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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865),
briefly named New Uncle Sam in 1862
USS Black Hawk, a 902-ton side-wheel "Tinclad"
river gunboat, was built at New Albany, Indiana, in 1857 as the
civilian steamboat New Uncle Sam. She was purchased by
the Navy in November 1862 and commissioned the following month
under her original name. Soon renamed Black Hawk, her large
size made her especially suitable for employment as the Mississippi
Squadron flagship, and she served in that capacity under Rear
Admirals David Dixon
Porter and Samuel
Phillips Lee.
Black Hawk participated in most of the major Western
Rivers operations during the remainder of the Civil War, including
the long campaign against Vicksburg in December 1862 to July 1863,
the capture of Fort Hindman in January 1863, the attack on Haines
Bluff in April-May 1863 and the Red River campaign in 1864. On
22 April 1865, as the great conflict was coming to an end, Black
Hawk accidently burned and sank near Cairo, Illinois. Her
wreck was salvaged and sold in 1867.
This page features our only views of USS Black Hawk.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 499
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Photographed in 1863, while she was Flagship of the Mississippi
Squadron.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 525 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 49992
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Photographed in the Mississippi River area, 1863, with a tug
tied up alongside her starboard bow.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 49993
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Photographed on the Western Rivers, during the Civil War.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 310 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 56675
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Moored to the bank of one of the Western Rivers, while serving
as Mississippi Squadron flagship during the Civil War.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 136KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 56676
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Tied up on the Western Rivers, while serving as Mississippi Squadron
flagship during the Civil War.
Another river steamer is offshore, beyond Black Hawk's
bow.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 455 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 55838
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Sepia wash drawing by F. Muller, circa 1900.
Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 450 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 65464
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Pen and ink drawing by Samuel War Stanton, depicting the ship
operating on the Western Rivers during the Civil War.
Collections of the Navy Department, 1967.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 56677
USS Black Hawk (1862-1865)
Contemporary line engraving, after a sketch by Adam Rohe, depicting
the ship's destruction in accidental fire on 22 April 1865, above
Cairo, Illinois.
Courtesy of George Stegmann.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Historical Center home page.
18 December 1999