlOl'l fleet had come up to the battle scene, and the Governor- Moore was npped apart by shellfire. She

The USS Queen of the West was purchased by the US War Department In CII"lClnnati. OtIlO. in May 1862. and converted into a ram. under the guidance of Colonel Charles Elle!. She served as Ellet's flagshIp at the Battle of MemphiS In June 1862. when she rammed the Confederate wooden ram CoIonftI Lovell, Rammed In her turn by the CSS General Sumter, she came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters, who mOl1alty wounded Ellet. FollOWing repairs, she partICIpated In the expecMIOn up the Yazoo RIVeI" whlch led to a nmt"llng battle with the Confederate II'OOClad CS5 Arlcansas. She survrved. and took part 10 operntJonS arouncl VICksburg and on the Yazoo Rtver before JOlOI09 a reconnmssance eXpeclltlOl'l up the Red Rtver IOto louisiana. She ran aground 10 Iront of a Confederate fortifICation called Fort de RUSS)', on February 14. 1863 and was abandoned The Confederates duty captured her. and she served against her former masters, partlClpatmg 10 the SIl1Iung of the powerful II'OOCtad USS Inchanola near New Garttlage. MlSSlSSlppl, on February 24. Three weeks later. dUMg an engagement on the Alchafalaya RIver In LOOI5IafIa. she was hit by a sheI from the USS calhoon, a former Confederate gunboat. She caught fire, and her crew abandoned ship rmnutes before the wooden ram exploded PLATE E ess General Sterling Price One oflhe Confederate River Defense Fleet, the CSS General Sterlmg Pnce was formerly the Laurent Mllfaudon, a CIOClnnal1 nver steamer She was acquired and converted In New Orleans, becorlllng a "cottonclad· ram. This ConVersion involved the reinforcement of the bow With a wood and iron beam. the protectIOn of the InSide of her upperworks With a compressed ·sandwlch" of cotton and a wooden parttllon, and the acklltlon of four 9-loch smoothbores. She fought at Fort PillOw and MemphiS, Tennessee, and sank Within Sight of the City. She was duly raised by a Union salvage team. and she entered S8l'\llce as a Union river gunboat Renamed the USS General Pnce, she operated around Vicksburg until the fall of the city in July 1863, apart from a brief foray up the Red River. Subsequently she took part in the attack on Grand Gulf, MississipPi, and the Red River Expedition In 1864.

ess General Bragg The largest vessel in the Confederate River Defense Fleet, the CSS General Bragg began her life as 3 ocean-going steamship before her conversion into a warship in early 1862. Uke the General Sumter, her bulkheads were reinforced with compressed colton, and her bows were filted With a crude ram. Her pnnclpal weapon was a 30-pounder Parrott nfle. a rare gun In the Confederacy, although she also eamed a 32·pouncler smoothbore. She took part In the nVel" battle of Plum Point (Fort Pillow) When she rammed the Ironclad USS Cincinnati, caUSing her to sink. but the Confederate gunboat was badly damaged in the process. She was repaired In time to take part in the calarnltous Battle of MemphiS In June 1862, When she was beached on a sandbar In a SInking condltlOl'l. lhe General Bragg was raIsed and entered servICe

l

The USS 11thl, photographed at anchor during a ~make and mend" Sundaw. when the crew were allowed to wuh Or replII, thel, unllonn•. The powerful little gunboat was damilged during her IIngagement with the Ironclad CSS Ar*anu. on the ¥uoo AI"e, In JulW 1802.

the Arkansas began backing away from the wounded

Garondolel. and the Tyfer In the foreground was left alone to rlQhl the VlCtonouS Confederate Ironclad PLATE G

USS Black Hawk One of the stl'Of'lgeSt gunboats on the MISSISSIPPI RNer, the as a Unton gunboat. patrolling the upper MISSISSIppi for most 01 the remainder of the WN

PLATE F The USS Tyler fighting the ess Arkansas on the

Yazoo River, July 1862 like the Lexmgron and the Conestoga, the USS Tyfef was one of the first UI\IOI"I gunboats 10 see servICe on the MISSISSIPPI RIVer. Ahhough small. she earned a powerful broadside armament 01 Sill a-Inch smoothbores. as well as a 32-pounder deck gun. By September 1862 she was rearmed

with an additional tNee 3O-poonder Parrott nfles She partICIpated In the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, then supported Geoernl Grant's army al the Bailie of Shiloh. By mlCl-1862 the Umon Rwer fleet and the ocean-going fleet had JOIned forces above VICksburg. but rumors that the Confederates were oollcllng an Ironclad on the Yazoo RIver caused some concern. The USS Tyler was duty sent to investigate. accompamec! by the USS Queen of the West and the casemate Ironclad USS Carondolel. Sooo after dawn on July 15. the three Umon vessels had steamed several mIles up the over when they spoiled smoke Coming from around a bend The Tyler was well ahead of hef coosorts. and was the first to IdooMy the oncoming vessel as the Confederate ironclad ess Arkansas. lieutenant William GWIn commanding the Tyler fired hIS guns. thef1 spun around. heading back downstream. Soon the three Union vessels were fighllng a running battle. and sharpshooters on the Tyler wounded the Arkansas' commander. lieutenant Brown. Damage to the Carondolet forced the Union ironclad Into the bank, and Brown closed and raked her. then brought hiS ironclad alongside and poured fire Into the Union vessei at point blank range, leaving her In a near-Sinking condition. the Arkansas then backed away. Intent on finishing oft the two wooden gunboats. The Queen of the West fled downriver toward the salety of the Union fleet. Lieutenant Gwin wanted to fight. but left alone. he had little chOice but to llee hImself. Pursued by the Arkansas, the Tyler kept 200 yards ahead. and hit the Confederate Ironclad in her smokestack. redUCing her speed and allOWing the gunboat to speed to safety. The Arkansas Wef1t on to run through the UniOn fleet to reach the safety of VICksburg, The plate depicts the moment when

Admiral Da"ld D. Porte, commanded the Union ri"e, fleet. on I". MI..I. .lppl and "., t,lbutari. . lrom hi. command .hlp, the USS Bleck Hawt. AJ1h0u9h .he w.. not reelly a warship, $he did carry two 3Q.pounde, rme. and two 32-pounde, $l"oolhbore. 10''''' _n protection.

USS Black Hawk was built 10 New Albany. Indiana. 10 t848as

the luxlJf'y nver steamer New Uncle sam. In November 1862 she was purchased In Cairo, IIIIr'l()lS, for $36.000. and converted Into a naval headquarters vessel for Admlf3l David D. Porter, the commander 01 the UnIOn nver forces on the MISSISSIPPI, She ef1tenKt servICe In December 1862 when she ""ned the IIeet above VICksburg, and even though she was conSIdered a t1nclad warship. she slill retained much 01 he!' lormer opulence. PalatJal slalfCaSeS. comfortable klunges and ncl1Iy fitted state rooms gave the N1tenot of the vessel the air of a luxury note!. and Porter stnctly enforced dress regula\loos and naval dISCIpline. She also had tooth, C3fTVIOQ a bow armament of lwo 3O-pounder Parrott niles. as well as smoothbore guns. The IIoatlOg heaOquarters was present at the capture of Fort Hindman on the Mansas Rtver in January 1863. the SI6ge 01 VICksburg dunng the summer of 1863, and the dIsastrous Red River campalQn 01 1864. She was destroyed by an accidental fire days attef the end of the war. In Apnt 1865

USS Ratl/er Formerly the Clnclnnatl·bUllt nver steamer Florence Miller. the USS RaHler was acquored by the US Navy In Novembef 1862. and entered setvlce five weeKs later She IS Included as a typical example of one of the small tlnclad gunboats that served on the MISSISSippi and her tnbutanes from 1862 until the end of the war A total 01 71 such vesseis served In the Union fleet during the war. most 01 them seeing extensive service. Powered by a stern paddlewheel, the Rattler was armed With two bow-mounted 3D-pounder Parrolt rifles and a 24-pounder smoothbore. while another three guns were carried Inside her tinclad hull casemate on pivot mounts. The Rart/er took part in the capture of Fort Hindman on the Arkansas River, then operated extensively In the river networh of Louisiana before she coilided With an underwater obstruction and was wrecked near Grand Gull. Mississippi, 11"1 Decembef 1864

47

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ORDER OF BATTLE rh< ,""1<.1 I..ukh""." I.,.,u",,_ ut",_h,_ut",
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The design. development, operation and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages.

Mississippi River (,unboats of the American Civil War 1861- 6S At the start of the American Civil War, neither side had warships on the Mississippi River and In the first few months both sides scrambled to gather a not ilia by converting existing riverboats for naval use. These ships were transformed Into powerful naval weapons

FuJicolor~

despite a lack of resources, trained manpower and suitable vessels. The creation of a river neet was a miracle of ingenuity, improvisation and logistics, particularly for the South. This title describes their design, development and operation throughout the American

Cutaway artwork

Unrivaled detail

Civil War.

ISBN 1-84176-413-2

OSPREY PUBLISHING

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