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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 Mound City (1862-1865)
USS Mound City, a 512-ton Cairo class ironclad
river gunboat, built at Mound City, Illinois, for the U.S. Army's
Western Gunboat Flotilla. was commissioned in January 1862. She
was actively engaged in combat operations during the later winter
and spring of 1862, participating in the action at Columbus, Kentucky,
in February, the capture of the Island Number Ten fortress in
March and April, and operations against Fort Pillow in May. She
was twice rammed by Confederate steamers off Fort Pillow on 10-11
May, requiring her withdrawal for repairs.
Mound City returned to action in June and was badly
damaged by enemy cannon fire during a bombardment at St. Charles,
Arkansas. Repaired again, she was involved in operations in the
Yazoo River, Vicksburg and Grand Gulf campaigns during 1862-63.
In March-May 1864, Mound City participated in the Red River
expedition. Her activities during the remainder of the Civil War
involved guard and patrol duties and excursions up Mississippi
River tributaries. Decommissioned after the end of the conflict,
USS Mound City was sold in November 1865 and broken up
in 1866.
This page features views of USS Mound City and provides
links to pictures of her actions.
For additional images, showing USS Mound City's Civil
War actions, see:
USS Mound City -- Actions and
Activities.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 72806
USS Mound City (1862-1865)
Photographed on the Western Rivers, circa 1864-65.
Note pilothouse constructed atop her armored conning tower, deckhouse
constructed forward of her paddle box, and light-colored five-pointed
stars mounted on the fronts of her smokestacks.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 45791
USS Mound City (1862-1865)
Photographed on the Western Rivers, 1864.
Note rowing boats in the foreground. That at left has a fancy-edged
awning.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 505 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 56663
"City" Class ironclad gunboats
Off Cairo, Illinois, in 1863, with barges moored in the foreground.
These ships are (from left to right):
USS Baron de Kalb (1862-1863);
USS Cincinnati (1862-1865) and
USS Mound City (1862-1865).
Boats are tied astern of Baron de Kalb and Cincinnati.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 475 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 56663-A
"City" Class ironclad gunboats
Off Cairo, Illinois, in 1863, with barges moored in the foreground.
These ships are (from left to right):
USS Baron de Kalb (1862-1863);
USS Cincinnati (1862-1865) and
USS Mound City (1862-1865).
Boats are tied astern of Baron de Kalb and Cincinnati.
Courtesy of Paul H. Silverstone, 1981.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 475 pixels
Note: This image shows somewhat more on the right
side and somewhat less on the left side than Photo # NH 56663.
Ship images are also not quite as sharp, though trees in the
distance are much more distinct. |
 |
Photo #: NH 59002
"Commodore Foote's Gun-boat Flotilla on the Mississippi"
Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published
in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
Ships are identified below the image as (from left to right):
Mound City, Essex, Cairo, Saint Louis,
Louisville, Benton, Pittsburg and Lexington.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 270 pixels |
 |
For additional images, showing USS Mound City's Civil
War actions, see:
USS Mound City -- Actions and
Activities.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
11 January 2000