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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 Essex (1861-1865).
Named New Era during 1861
USS Essex, a 1000-ton ironclad river gunboat, was converted
in stages from the steam ferry New Era. Originally constructed
at New Albany, Indiana, in 1856, the ship was purchased in September
1861 by the U.S. Army for its Western Gunboat Flotilla. Modified
into a 355-ton "timberclad" gunboat, and retaining the
name New Era, she took part in an expedition up the Cumberland
River in November 1861. Renamed Essex soon thereafter,
she received iron armor and other changes and was then actively
employed in operations during early 1862, engaging Confederate
gunboats near Lucas Bend, Missouri, on 11 January. On 6 February,
she was badly damaged by enemy gunfire during an attack on Fort
Henry, Tennessee.
During subsequent repairs, Essex' Commanding Officer,
William D. Porter,
spared little expense (albeit without official authorization)
in upgrading his ship into one of the most powerful ironclads
on the Western Rivers. Lengthened, widened, reengined, rearmored
and completely altered in appearance, Essex was back in
service in time for operations against Vicksburg, Mississippi,
in July. On the 22th of that month she ran past the enemy fortress
city, engaging and damaging the Confederate ironclad Arkansas
along the way. After joining Rear Admiral Farragut's squadron
as the only Federal ironclad on the lower Mississippi, she helped
repel an attack on Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 5 August and was
instrumental in the destruction of the Arkansas the next
day.
Essex was formally transferred to the Navy in October
1862 and remained active on the rivers through the rest of the
Civil War. She bombarded Port Hudson, Louisiana, and helped with
the occupation of Baton Rouge in December 1862. In May-July 1863
she participated in the capture of Port Hudson. She took part
in the Red River expedition in March-May 1864. Essex was
decommissioned in July 1865. After her sale to private interests
in November of that year, she reverted to the name New Era.
She was scrapped in 1870.
This page features, or provides links to, all our views of
USS Essex.
For additional images of USS Essex, see:
USS Essex (1861-1865) -- Part
II.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 59592
"The Gun-boat New Era, Just Built at St. Louis, Missouri"
Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861,
depicting the conversion of the ferry boat New Era into
a "timberclad" gunboat, circa September-October 1861.
The ship was renamed Essex later in the year.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 211KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54289
USS Essex (1861-1865)
Coaling at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in late July 1862, just after
she reached the lower Mississippi. Ships of Farragut's fleet
are in the background.
The original photograph accompanied a claim filed by James A.
Payne.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 61567
USS Essex (1861-1865)
At a Mississippi River area port, circa 1862-65.
Note: The original caption identified location and date
as Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in July 1862. However, the presence
of a mortar boat (at right) indicates that either the date is
later or the location is above Vicksburg if the photo was taken
in 1862.
The original photograph accompanied a claim filed by James A.
Payne.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54286
USS Essex (1861-1865)
Moored at Memphis, Tennessee, with her awnings up, during the
Civil War.
Note mortar boats alongside Essex, also with awnings deployed,
and small building atop the bluff, toward the left, marked "Pittsburgh
COAL", with the Pittsburgh Coal Company's castle symbol
between "CO" and "AL".
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 95KB; 695 x 675 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 75621
USS Essex (1861-1865)
Wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1904, depicting the ship with
Farragut's fleet on the lower Mississippi River, in 1862-63.
Ship in the left background is USS Mississippi (1841-1863).
A "90-day" gunboat is in the right distance.
Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54285
USS Essex (1861-1865)
Engraving, after a photograph taken in 1864.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 415 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54284
USS Essex (1861-1865)
Sketches by William M.C. Philbrick, Carpenter's Mate on USS Portsmouth,
showing Essex as she appeared on the morning of 1 November
1862, on the Mississippi River.
From the Private Papers of William M.C. Philbrick.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 116KB; 535 x 765 pixels |
 |
For additional images of USS Essex, see:
USS Essex (1861-1865) -- Part
II.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
14 June 2000