Did The Union Navy Commandeer Every Boat On The Mississippi?

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While doing some research in the Louisiana archives I have come across a bunch of photos taken by local Southern photographers of Union gunboats that are is as "unknown" Do any of our Naval experts know these boats? It looks as if the Union Navy commandeered most of the boats in Mississippi and Louisiana
River steamer modified as either wood- or tin-clad gunship..png
small river steamer modified as a tin- or wood-clad ship..png
Small river steamer modified as either wood- or tin-clad gunship.png
Small unidentified river steamer converted to a wood- or tin-clad ship..png
small, sternwheel, river steamer converted to a wood- or tin-clad gunboat.png
unidentifed United States Navy gunboat off Baton Rouge.png
unidentified United States Navy gunboat off Baton Rouge..png
unidentified United States Navy gunboat off Baton Rouge-1.png
United States Navy gunboat 'Number 53' off Baton Rouge.png
United States Navy gunboat, perhaps the 'Albatross.png
United States Navy Hospital boat..png
United States Navy unidentified tin clad gunboat, about 1863.png
United States Navy unidentified tin clad gunboat, about 1863-1.png
United States Navy wood clad warship with damaged smoke stack anchored at Baton Rouge riverfro...png
United States Navy wood-clad, about 1862.png
 
Good question. I'm sure that by 1865 they had captured all of them. So you need to be more specific.

I can see some duplicate images and photos of same ships. If you Number the photos in your post from 1 to 15 from the top, here is what I see.

#1 = #7

#2 = #13
Not sure if #3 is same as #2?

#5 = #6

#9 = #15 Identified with No. "53"

Is #8 a Civil War ship?

I'm no navel expert---I don't know how to spell it. That is a start.
 
I've seen most of those before... let's see:

#1 is the "large tinclad" Ouachita. The turretlike structures near bow and stern are basically rifle pillboxes (not sure they used the term "pillboxes" at that time, though).

#2 is a ram-- I think the General Price, captured from Confederate service at the Battle of Memphis. Yes, I'm pretty sure #3 is another view of the same boat (with the "timberclad" Conestoga visible to the rear).

#4 looks like an Ellet ram to me... Monarch or Queen of the West, perhaps. I'll need to look that one up. (Maybe Switzerland?)

#5 and #6 are the same boat, the tinclad St. Clair.

#7 is the Ouachita again-- note the 'pillboxes'. I'm not sure I've ever seen that particular image before.

#8 looks wacky to me. Will need further study.

#9 (Tinclad 53) is the Naiad.

#10 is a "double ender". A very similar (but not identical) photo is identified as USS Conemaugh.

#11 (Tinclad 8) is the Signal. After she was lost, her number was given to the Grosbeak, but that one was a sidewheeler.

#12 is the timberclad Conestoga (this and similar photos are widely misidentified as Lexington).

#13 is the General Price again.

#14 might be Monarch. I've seen that photo somewhere before... need to check.

#15 is the Naiad again.
 
One of my ancestors was on the Monarch, after transferring from the 18th IL in 1863. Would love to know which of the pictures is the Monarch.
Also, does anyone know of a book that covers the Mississippi Marine Brigade?
 
By the way, I'm sure the thread title was meant to be facetious, but to address it anyway-- the majority of riverboats were still under civilian ownership, so long as the owners were in good standing (i.e., not secessionists and not trading with them). The larger portion of them were contracted by the Army as transports and supply vessels.

The large number of "tinclads", though (which were government-owned), did attract a certain amount of attention. I understand that an editorial cartoon depicted Admiral Porter sailing away with the U.S. Treasury under his boot.
 
unidentified United States Navy gunboat off Baton Rouge-1.png


I don't think this is a naval vessel at all; there's no sign of armament. More likely it's a civilian vessel either purchased or hired as a government transport -- which is to say, "Lord only knows."
 
View attachment 305889

I don't think this is a naval vessel at all; there's no sign of armament. More likely it's a civilian vessel either purchased or hired as a government transport -- which is to say, "Lord only knows."
The great and learned of the Paddlewheelers and Steamboats page have come up with an eastern seaboard transport, but so far that's it !
 
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