Need help with ID

[OSCS]

Vicksburg levee 4 July 1863.
Does anyone know the name of the fore most ship or could it be just an artist rendition?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello OSCS.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Hopefully someone can identify the vessel. This illustration appeared in the August 1, 1863 Harper's Weekly, titled:

THE CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG—ARRIVAL OF ADMIRAL PORTER'S FLEET AT THE LEVEE ON FOURTH JULY, 1863.-SKETCHED BY MR. THEO. R. DAVIS.—[SEE PAGE 487.]

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/august/vicksburg-levee.htm

 

[OSCS]

Hello OSCS.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Hopefully someone can identify the vessel. This illustration appeared in the August 1, 1863 Harper's Weekly, titled:

THE CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG—ARRIVAL OF ADMIRAL PORTER'S FLEET AT THE LEVEE ON FOURTH JULY, 1863.-SKETCHED BY MR. THEO. R. DAVIS.—[SEE PAGE 487.]

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/august/vicksburg-levee.htm

Thank you very much. Sir
It has been a pleasure to read all of the postings on this site over the years.

 

[lelliott19]

Hello @OSCS Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who has some information for you. I can't answer your question, but wanted to say its great to have you aboard!

 

[OSCS]

Hello @OSCS Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who has some information for you. I can't answer your question, but wanted to say its great to have you aboard!

It is great being here. Thank you

 

[AndyHall]

Most likely Porter's flagship Black Hawk, that had that distinctive sloped armor on the sides of the main deck. But it's a loose depiction.

From Porter's Naval History of the Civil War, pp. 326-27:

There was no longer a doubt that the rebellious states were divided, and that the uninterrupted navigation of the "fatherof waters" and its tributaries was soon to be restored to the Union. So satisfied were the Confederate leaders that Vicksburg was the key to this great network of water which enriched the vast domain through which it found its way to the sea, that they staked their cause upon its retention. When they failed in this effort they were almost in their last throes, though their vitality enabled them to prolong the struggle (that was impoverishing and ruining their country,) for some time longer.

But there could be no hope of success for the Southern cause, when the great slave power which had controlled so many miles of the banks of the Mississippi no longer existed. The chain which held slavery together was broken, and the commerce of the nation went rejoicing on its way to the great ocean, once more to barter with the people of the outside world.

That 4th of July was a happy day to all those who had joined in the herculean efforts to bring about the desired end. At a certain hour the American flag was to be hoisted on the court-house where the Confederate emblem had so long flaunted in the face of the Union forces. At the moment the flag went up every vessel in the river, gun-boats and transports, deck with flags, started from above and below to reach the levee in front of the city, sounding their steam whistles and firing a national salute that seemed like a renewed attack.

The flagship "Black Hawk" had scarcely reached the levee when General Grant and many of his officers rode up, and dismounting, went on board, where they were received with that warmth of feeling and hospitality that delights the heart of a sailor. The leader, who with his Army had achieved the greatest victory of the war, now received the congratulations of the officers of both Army and Navy, and although no one would judge from his manner that anything remarkable had happened yet he must have felt that this was the triumph of his life.​

 

[OSCS]

Andy, excellent! An artist rendition is sometimes hard to identify. I was thinking the USS General Price. But you definitely had an eye for the details I missed.
Another BZ to you sir!

 

[AndyHall]

Some wartime artists' sketches stand out as really fine, detailed depictions of scenes -- genuinely fine art, irrespective of its CW context. Other images, especially depicting specific events, are much more loosely drawn, with less attention to small detail. I think the image in the OP is definitely one of the latter group.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie.

 

[Michael O'Neil]

How about this?

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/gunboat-general-grant.78866/

 

[1stMS-Arty]

Vicksburg levee 4 July 1863.
Does anyone know the name of the fore most ship or could it be just an artist rendition?

USS Figment (of someone's imagination)

Seriously though it doesn't look like any known boat in the Mississippi Squadron that I am aware of....it looks like a combination of several different types.
USS Paw Paw...not really in the Mississippi area at that time...

USS Peosta....Tennessee river i believe

USS Eastport....which actually might be the ship on the far right in the original post

USS Price

 

[Story]

Most likely Porter's flagship Black Hawk, that had that distinctive sloped armor on the sides of the main deck. But it's a loose depiction.

I wondered if that upper gundeck was real or just for Quaker-Imaginary guns.
Turns out the Black Hawk only had ten pieces.

 

[AndyHall]

They get double points for "Nelson's chequer," though.