Legend:
UNION VESSEL NAMES   CONFEDERATE VESSEL NAMES
=Confederate Official Report =Union Official Report
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[1861] [1862] [1863] [1864] [1865]

1862

January 7, 1862
Returning to Cairo from an expedition up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, CONESTOGA reports on the construction of Confederate Forts Henry and Donelson.

That same day Flag Officer Foote accompanied a reconnaisance mission consisting of LEXINGTON, TYLER and the recently-arrived ironclad ESSEX down the Mississippi to Columbus, KY. Upon reaching their destination, the Union expedition remained long enough to survey the enemy position then rounded to and headed for Cairo. As they departed, a Confederate gunboat came out from under the protection of the shore batteries to follow the Union intruders. The ESSEX promptly turned on their pursuer which, after a few shots from the ironclad, retreated to its original anchorage. Foote either failed to note, or neglected to mention, the presence of the Confederate floating battery NEW ORLEANS tied to the shore below the land emplacement.

January 10, 1862
ESSEX and ST LOUIS engaged two Confederate gunboats near Lucas Bend, MO, until the latter withdrew to the protection of the Confederate guns at Columbus.

January 15, 1862
Reflecting the difficulties encountered in bringing his command up to expectations, Flag Officer Foote enjoined his commanders; "...I am aware of your difficulties in a new and undisciplined crew and officers....Save your ammunition and let the first gun show you how to aim for the second."

January 16, 1862
Seven City-class river ironclads; CARONDELET, CINCINNATI, PITTSBURG, LOUISVILLE, ST LOUIS, MOUND CITY and CAIRO were officially commissioned at Mound City and Cairo, IL, thus providing the naval force for combined offensive operations in the west.

January 21, 1862
Complaining that most of his boats were "...in commission waiting for men.", Flag Officer Foote sent another request for additional seamen.

February 6, 1862
Naval forces under Flag-Officer Foote capture strategic Fort Henry, TN, on the Tennessee River. This breaches the Confederate line and opens a route for the flow of Union forces into the southern states. (See Tennesse River Operations)

February 9, 1862
The full number of mortar rafts built in St. Louis, had arrived at Cairo, one of which was tested on this day by the officer who would be in charge of them.

February 16, 1862
Fort Donelson, TN, on the Cumberland River surrenders to combined forces under General Grant and Flag-Officer Foote. (See Tennesse River Operations)

With the loss of Forts Henry and Donelson and the subsequent withdrawal of the Confederate Army from Nashville, the batteries at Columbus, KY, were now isolated from supply and reinforcement. General P. G. T. Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, chose Island No. 10, about 60 river miles below Columbus, as the next strongpoint for defending the Mississippi River and withdrew his forces to that place.

February 23, 1862
An expedition consisting of five ironclads, including CINCINNATI with Flag-Officer Foote aboard and LOUISVILLE, accompanied by two mortar boats and three troop transports moved down the Mississippi to Columbus, KY. The mortars had just been put into position to open on Belmont when a boat flying a white flag came around the bend below. Although the stated mission of the flag of truce was to arrange for several ladies aboard to be taken north to visit their husbands, who were Confederate prisoners, Foote suspected that it was merely an artifice to assess the strength of the Union force and would officially complain to "the right-reverend general" Leonidas Polk, CSA, who was also an Episcopal Bishop.
      Finding that fire from mortars would only lead the enemy to plant guns where they could reach them with their batteries, Foote determined to return to Cairo to finish repairing the ironclads.
      Disgruntled at having been rushed into the attack on Fort Donelson and then being prohibited, for purely political reasons, by General Halleck from capturing Nashville, Foote would address a letter to his wife stating; "...I am disgusted that we were kept from going up and taking Nashville. It was jealousy on the part of McClellan and Halleck. I now am determined to wait till I get the gun and mortar boats ready, and will not obey any orders except the Secretary's and President's..."

March 1, 1862
The loss of badly-needed experienced sailors in an amphibious operation on the Tennessee River promped Flag Officer Foote to admonish his Commanders; "I must give a general order that no commander will land men to make an attack on shore. Our gunboats are to be used as forts, and as they have no more men than are necessary to man the guns, and as the Army must do the shore work, and as the enemy want nothing better than to entice our men on shore and overpower them with superior numbers, the commanders must not operate on shore, but confine themselves to their vessels."

That same day, Foote, under constant pressure to provide Naval support for various land operations, telegraphed the Navy Department requesting funds and permission to complete the fitting out of the EASTPORT which had been captured from the Confederates who were converting her to an ironclad gunboat.

Also on this day, Lieut. Commander Phelps, sent with a flag of truce to Columbus, returned to Cairo to report that Columbus was being evacuated, stating that he saw the Confederates burning their winter quarters and removing their heavy guns on the bluffs.

March 2, 1862
Flag-Officer Foote accompanied an armed reconnaissance to Columbus, consisting of CONESTOGA, CINCINNATI and LOUISVILLE. Though rain and fog prevented a complete assessment, large fires burning on the bluffs where the heavy guns had been mounted indicated that the Confederates were indeed evacuating the position. Foote suggested to General Halleck that the Army return in a few days—presumably after the Confederates had gone—to occupy the fort.

March 3, 1862
A Union Cavalry scouting party discovered that the Confederate works at Columbus, KY, had been deserted.

That same day, Union forces under Brig. Gen. John Pope, having marched overland through swamps, lugging supplies and artillery, reached New Madrid, Mo., and deployed around the outskirts of the city.
      Fortified with 12 heavy guns, New Madrid was located at the end of a long westward bend in the Mississippi, just a few miles below Island No. 10. The earthworks on the island contained 50 heavy guns (32 pounders and larger) and the huge Lady Polk, Jr., a 128-pounder. Five shore batteries on the Tennessee side of the river were reinforced by eight infantry regiments, several cavalry squadrons and a full regiment of heavy artillerists, creating a formidable defensive position.
      These land defenses were reinforced by six Confederate gunboats under the command of CSN Commodore George N. Hollins, including IVY, LIVINGSTON , GENERAL POLK, PONTCHARTRAIN, McRAE and MAUREPAS. These were supported by the scout boat GRAMPUS and the floating battery NEW ORLEANS. The ironclad ram MANASSAS was initially part of the fleet but, after suffering hull damage from a snag, was sent to New Orleans for repairs.

March 4, 1862
Supported by 6 gunboats, 4 mortar boats, and 3 transports, a Union expedition under General William T. Sherman approached Columbus. General Sherman; "...not knowing that the works were last evening occupied by 400 of the Second Illinois Cavalry as a scouting party... made a bold dash to the shore under the water batteries, hoisting the American flag on the summit of the bluff, greeted by the hearty cheers of our brave tars and soldiers."
      The Confederates had left behind a large number of guns and carriages, together with a large quantity of shot and shell. The massive chain that previously stretched across the Mississippi river had broken of its own weight and now lay on the river bottom.

March 5, 1862
Struggling to effect much-needed repairs to his battle-worn vessels yet meet the demands of the Army, Flag Officer Foote would write; "The gunboats have been so much cut up . . . that I could not induce the [mostly civilian] pilots to go in them again in a fight until they are repaired."

March 7, 1862
At Cairo, Flag Officer Foote, though urged to move against Island #10 by General Halleck, was still working tirelessly to get his vessels in shape for further combat. Added to the shortages of manpower, equipment, supplies and ordnance were the difficulties caused by the near-flood stage of the rivers. In a wire to the Navy Department he stated; "The BENTON is underway and barely stems the strong current of the Ohio, which is 5 knots per hour in this rise of water, but I hope, by putting her between two ironclad steamers tomorrow, she will stem the current. . . I hope on [March 12] to take down seven ironclad gunboats and ten mortar boats to attack Island No. 10 and New Madrid. As the current in the Mississippi is in some places 7 knots per hour, the ironclad boats can hardly return here, therefore we must go well prepared. . ."

March 13, 1862
General Halleck, acting on repeated requests from General John Pope near New Madrid, orders Flag Officer Foote to attack Island No. 10. Foote responds; "Your instructions to attack Island No. 10 are received, and I shall move for that purpose to-morrow morning. I have made the following telegram to the Navy Department, which you will perceive will lead me to be cautious, and not bring the boats within short range of the enemy's batteries. Generally, in all our attacks down the river, I will bear in mind the effect on this place and the other rivers, which a serious disaster to the gunboats would involve. . .The ironclad boats can not be held when anchored by stern in this current on account of the recess between the fantails forming the stern yawing them about, and as the sterns of the boats are not plated, and have but two 32-pounders astern, you will see our difficulty of fighting downstream effectually. Neither is there power enough in any of them to back upstream. We must, therefore, tie up to shore the best way we can and help the mortar boats. I have long since expressed to General Meigs my apprehensions about these boats' defects. Don't have any gunboats for rivers built with wheels amidships. The driftwood would choke the wheel, even if it had a powerful engine. . ."

Meanwhile, the Confederate garrison commander at New Madrid, Brig. General John P. McCown, realizing that he lacked sufficient men and materiel to defend both positions, ordered his troops and equipment evacuated to Island No. 10. After covering the night operation, Commander Hollins' lightly-armored Confederate gunboats took up new positions below the island.

March 14, 1862
General Pope's army discovered that the Confederates had evacuated New Madrid and moved in to occupy the city.

That same day, Flag Officer Foote finally left Cairo, IL, bound for Island No. 10. The impressive flotilla included seven ironclads; ST LOUIS, CINCINNATI, MOUND CITY, CARONDELET, PITTSBURG; the massive BENTON and LOUISVILLE (which remained up-river on guard duty at Columbus, KY), along with ten mortar rafts, each mounting one 13-inch seacoast mortar, 95 heavy guns in all.

March 15, 1862
After a stop at Bird's Point to pick up Colonel Napoleon Buford's Brigade of infantry to support the fleet, the Union flotilla arrived above Island No. 10 but heavy rain and dense fog prevented any action against the Confederate fortifications.

Illustration

March 16, 1862
Flag-Officer Foote ordered BENTON lashed between ST LOUIS and CINCINNATI in case one of the boats became disabled so that the other two could prevent the stricken vessel from drifting downstream into Confederate hands. The three ironclads then attacked the Redan (upper) battery on the Tennessee shore while the mortar boats directed their fire at the batteries on the Island.
      During the three-hour exchange, BENTON took three direct hits, CINCINNATI suffered damage to her engine and ST LOUIS was struck several times and lost 3 crewmen when one of her rifled guns exploded. The island battery took a tremendous pounding but the Confederates stuck with their guns and eventually Foote retired. Intermittant bombardment of the island would continue for 22 days during which Foote would comment; "This place, Island No. 10, is harder to conquer than Columbus, as the island shores are lined with forts, each fort commands the one above it. We are gradually approaching."

For the next few weeks, the fleet maintained its position while General Pope grew increasingly impatient, telegraphing Foote daily to make a move.

March 21, 1862
In an effort to maintain some harmony between the two commanding officers of the operations against Island No. 10, Major General Halleck wrote to Flag Officer Foote; "While I am certain that you have done everything that could be done successfully to reduce these works, I am very glad that you have not unnecessarily exposed your gunboats. If they had been disabled, it would have been a most serious loss to us in the future operations of the campaign . . . Nothing is lost by a little delay there." Meanwhile, the countryside above the island was still flooded and General Pope proposed to cut a channel through the trees from the Mississippi river to St. John's Bayou, which emptied into the river just above New Madrid, thus opening up a river route around the island.

March 27, 1862
Increasingly frustrated by the slow progress of his St John's Bayou channel and Flag Officer Foote's refusal to attempt a run past the Confederate batteries, General Pope requested that the gunboats—since they were Union property—be turned over to the army.

While the Union advance down the Mississippi was stalled, reports of a rapid build-up of Confederate Naval capabilities on the Western rivers caused great concern in Washington as well as in the field. Flag Officer Foote instructed the commanders of the gunboats in the upper rivers to be prepared to fall back to Cairo, should the flotilla at Island No. 10 meet with disaster. Acting on a proposal to the War Department by engineer Charles Ellet, Jr., Secretary Stanton instructs him; "You will please proceed immediately to Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and New Albany [IN] and take measures to provide steam rams for defense against ironclad vessels on the Western waters." Ellet would waste no time in forwarding his plans for establishing and operating the newly-authorized Ram Fleet.

March 30, 1862
Commander Henry Walke, of the CARONDELET proposed to steam past Island No. 10 and cut off its garrison. Flag-Officer Foote finally approved and, to improve Walke's chances of safely passing the Confederate fortifications, ordered a raid on the northernmost enemy position, Battery No. 1, a six-gun battery on the Tennessee shore about two miles above the island.

April 1, 1862
On this dark and stormy night Colonel George Roberts of the 42nd Illinois Infantry and 50 hand-picked men left the flotilla in small boats and, with muffled oars, rowed toward the battery. As Col. Roberts' raiders neared the shore, a flash of lightning revealed them to two Confederate sentries. But the warning came too late and the raiders quickly overran and overpowered the Confederates, spiked the cannons then returned to the fleet.

April 2, 1862
Because CARONDELET would come very close to the NEW ORLEANS during her sprint past the island, the Navy began concentrating its fire on the floating battery.
      Despite the natural difficulties of accurately firing from long range, some of the Union guns and mortars did manage to find their target. Gunfire sank the flatboat that the Pelican Guards used as quarters, and a rifle shot wrecked one gun. Mortar shells and rifle shots so perforated the side of NEW ORLEANS that it careened to port. Water washed over the deck and almost reached the muzzles of the guns.
      The Confederates had to get the battery out of range to make repairs and NEW ORLEANS was hastily towed downriver, where the crew pumped out the water, finding two 3-foot holes caused by mortar shells below the waterline. All the damages were repaired within 24 hours at which time Brigadier General W. W. Mackall, the new commander of the Confederate garrison, ordered NEW ORLEANS moored off the southern end of the island.

April 4, 1862
During another night storm, CARONDELET—with chains and hawsers beefing up the armor, an extra layer of timber on the hurricane deck, cordwood stacked around the boilers and a small barge lashed to the side and loaded with hay to add further protection—made the dangerous run past the Island No. 10 batteries. "Dark clouds rose rapidly and enveloped us in almost total darkness," recalled Walke, "except for welcome flashes of vivid lightning to show us the perilous way."
      Running at full speed through the downpour, CARONDELET came abreast of Island No. 10. The Confederates spied her but their guns, most of which were ranged along the high banks, could not be be depressed far enough to hit the ironclad. Virtually untouched, CARONDELET raced past the island and the NEW ORLEANS, which managed to fire only half a dozen shots. About midnight, CARONDELET docked at New Madrid to a jubilant reception from Federal troops. She had been hit just twice; a solid shot had dented the coal barge and another was found inside a bale of hay.

April 6, 1862
PITTSBURG followed CARONDELET's example during the night. The two ironclads then helped to overpower the Confederate batteries and guns, enabling Pope's men to cross the river and block the Confederate escape route.

The Confederate gunboats had remained below New Madrid engaging the Union shore batteries near Tiptonville. Having nearly exhausted his supply of gunpowder and knowing that he could not stop the Union Ironclads, Commander Hollins withdrew his fleet. At Fort Pillow (60 river miles above Memphis), the guns were removed from most of the boats and the hulls of LIVINGSTON and GENERAL POLK were taken up the Yazoo river, while MAUREPAS and PONTCHAIRTRAIN were sent up the White River in Arkansas. Commander Hollins then proceeded south in the McRAE to help defend New Orleans against the Union forces then gathering in the Gulf of Mexico.

April 7, 1862
The Confederate transports Red Rover, Mars, Mohawk, Admiral, Ohio Belle, Grampus, Prince and John Simonds and the NEW ORLEANS were sunk below the island by their crews to avoid capture. However, all but the floating battery were later raised and put into service by the Federals. The Red Rover would later be re-fitted to become the famous Union hospital ship.
      That afternoon, DeSoto approached the Union fleet above Island No. 10 under a flag of truce, to communicate with the Union gunboats.

April 8, 1862
DeSoto again approached the Union fleet. It was night and she approached cautiously, giving four blasts of her whistle, repeatedly, until answered, whereupon Federal officers boarded her to accept surrender from Brig. Gen. Mackall.
      With the capture of Island No. 10, the Mississippi was now open down to Fort Pillow, TN.

April 14, 1862
Union mortar boats began the bombardment of Fort Pillow.

May 9, 1862
The Navy Department, acting on advice of medical officers, temporarily relieved Flag Officer Foote of command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla, due to wounds recieved at Fort Donelson. Foote's replacement was Captain Charles H. Davis.

May 10, 1862
While lying "steam-down" at anchor at Plum Point Bend (about 4 miles above Fort Pillow), BENTON, LOUISVILLE, MOUND CITY, CINCINNATI, CARONDELET, CAIRO and ST. LOUIS were attacked by boats of the Confederate "River Defense Fleet" under Commodore James E. Montgomery, CSN.
      As the Confederate fleet rounded the bend below Plum Point they came in sight of the Union ships. GENERAL BRAGG went into the lead and closed CINCINNATI who was at anchor below the main body of the fleet guarding one of 8 mortar rafts shelling Fort Pillow. The Union ship, having barely enough steam pressure for navigation, tried to retreat to shallow water but GENERAL BRAGG pursued despite vicious fire from her intended victim and rammed her, preventing further retreat. This allowed GENERAL PRICE to violently ram CINCINNATI, taking away her rudder, stern-post and a large piece of her stern. The impact threw CINCINNATI toward GENERAL SUMTER who rammed her at full speed. Badly damaged, CINCINNATI had to be run ashore to save her from sinking. Meanwhile, GENERAL BRAGG, whose tiller rope had been cut by CINCINNATI's broadside during the attack, drifted down river out of action.
      First of the Union ships to clear for action, MOUND CITY approached the scene firing furiously on GENERAL SUMTER and GENERAL PRICE. GENERAL PRICE was heavily hit; Her upper works were severely damaged, and she was struck by a 128-pound shell which cut off her supply pipes and caused a dangerous leak.
      Firing on a mortar raft as she approached, GENERAL VAN DORN then rammed MOUND CITY and struck her a glancing blow, making a hole 4 feet deep in the starboard forward quarter of the Federal boat—evidenced by splinters left on the iron bow of the GENERAL VAN DORN—forcing the victim to run aground to keep from sinking. In rounding upriver, GENERAL VAN DORN herself ran aground and sustained a terrific cannonade for a few minutes until she was able to back off.

      GENERAL M. JEFF THOMPSON, GENERAL BEAUREGARD and COLONEL LOVELL, stationed at the rear of the Confederate flotilla, were set to enter the battle with their guns, but Commodore Montgomery observed that the remaining Union ships had gotten up enough steam to attack and signalled his ships to retire to Fort Pillow to make repairs and resume defense of the northern approach to Memphis.

May 25, 1862
The U.S. Army Rams QUEEN OF THE WEST, SWITZERLAND and MONARCH, under Colonel Charles Ellet Jr., join the Navy flotilla above Fort Pillow . Although an independent unit under the control of the Secretary of War, Col. Ellet's rams were under orders to operate in coordination with the Navy.
      Meanwhile the Union mortar boats continue to shell the fort under the protection of the union fleet to which ST. LOUIS had been added to offset the loss of the two ironclads damaged earlier at Plum Point. Determined not to be caught unawares by the Confederates again, the gunboats now kept up steam around the clock.

June 4, 1862
As the Union forces under General Halleck neared Corinth, MS, General P. G. T. Beauregard ordered the withdrawal of Confederate troops. Thus, Fort Pillow was cut off from the rear and was ordered to be evacuated and all but 200 Confederate troops were withdrawn from Memphis.

June 5, 1862
The tugboat Spitfire, armed with a howitzer and 16 men from the BENTON, commanded by Lieutenant Joshua Bishop, captured the steamer Soverign near Island No. 37, below Ft. Pillow.

June 6, 1862
Following the Federal occupation of Fort Pillow, Flag Officer Davis, having left SWITZERLAND to guard the fort, arrived above Memphis with ST LOUIS, CARONDELET, CAIRO, BENTON and LOUISVILLE and the two Army rams QUEEN OF THE WEST and MONARCH under Colonel Ellet. Commodore Montgomery, unable to retreat to Vicksburg because of a shortage of coal and unwilling to destroy his boats, determined to fight against heavy odds and ranged his ships before the city. The engagement which followed was "witnessed by thousands on the bluff."

      As the Union fleet approached in battle formation, Colonel Ellet in QUEEN OF THE WEST, followed closely by the MONARCH, charged through the line of ironclads, making straight for the Confederate fleet. As the two Union rams bore rapidly down upon his vessel, the captain of the COLONEL LOVELL apparently lost his nerve and attempted to turn his boat downriver. Unfortunately, this maneuver presented her broadside to the QUEEN OF THE WEST who struck her amidships, immediately after which MONARCH rammed her, sinking her mid-river. QUEEN OF THE WEST was, in turn, rammed and disabled by SUMTER.
      As the MONARCH was backing clear of her previous victim, the Confederate rams, GENERAL BEAUREGARD and GENERAL PRICE were bearing down on her from either side. Seeing her peril, the MONARCH surged ahead causing the two Confederates to completely miss their target and, instead, collide with each other. The collision between the two Confederate rams "cut away entirely the port wheel and wheel-house" of the GENERAL PRICE, completely disabling her.
      The GENERAL BEAUREGARD, while extricating herself, then gave the nearby BENTON a close broadside with a 42-pounder to which Union ironclad replied with a shot to GENERAL BEAUREGARD's boiler, scalding many of her crew. Almost simultaneously, the MONARCH, which had circled around, struck the GENERAL BEAUREGARD a crushing blow. As the crew of the BENTON were rescuing several of GENERAL BEAUREGARD's crew, she was sinking rapidly and the MONARCH took her in tow towards the Arkansas shore, rescuing the remainder of the Confederate sailors.
      Adrift, the GENERAL PRICE then collided with the previously disabled QUEEN OF THE WEST. As QUEEN OF THE WEST captured her crew, GENERAL PRICE sank slowly onto a sand bar. She was later raised by Union forces and taken into Federal service.
      About this time, the LITTLE REBEL attacked MONARCH who met the attack and ran LITTLE REBEL toward the Arkansas shore. The Confederate vessel was then hit by fire from CARONDELET, struck again by MONARCH and beached in a sinking condition by the blow. LITTLE REBEL was later refloated and taken into Federal service.
      The remaining Confederate ships, upon seeing four of their number quickly lost, retired downriver chased by the Union flotilla. In a running battle which lasted approximately 10 miles, GENERAL M. JEFF THOMPSON was heavily hit and set on fire by Union shells. She ran aground and was abandoned by her crew where she burned to the water's edge and her magazine blew up violently. The combatants and spectators were treated to a spectacular display when the fire reached the cargo and the shells exploded upward some 200 feet or more and "bomb shells could be seen bursting up there in every direction." After the explosion, the shore was strewn with iron braces and fastenings, together with charred remains of broken timbers, and her wrecked remains were left half buried and half sunk. The concussion was felt as far away as Cairo, IL, and thought by many to have been an earthquake.
      After a Union rifled shot burst in her cotton protection, setting her afire, GENERAL BRAGG grounded on a sand bar and was captured by the Union forces who, with great difficulty, managed to save her.
      As the captured GENERAL SUMTER was being towed upriver by LOUISVILLE, it was discovered that a slow fuse had been set in her powder magazine. The intended explosion would probably have sunk both vessels had the fuse not harmlessly gone out.

All of the vessels of the Confederate River Defense Fleet at this engagement were either captured or destroyed except for GENERAL EARL VAN DORN which managed to escape because of her superior speed.
      That afternoon the Mayor of Memphis surrendered the city to the Union forces who also captured the transports Sovereign, New National, Jeff Davis, Kentucky, Victoria and H. R. W. Hill, which were lying at anchor at the levee.

The capture of Memphis and the destruction of the Confederate River Defense Fleet opened the Mississippi all the way to Vicksburg—the next objective in the Union quest to divide the Confederacy. The only Union casualty during the engagement was Colonel Ellet who, severely wounded above the knee by small-arms fire, died of complications from his wounds a few days later.

June 14, 1862
Clara Dolsen was captured by a Union flotillia consisting of MOUND CITY, ST. LOUIS, LEXINGTON, CONESTOGA, and transports which was proceeding up the White River towards Saint Charles, AR, attempting to resupply Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis's army near Jacksonport.

June 16, 1862
The Confederates, learning of the advancing Union flotilla, sank MAUREPAS and steamers Eliza G. and Mary Patterson to obstruct the White River near St. Charles against the advance of Union gunboats. Two of the 32-pounder rifled guns from PONTCHARTRAIN were transferred to the fort. Her officers and crew then joined the army in the fort's defense and were among the prisoners later taken.

June 17, 1862
As the Union flotilla approached the Confederate batteries on Saint Charles bluffs, MOUND CITY was hit and her steam drum exploded scalding most of the crew to death. Many of them, "very many," the commander of ST. LOUIS reported, "must have been killed by the enemy while they were struggling in the water." Boats from LEXINGTON, CONESTOGA and ST. LOUIS, "which went to the assistance of the scalded and drowning men," were subjected to withering fire when the Confederates "fixed into [them] both with great guns and muskets." One of the disabled boats was forced to the shore in order to avoid sinking. While the stricken gunboat was towed to safety, the firing of the ST. LOUIS was halted, while the other vessels withdrew to cover the landing of troops which would march overland to capture the Confederate stronghold. CONESTOGA and the steamer Musselman later transported the injured and wounded back to the Hospital ship RED ROVER at Memphis.

That same day, Captain Charles H. Davis, USN, was appointed Flag Officer and given command of the Western Gunboat Fleet, officially relieving A. H. Foote due to the latter's deteriorating health.

June 26, 1862
Col. Charles Ellet, Jr. with the rams MONARCH and LANCASTER arrived below Yazoo City, MS,in time to see GENERAL EARL VAN DORN being burned along with GENERAL POLK and LIVINGSTON to prevent capture. According to LANCASTER's log, they were "all oiled and tarred ready to be fired on our arrival," and, when first seen by the Federals rounding the bend, "all on fire and turned adrift . . . within a few hundred yards of the battery at Liverpool . . . We backed down under the point, when the Van Dorn blew up, which shook the hills."

June 28, 1862
Admiral Farragut arrived above the Vicksburg batteries with his fleet, including HARTFORD, IROQUOIS, RICHMOND SCIOTA and WINONA. During the fleet's passage northward, JOHN P. JACKSON was hit twice, leaving her without power and causing other serious damage. Moments later CLIFTON, coming to her aid with a towline, was struck in her starboard boiler. Seven of CLIFTON's men were killed by scalding and JACKSON quickly lowered her boats to save a number of other men who had been forced overboard by the steam.
      Awaiting Farragut's arrival was Colonel Alfred W. Ellet (older brother of the deceased Charles, Sr.) who had come downriver in QUEEN OF THE WEST with two other ships of the Ram Fleet to investigate rumors that CSS ARKANSAS was nearing completion at Yazoo City, MS. Colonel Ellet sent one of his ships to Memphis with a message from Admiral Farragut requesting that Flag Officer Davis join him above Vicksburg. Another of Ellet's rams was sent to General Halleck's headquarters at Corinth, MS, with a request for troops with which to attack the city.

June 29, 1862
Flag-Officer Davis departs Memphis, heading downriver with a part of his flotilla, including the recently captured GENERAL BRAGG and GENERAL SUMTER and six mortar rafts.

On this same day LEXINGTON exchanges fire with Confederates along the bank of the White River betweer St. Charles and Clarendon, AR.

June 30, 1862
Union forces occupied Helena, AR, 70 miles below Memphis on the Mississippi River. This fortified river port would become an important supply and staging point for the campaign against Vicksburg.

July 2, 1862
Davis's forces arrive above Vicksburg joining those of Flag Officer Farragut; the fresh and salt-water fleets meet for the first time. Flag Officer Farragut would later write; "The iron-clads are curious looking things to us salt-water gentlemen . . . They look like great turtles."

July 4, 1862
In celebration of Independance Day, Union gunboats and ships of the mortar flotilla launch a deadly "fireworks display" against Vicksburg and its protective batteries.

July 15, 1862
The commanders of the combined Union fleets now lying above Vicksburg, dispatched a task force composed of the unarmed Army ram QUEEN OF THE WEST, the ironclad CARONDELET and the timberclad gunboat TYLER up the Yazoo River to determine the status of the ARKANSAS. The Union expedition had just entered the Yazoo when they met the vessel in question steaming directly toward them. After a brief exchange between the forward guns of the two ironclads, CARONDELET turned inshore toward shallow water to prevent ARKANSAS from ramming her as QUEEN OF THE WEST and TYLER retired to the mouth of the river to await the outcome of the contest. As CARONDELET maneuvered to bring her guns to bear, she received a disabling shot to her rudders, causing her to run aground. Lacking the protection of the Union ironclad, QUEEN OF THE WEST fled downstream followed closely by TYLER. Fearing that his ship might also run aground, Captain Brown, although wounded, elected to pursue TYLER as she ran down the Mississippi toward Vicksburg and the protection of the Union fleet.
      As she chased and fired on the fleeing Union ships, ARKANSAS was hit several times by fire from the stern gun of her quarry. Although most of TYLER's shots bounced harmlessly off ARKANSAS' armor, one salvo damaged her smokestack, preventing her boilers from drawing properly and causing her to loose steam pressure.
      Sailors aboard the ships of the Union fleets, which were lying at anchor with "steam-down," heard the firing upriver and assumed the 3-ship force was attacking Confederate batteries along the banks. The first indication they had of the approaching ARKANSAS was when QUEEN OF THE WEST rounded a bend just upriver at full speed with cannon shots flying past her. Within minutes TYLER appeared, followed by the mud-colored ARKANSAS.
      As TYLER, with ARKANSAS limping along behind her, rounded the bend, they came in sight of the Union fleets whose crews were now being called to quarters. Upon sighting "a forest of masts and smokestacks," Captain Brown determined to steam directly into the line, staying as close to the Union vessels as possible in order to prevent his being rammed and to sow confusion. Barely making way, ARKANSAS pounded her way through the midst of the Federal fleet with both sides firing furiously. When GENERAL BRAGG--the only ship having a head of steam--attempted to ram her, ARKANSAS put a shot through the ram's boilers and finally emerged on the other side of the Union gauntlet. Brown later reported, "The connections between the furnace and smoke-stack were shot away, destroying the draught and letting the flames come out into the shield, raising the temperature to 120 degrees, while it had already risen to 130 degrees in the fire-room . . . We went into action with 120 pounds of steam . . . came out with 20 pounds."
      Stunned and still without sufficient power for navigation, most of the Federal ships did not pursue. Finally making steam, CINCINNATI and BENTON, with Cmdrs. Farragut and Davis aboard, followed to a point just above the city and fired several shots at ARKANSAS and the Vicksburg batteries. However, after receiving a shot through her stern into the cabin which killed one man and wounded 2 others, BENTON withdrew. Meanwhile, ARKANSAS, virtually adrift, arrived at Vicksburg to the sound of the enthusiastic cheering of the citizens and anchored under the guns of the city within sight of the lower Federal fleet.

Admiral Farragut was infuriated and embarrassed by his fleet's failure to destroy the vastly-outnumbered Confederate vessel. He immediately ordered his fleet, accompanied by GENERAL SUMTER to run down past Vicksburg that same night and attack the ARKANSAS enroute. In his orders to the fleet, Farragut told his Commanders "...no one will do wrong who lays his vessel alongside of the enemy or tackles the ram. The ram must be destroyed."
      That evening, the remaining Union mortar schooners below Vicksburg resumed the bombardment of the city in earnest when the sound of heavy covering fire from BENTON and LOUISVILLE announced Farragut's approach. The ships of Farragut's fleet all fired in the direction of the ARKANSAS in passing but the darkness made their targeting relatively ineffective. Farragut later reported, "it was so dark by the time we reached the town that nothing could be seen except the flashes of the guns." Although ARKANSAS was struck in the engines by one shot which caused considerable damage, she was still able to use her cannon effectively. In the heavy cannonade as Farragut's ships continued down the river below the city, WINONA and GENERAL SUMTER were substantially damaged--probably as much by ARKANSAS' guns as by the shore batteries.
      Over the following week, while the Union fleet awaited General Halleck's response to their request for troops, ARKANSAS lay at Vicksburg repairing under the less-than-effective plunging fire of the Federal mortars.

July 19, 1862
Fire from a Confederate masked battery at Argyle Landing destroyed the transport Sallie Wood.

July 22, 1862
With her repairs completed ARKANSAS again became a menace to the Federal fleet. The Union commanders, determined not to be caught unawares a second time, ordered their ships' crews to keep up steam 24 hours a day in the hottest part of the summer. However, being vastly outgunned by the Federal fleet, Captain Brown, still recuperating from his injuries, elected to keep his ship under the protective guns of the city. Meanwhile, Admiral Farragut, still smarting from his fleet's previous encounter with ARKANSAS, convinced Flag Officer Davis to participate in a joint attack on the Confederate ram.
      While Captain Brown and most of her officers and crew were ashore, the ironclad ESSEX and QUEEN OF THE WEST ran down past Vicksburg to again attack ARKANSAS from above while GENERAL SUMTER joined the assault from below. As Flag Officer Davis' mortar rafts and three of his gunboats fired on the Vicksburg batteries above, ESSEX approached ARKANSAS firing her 10-inch forward cannon. One shot entered one of ARKANSAS' gun ports, killing half of her 41-man crew. ESSEX next attempted to ram her enemy but the alert Confederate skipper let go the bow line, drifting the bow clear. After delivering a glancing blow, ESSEX ran onto the river bank and endured a terrific cannonade while extracting herself. GENERAL SUMTER attacked next, striking ARKANSAS amidship but caused little damage. Last in the order of attack, QUEEN OF THE WEST lost speed in maneuvering and also did little damage. This skirmish took place in such close quarters that men from the ARKANSAS received powder burns from the Federal guns and could plainly hear the commands of the Union gunnery captains. Riddled by fire from ARKANSAS and the shore batteries, ESSEX and GENERAL SUMTER drifted downriver but QUEEN OF THE WEST was able to rejoin the fleet above the city.

July 23, 1862
ARKANSAS was seen to be lashed between two coal barges. Although the Union commanders reported her as being "held afloat" by the barges, it is suspected that this was actually a measure taken to protect her against further ramming attempts.

On this same day a Union detachment left Helena, AR, aboard the steamer Catahoula on an exploratory expedition up the Coldwater River and White Oak Bayou in Mississippi.

July 24, 1862
Having received a response from General Halleck informing him that the requested troops were not available together with orders from Washington instructing him to return to the Gulf, Farragut departed for New Orleans with his warships (including ESSEX and GENERAL SUMTER which were now separated from their fleet above Vicksburg) and the remaining vessels of the Mortar Fleet. Flag Officer Davis' fleet returned to patrol duty in the rivers above Vicksburg from its station at Helena, AR, leaving only a few ships in the area.
      The withdrawal of the two Union fleets returned control of the Mississippi between Vicksburg and Baton Rouge--including the all-important mouth of the Red River--to the Confederates.

August 16, 1862
A federal expedition from Helena, AR, consisting of BENTON, MOUND CITY and GENERAL BRAGG with the Rams SWITZERLAND, MONARCH, SAMSON and LIONESS, accompanied by two infantry brigades aboard transports, captured Fairplay at Milliken's Bend while delivering a shipment of 6,000 stands of arms from Vicksburg. The expedition then continued down the Mississippi and up the Yazoo River past Hayne's Bluff, eventually penetrating as far as Richmond, LA. Before its return to the Mississippi, the Federal force had captured or destroyed large quantities of war materiel. However, the Confederates had learned a costly lesson and almost immediately set about making sure that Union warships could only operate on the Yazoo at great peril.

August 19, 1862
Below Memphis, ST LOUIS discovers the transport Swallow aground and burning, having been set afire by the Confederates.

August 29, 1862
While escorting transports White Cloud and Iatan to Eunice, AR, PITTSBURG shelled and disbursed a Confederate encampment at Carson's Landing.

September 1, 1862
Congress passed a law stating that "the spirit ration in the Navy of the United States shall forever cease."

September 8, 1862
The City-class ironclad ST. LOUIS is renamed BARON De KALB

September 19, 1862
QUEEN OF THE WEST is attacked by Confederate small arms fire and artillery near Rosedale, MS.

October 1, 1862
The Western Gunboat Fleet was transferred from the War Department to the Navy and renamed the "Mississippi Squadron."

October 15, 1862
Flag Officer Davis was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation at the Navy Department and was succeeded by (now Acting Rear Admiral) David Dixon Porter who had formerly commanded the Mortar Flotilla under Admiral Farragut.

October 21, 1862
Union troops aboard transport Meteor landed at Bledsoe's Landing and Hamblin's Landing, AR. Under the watchful guns of LOUISVILLE, the troops burned the towns in retaliation for a Confederate guerilla attack on the mail steamer Gladiator two days earlier. Lieutenant Commander Meade reported; "The people along the river bank were duly informed that every outrage by the guerillas upon packets would be similarly dealt with."

October 24, 1862
Upon spotting a small Confederate scouting party near Hopefield, AR, a landing party from BARON DE KALB commandeered a sufficient number of horses from nearby farms and engaged in a 9-mile running fight with the Confederates, eventually capturing them.

November 1, 1862
LOUISVILLE captured steamer Evansville above Island No. 36.

November 8, 1862
Lieutenant Colonel Alfred W. Ellet, commander of the Army Ram Fleet, received orders from the War Department to report to Rear Admiral Porter "for orders and duty." Thus eliminating the conflicts which had previously arisen from an ambiguous chain of command.

December 5, 1862
BARON DeKALB captured the steamer Lottie above Memphis.

December 11, 1862
In preparation for the landing of troops under General Grant for an assault on Vicksburg from the east, MARMORA and SIGNAL were sent up the Yazoo River to silence Confederate batteries as far upriver as possible. During their 20-mile reconnaissance, they encountered many sunken hulks and floats indicating torpedos (mines). After one of these exploded under SIGNAL causing only minor damage and another was set off by small arms fire from MARMORA, the two gunboats retired.

December 12, 1862
MARMORA and SIGNAL again entered the Yazoo supported by CAIRO and PITTSBURG followed by QUEEN OF THE WEST. About sixteen miles up the river, as the ships of the federal expedition inched up the river, clearing it of torpedos as they went, two torpedoes were detonated by trigger lines strung from pits on the river bank, one exploding under the CAIRO's bow and the second under her port quarter, sinking her up to the tops of her smokestacks in approximately 12 minutes but with no loss of life. Fearing that the Confederates might attempt to raise the sunken CAIRO, whose position was marked by her smokestacks protruding above the water, QUEEN OF THE WEST destroyed the evidence of the location of the wreck. Grant's planned assault never took place however, due to the loss of his rearward supply base to Confederate raids.

December 20, 1862
Admiral Porter arrived at Helena, AR, in his flagship BLACK HAWK to meet with General Sherman in preparation for the assault on Vicksburg.

December 23, 1862
Admiral Porter in BENTON led an expedition composed of the flagship, TYLER, LEXINGTON, JULIET and MARMORA up the Yazoo River to reduce the Confederate batteries at Hayne's Bluffs, MS, in preparation for the impending Union offensive against Vicksburg from the rear.

December 24, 1862
NEW ERA arrived at Columbus, KY, to provide support against a threatened Confederate attack.

December 25, 1862
General Sherman, aboard headquarters boat Forest Queen at Memphis, issued orders for the expedition from Millikens Bend, LA, down the Mississippi then up the Yazoo to Hayne's Bluffs.
      Unbeknownst to the North, a private telegraph wire had been strung by a planter just north of Vicksburg before hostilities broke out. At about midnight at the Vicksburg end of the wire, a Confederate telegraph operator named Philip Hall received an agitated message from an operator at Lake Providence, MS, 42 miles to the north: "Great God, Phil, eighty-one gunboats have passed here tonight!" Although the sender's assessment of the number and types of ships he saw was exaggerated, the Union's hopes for secrecy were thus dashed as they steamed from Memphis to Milliken's Bend.

December 26, 1862
After three days of picking their way through torpedoes and other obstructions in the river, the Union naval force reached Hayne's Bluff and BENTON led the attack aganst the Confederate heavy batteries. During the heated two-hour exchange, BENTON sustained little damage but Lieutenant Commander William Gwin was mortally wounded.

December 27, 1862
CONESTOGA was dispatched to patrol the White and Arkansas Rivers in preparation for a pending attack on Fort Hindman on the Arkansas.

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