River Gunboats

by River Gunboats- An Illustrated Encyclopaedia (retail) (epub)

  Launched:

  All launched autumn 1861; All built by Eads, Cairo, Cincinnati and Mound City at Mound City; Carondelet, Louisville, Pittsburg and St. Louis at Carondelet.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 888 tons; L: 53.34m/175ft; B: 15.6m/51ft 2in; D: 1.8m/6ft.

  Crew:

  175.

  Power/Speed:

  Central paddle wheels; steam engines/8 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  (Typical) 3 × 8in Dahlgren SB; 6 × 32-pounder SB; 4 × 42-pounder rifles/63mm casemate front and sides; 38mm pilot house and stern.

  Fate:

  Cairo sunk by two mines 12 December 1862; Baron de Kalb sunk by mine 13 July 1863. Rest sold at the end of the war.

  USS Indianola

  A well-armed ironclad powered by both side paddle wheels and screw propellers, Indianola was rushed to completion due to the menace posed by the advance of Confederate General Kirby Smith. Sent to blockade the mouth of the Red River, on 24 February 1863 she was attacked and rammed repeatedly by Confederate ships Webb and the captured Queen of the West. In a sinking condition Indianola was run aground on the Union side of the river and her crew surrendered. The Confederates pulled her off and managed to tow her to their side of the river to begin repairs. However, when the first of Rear Admiral Porter’s dummy ironclads was spotted drifting downriver, the Confederate working party detonated Indianola’s magazines in an attempt to destroy her. This was not the end of the vessel, however, because when Vicksburg fell to Union troops, they refloated Indianola on 5 January 1865 and towed her to Mound City to be rebuilt. However, the project proved too difficult, and was abandoned, Indianola being sold in late 1865.

  Drawing of USS Indianola which appeared in Harper’s Weekly on 9 February 1863. Note that the armoured casemate forward appears to have an open roof. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 58715)

  Launched:

  4 September 1862 by Joseph Brown, Cincinnati.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 511 tons; L: 53.34m/175ft; B: 15.8m/52ft; D: 1.52m/5ft.

  Crew:

  144.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels plus propellers; steam engines/6 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 11in Dahlgren SB; 2 × 9in Dahlgren SB/76mm casemate; 50mm rear case-mate; 25mm deck and hull sides.

  Fate:

  Sold at Mound City 29 November 1865 and broken up.

  DOUBLE-ENDER GUNBOATS

  USS Miami

  The Miami was one of the gunboats attacked by the Albemarle on the Roanoke in the early hours of 19 April 1864. When her crew had cut through the stern hawsers attaching her to the sinking Southfield, it is probable they retired downriver going astern.

  Launched:

  16 November 1861 by Philadelphia Navy Yard.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 730 tons; L: 63.45m/208ft 2in; B: 10.1m/33ft 2in; D: 2.59m/8ft 6in.

  Crew:

  134.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels; steam engines/8 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  1 × 80-pounder SB; 1 × 9in Dahlgren smoothbore; 4 × 24-pounders.

  Fate:

  Sold into commercial service 10 August 1865; scrapped 1869.

  Sassacus Class

  Inspired by the layout of the converted ferries described below, the double-ended design of the wooden Sassacus class enabled them to manoeuvre more easily in narrow waterways without the need to turn round. The class was expanded to a total of twenty-seven double-enders.

  Sixteen days after the engagement during which the Southfield was sunk and the Miami damaged, it was the turn of the double-ender Sassacus to take on the ironclad CSS Albemarle. After her shot and shell had made no impression on the ironclad, Sassacus’ captain rammed Albemarle behind her casemate, her bows and starboard paddle wheel riding up over the deck of the Confederate ironclad. During the ten minutes the vessels remained locked together, Sassacus received a Confederate shot in the boiler room which temporarily put the double-ender out of action. The undamaged ironclad eventually escaped to safety having suffered no serious damage.

  Double-enders of the class continued to serve at sea with the US Navy for several years after the end of the Civil War, despite their shallow draught and flat-bottomed hull which made them roll dramatically and be extremely difficult to manoeuvre in open waters. One of the class, the USS Wateree, was at Arica (then part of Peru) on 13 August 1868, when a huge earthquake sent several tsunami racing inland. The last giant wave tore Wateree from her moorings and cast her up on land some 500 yards (500m) from the high water mark. Written off as too badly damaged to repair, she was sold and used as respectively, a hospital, an inn, again a hospital, and lastly a warehouse. She was broken to pieces in a subsequent tsunami on 9 May 1877. All that remains of her today are parts of her boilers, mounted as a display on the shore to the North of the present town of Arica, now in Chile.

  USS Mendota. Her masts appear upright, but the funnel rake gives us the ‘bows’ as being to the left of the photo. Note her pilot house aft.

  Double-ender USS Sassacus ramming CSS Albemarle, 5 May 1864. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 1500)

  Launched:

  Sassacus, 23 December 1862 by Portsmouth Navy Yard, Maine.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 974 tons; L: 62m/205ft; B: 11m/35ft; D: 2.7m/9ft.

  Crew:

  145.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels; steam engines/14.5 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 100-pounder Parrott rifles; 4 × 9in Dahlgren SB; 2 × 24-pounder howitzers; 1 × 12-pounder rifle; 1 × 12-pounder SB.

  Fate:

  Sassacus sold 28 August 1868, presumably into commercial service.

  River Monitors

  Several seagoing ironclad monitors were employed in rivers during the Civil War, notably on the James River to conduct operations against Richmond and guard against sorties by the Confederate James River ironclads. For the purposes of this chapter, only ironclads specifically designed for riverine operations are described.

  On the other hand, the photo below of USS Saugus, of the Canonicus class, is included, as it shows the minesweeping rake attached to her bow. This presages the similar device used on Danube monitors some fifty years later.

  Neosho Class

  The Neosho class were successful shallow-draught river monitors. The first use of a periscope on a warship was on board Osage in 1864. Neosho herself participated in the Red River Expedition and successfully ran Bailey’s Dam. During the action to silence the Confederate battery at Bell’s Mill she was hit 100 times without suffering serious damage. After the end of the Civil War, Neosho, like many ironclads, languished laid up for several years.

  The leading ironclad is USS Saugus, seen moored in Trent’s Reach, James River, early 1865. (Photo Matthew Brady collection, National Archives Reference 111-B-80)

  USS Neosho. (Watercolour by Oscar Parkes, US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 60617)

  Launched:

  Neosho 18 February 1863 by Eads, Carondelet.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 523 tons; L: 54.86m/180ft; B: 13.7m/45ft; D: 1.37m/4ft 6in.

  Crew:

  100.

  Power/Speed:

  Stern paddle wheels; steam engines/7.5 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 11in Dahlgren SB/150mm turret; 63mm hull sides; 50mm deck.

  Fate:

  Sold for scrapping 17 August 1873.

  USS Ozark

  The Ozark was sometimes considered part of the Neosho class, but she was wider, of greater draught, and driven by propellers. In addition to her turret guns she also carried unprotected guns on pivot mountings on deck. Rear Admiral Porter did not consider her a successful design. She took part in the Red River Expedition, and ran Bailey’s Dam on 12 May 1864. She was sold along with many other ironclads in November 1865.

  Launched:

 
; 18 February 1863 by Hambleton & Collier, Mound City.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 578 tons; L: 54.86m/180ft; B: 15.24m/50ft; D: 1.52m/5ft.

  Crew:

  120.

  Power/Speed:

  Twin screws; steam engines/8 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 11in, 1 × 10in and 3 × 9in Dahlgren SB/150mm turret; 63mm hull sides; 30mm deck.

  Fate:

  Sold 29 November 1865 at Mound City.

  USS Ozark. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 61472)

  Marietta Class

  Two ironclads similar to Ozark were built by Tomlinson at Pittsburgh, Marietta being launched on 4 January and Sandusky on 20 January 1865. Both had been delayed by striking workers and problems obtaining materials, and neither vessel was ever commissioned. Both were laid up at Mound City after the war and they went to the breakers on 12 April 1873.

  Milwaukee Class

  The Milwaukee class comprised four double-turret river ironclads, a development of the successful Neosho class, but driven by twin propellers instead of a stern paddle wheel. After bombarding Spanish Fort on 28 March 1865, Milwaukee struck a mine in the Blakely River and sank. All her crew were saved. The wreck was raised in 1868.

  USS Milwaukee. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 46129)

  Launched:

  4 February 1864 by Eads, Carondelet.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 1,300 tons; L: 69.8m/229ft; B: 17m/56ft; D: 1.83m/6ft.

  Crew:

  138.

  Power/Speed:

  Twin screws; steam engines/8 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  4 × 11in Dahlgren SB/203mm turret; 76mm hull sides; 38mm deck; 76mm pilot house.

  Fate:

  Sank March 1865.

  Converted Vessels

  USS Benton

  Converted from the large catamaran (central paddle wheel) salvage steamer Submarine No 7, USS Benton was larger and more powerful than the ‘City’ class ironclads. Converted into an ironclad at St. Louis she was commissioned on 24 February 1862, and for a couple of years served as the Union flagship on the Mississippi, known as the ‘Old War Horse’. During an active career she took part in the capture of Island Number 10, where she was damaged, was present at the battle of Plum Point Bend, attacked Memphis, engaged the ironclad CSS Arkansas, and was hit twenty-five times when shelling Drumgould’s Battery. A company of troops transported on board her mutinied in February 1863. At Grand Gulf she suffered forty-seven hits and was disabled. Benton took part in the Red River Expedition, and ran Bailey’s Dam to safety. She took part in the seizure of the ironclad CSS Missouri, then on 20 July 1865 she was decommissioned, her armour was removed and she was scrapped.

  USS Benton. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH56664)

  USS Benton. (Illustration from The Blueprints)

  Launched:

  Converted into an ironclad early 1862 at St Louis.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 1,033 tons; L: 61.57m/202ft; B: 21.9m/72ft; D: 2.74m/9ft.

  Crew:

  176.

  Power/Speed:

  Central paddle wheels; steam engines/5.5 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 9in Dahlgren SB; 7 × 42-pounder rifles; 7 × 32-pounder SB/63mm front and sides of casemate; 15mm rear casemate; 40mm pilot house.

  Fate:

  Sold 29 November 1865 at Mound City.

  USS Essex

  The ferry New Era was purchased by the War Department on 20 September 1861 and converted to an ironclad under the name of Essex. As part of the original Western Flotilla she served on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Essex participated in the capture of Fort Henry, suffering damage to her boiler and casualties among her crew. After repairs she ran past Vicksburg and attacked the Confederate ironclad Arkansas. During a second encounter with Essex, Arkansas suffered a serious mechanical breakdown and drifted ashore, where she was destroyed by her own crew to avoid capture. Essex then participated in the bombardment of Port Hudson which led to the fall of the city. She was damaged in an engagement at Donaldsonville, then sailed into the mouth of the Red River and helped in the capture of Fort de Russy. Stationed at Memphis for the rest of the war, Essex was sold along with other ironclads in November 1865.

  USS Essex. Note the ‘heads’ built on the extreme stern as on British river gunboats. (US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 61567)

  Launched:

  1856 as ferry New Era at St. Louis. Converted to an ironclad by James B Eads, St Louis.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 1,000 tons; L: 60.5m/198ft 6in; B: 17.7m/58ft; D: 2.08m/6ft 10in.

  Crew:

  134.

  Power/Speed:

  Central paddle wheels; steam engines/5.5 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  1 × 10in Dahlgren SB; 2 × 9in Dahlgren SB; 1 × 32-pounder/45mm forward case-mate; 19mm side armour; 45mm pilot house.

  Fate:

  Sold 29 November 1865 at Mound City.

  Ferry Gunboat Double-Enders

  Between September 1861 and August 1863, twenty New York double-ended ferryboats were purchased by the US Navy and converted to ironclad gunboats. The vessels ranged from 226 tons displacement and a length of 110ft (33.5m) to 892 tons on a length of 213ft (64.9m). The ends of their drive-through decks were closed off with bulkheads and used as crew accommodation. Armour plating was added to most, but some received only sandbag protection. The end gun decks of the armoured versions were often fitted with fold-down armour bulwarks. A range of different calibre guns was fitted, from 12-pounders up to 11in Dahlgren smoothbores. In addition to their shallow draught, typically from 6ft to 9ft (1.8m to 2.7m), their double-ended configuration made them extremely useful in confined river environments, where they could navigate in either direction without having to turn round.

  The 751-ton ex-Staten Island & New York ferry USS Southfield was the vessel rammed and sunk by the CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke in April 1864.

  USS Hunchback

  Launched:

  1852 at New York City for Staten Island & New York Ferries. Purchased by US Navy on 16 December 1861.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 517 tons; L: 54.6m/179ft; B: 8.8m/29ft; D: 3m/10ft.

  Crew:

  99.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels; steam engines/12 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  1 × 100-pounder Parrott rifle; 3 × 9in Dahlgren SB; 3 × smaller guns.

  Fate:

  Sold 12 July 1865 to the New York & Brooklyn Ferry Co.; At Boston up until 1880.

  USS Hunchback commissioned 3 January 1862. Note the walking beam. (Photo Library of Congress)

  One of the 9in Dahlgrens mounted on USS Hunchback. (Photo Matthew Brady Collection)

  The sting in the tail: a double-ended ferry ironclad, probably USS Hunchback, armed with a spar torpedo hung from her stern. Her double-ended configuration would aid an attack with this weapon, as she could reverse towards the target vessel then make a speedy getaway in the opposite direction. (Photo Library of Congress)

  USS Commodore Perry

  Launched:

  1859 in Brooklyn for Williamsburg Ferries.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 512 tons; L: 43.58m/143ft; B: 10m/33ft; D: 3.66m/12ft.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels; inclined steam engine (no walking beam)/10 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  2 × 9in Dahlgren SB; 2 × 32-pounder SB; 1 × 12-pounder howitzer/Folding armoured bulwarks.

  Fate:

  Sold 1866 back to her original owners; 1898 to Charleston company; abandoned 1907.

  A small converted double-ender ferry identified as USS Commodore Perry. Note the folding armoured bulwarks, and what appears to be an eagle emblem on the roof of the nearer of her two pilot houses. (Photo National Archives Ref 524831)

  Timberclads

  USS Lexington, Tyler and Conestoga
r />   These three shallow-draught river steamers were purchased at the instigation of Commander John Rogers and converted to gunboats to support the Army. Wooden bulwarks were built to protect the crew and machinery from smallarms fire, resulting in their designation as ‘Timberclads’. All three saw a great deal of action, clearing rebel shipping on the Tennessee as far South as Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At the battle of Shiloh, Tyler and Lexington protected Grant’s river flank and shelled Confederate positions. On 15 June 1862 Tyler was one of the Union vessels attacked by the CSS Arkansas, and barely managed to escape to the safety of the main Union flotilla. For the rest of the war Tyler patrolled the lower Mississippi. Conestoga was sunk on 8 March 1864, after a battle with the Confederate gunboat CSS General Sterling Price. After the end of the war, Tyler and Lexington were sold at public auction.

  Timberclad USS Tyler.

  Launched:

  Tyler built as river steamer A O Tyler. Converted June 1861.

  Dimensions:

  Displ: 420 tons, 575 tons full load; L: 54.25m/178ft; B: 13.7m/45ft; D: 1.8m/6ft, 2.1m/7ft full load.

  Power/Speed:

  Side paddle wheels; steam engines/8 knots.

  Guns/Armour:

  6 × 8in Dahlgren SB; 1 × 32-pounder (replaced 1863 by 3 × 30-pounder Parrott rifles); 4 × 24-pounders added later; 1 × 12-pounder howitzer on land mount-ing/5in (127mm) thick wooden bulwarks around the sides.

  Fate:

  Sold August 1865.