Was reading about the A. B. SEGER ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._B._Seger ) and came across the statement that 'The little gunboat was powered by two locomotive engines with "cylinders bolted to the top of and axis parallel to" her boiler—also from a railway locomotive.' Also in the article was the statement that she was '...was acquired by the Confederate States Navy in 1861...' which would suggest to me that she was made before the ACW.
Was this sourcing of power common for smaller vessels? Were maritime and locomotive technology on par with each other at the time? Was locomotive machinery better or just more easily available? Or were loco engines better able to be supported given certain non-industrial locations?
Thanks,
USS ALASKA
Just a few additions from my notes.
A.B. Seger (C.S. Navy dispatch boat). This small vessel was named after the vice-president of the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad and appears to have been used as a "feeder" transport from the bayou country to the railroad depot at Brashear City. An advertisement in the New Orleans papers offered transport to the forts at Berwich and Chene, the vessel leaving Brashear City every Sunday upon arrival of the "noon cars" from Algiers. Seger accepted both passengers and light freight. R.H. Kerr was listed as her captain in 1861. (Ways, 1:0003). This had apparently changed by the summer of 1861, as Maj. Gen. John L. Lewis mentions her regarding an inspection tour of the defenses in the area, "...To Captain Carr my thanks are particularly due for the handsome and generous manner in which he placed not only his steamer, the Sigle (Seger), but his own valuable services as a pilot at my disposal..." (OR Ser I, v 6, Pt 1, 736) Union mentions include, "...The same night I captured the rebel steamboat A.B. Seger. She belonged to the C.S. Navy and was used as a dispatch boat, and was commanded by Lieutenant (Acting Master) I.C. Coons, C.S. Navy. The crew ran her on shore and deserted her. She is a small side-wheel boat of about 30 tons and not fit to go outside..." Rpt of LtCdr Buchanan, USS CAlhoun, Nov 9, 1862, Brashear City, La. (ORN WGBS pg 327) "....But we captured the A.B. Seger, a paddle-wheel boat about 55 feet long, with a locomotive boiler and pair of locomotive engines in her, the cylinders bolted to top of and axis parallel with boiler. It was evident she was short of displacement and down in the water out of all reason, hence slow...Captain (Edward) McLaflin's soldiers take charge of the Seger until we could put her in order, which Third Assistant Egineer Mars did later..." (ORN, WBS pg 332) "...The same night we captured the rebel steamer A.B. Seger. She is a small boat, about the size of the Fancy Natchez, and is very useful..." (ORN, WGBS pg 330) This vessel is mentioned in Union reports as late as June 9, 1863, "Your instructions as to steamboats Sykes, Segur and Southern Mrchant are approved..." MajGen N.P. Banks to BrigGen W.H. Emory, June 9, 1963 (OR, pg 543). A better idea of the size of the Seger is gained from hr comparison to the steamer Fancy Natchez. The Fancy Natchez was a side-wheel packet blt at Algiers, Oa., in 1858. She displaced 24 tons, had a length of 69.5 ft, a beam of 12 ft and a depth of hold of 3 ft (Ways Packets, #1980, pg 160)