General Polk's gunboat

[rebelatsea]

General Polk apparently authorised construction od conversion of a gunboat for the Tennessee River, for which some materiel intended for the Arkansas was diverted.

Has anyone any knowledge of this vessel, was it any army project ?

 

[NedBaldwin]

Is it the Eastport, captured by the US in February 1862?

 

[DaveBrt]

It is mentioned once, I think, in the Polk Letters Sent ledger in the National Archives. I just finished reviewing that book last week and noted the entry, but it was more like a reply to a suggestion, not a real project.

 

[rebelatsea]

Is it the Eastport, captured by the US in February 1862?

No, that was a conversion ,which would have been done to a plan by Isaac Newton Brown if the USN had not captured her. The commonly published plans, artworks ,and a photograph are of the conversion as designed by Phelps for the USN.

 

[rebelatsea]

It is mentioned once, I think, in the Polk Letters Sent ledger in the National Archives. I just finished reviewing that book last week and noted the entry, but it was more like a reply to a suggestion, not a real project.

Thanks DaveBrt.

 

[Story]

From Civil War Naval Chronology, 1861-1865 p.311, the tale of the CSS Tennessee (see
) sounds like what you're looking for? Secretary Mallory couldn't get enough or the right type of workmen to finish her.

 

[Charlie Robbins]

In "To Retain Command of the Mississippi", Edward B. McCaul, Jr. discusses the lack of interservice cooperation between the Confederate Army and Navy. He mentions that General Leonidas Polk had purchased a ship that he was having converted into a gunboat. He says that "Although the boat was to be used on the Tennessee River, due to the inadequate facilities at Nashville, his boat had to be taken to New Orleans for the conversion to be completed". McCaul also mentioned that Confederate officers in Nashville seized bolts and spikes intended for the CSS Arkansas for use on this ship. This is the only reference to the ship that I have encountered and I don't now how to fit her into the picture at New Orleans. As John asked, was she an Army gunboat? Was she being converted into an ironclad or a tinclad? Her fate? All my best-

Charlie

 

[1stMS-Arty]

General Polk apparently authorised construction od conversion of a gunboat for the Tennessee River, for which some materiel intended for the Arkansas was diverted.

Has anyone any knowledge of this vessel, was it any army project ?

From fold3: (note....this is the same CSN Lt. JH Carter that was in charge of building and eventually commanded the CSS Missouri)

 

[1stMS-Arty]

Ways Packet Directory, Page 140:

Ed Howard

SW p wh b. New Albany, Ind., 1852. 390 tons. 280x35x8. Ran Nashville-New Orleans. Her master in 1860 was Capt. J.W. Fowler. Rammed and sank the Henry Lewis Mar. 7 1856. Also on another occasion rammed and sank the Swallow. Became the Confederate gunboat General Polk. Burned with others at Liverpool, below Yazoo City, Miss., July 26, 1862.

 

[1stMS-Arty]

maybe the Ed Howard/CSS General Polk is not the boat that had materials diverted from the Arkansas?....probably on the wrong track i guess....

 

[rebelatsea]

maybe the Ed Howard/CSS General Polk is not the boat that had materials diverted from the Arkansas?....probably on the wrong track i guess....

General Polk

Generally known as "Polk"


Type: protected Gunboat. Paddles: two side-wheels, 12 + knots

Dimensions :280ft x 35ft x 8ft, 1,120 tons

Guns: 2 -32pdr mlr ,1 -323pdr sb at New Orleans, 7 guns when burned.

Protection, Iron strapping on bow, internal iron protection over engines and boilers

History:

Expired Image Removed

Converted from steamer Ed Howard at New Orleans 1861, in action at New Madrid December 1861. Escaped up the Yazoo River after the fall of Island no 10. Burned at Liverpool below Yazoo City 26th June 1862.


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[Aussie Billy Sherman]

I heard it got it hit by union artillery and was cut in half