Nick Elsden
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2021
- Location
- Surrey, England
Hello, as this is my first post here, perhaps I should quickly introduce myself. I am a retired archaeologist, living in Surrey (UK), who has been intrigued by the naval aspects of the American Civil War since I was a schoolboy. Recently, I have been taking advantage of the large amount of Civil War naval information and pictures now available on the internet, especially searching through ORN (Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion), and the pictures at Navsource, NHHC (the US Navy Naval History and Heritage Command), and the Library of Congress.
Whilst looking at the colours of Federal 90 Day Gunboats, I came across a few illustrations of numbers on their smokestacks that were new to me, in addition to the widely-reproduced photo of the USS Winona at Baton Rouge in March 1863. This may all be old hat to the 'old sweats' on this forum – if so, apologies – but they are:
No. 2 USS Winona – two photographs of her on the Mississippi River off Baton Rouge in March 1863, with no. '2' on her smokestack (navsource).
USS Winona - Mississippi River off Baton Rouge March 1863 (navsource 098604302)
In the above two photos the number 2 looks as if it was painted on the smokestack, however, in a very similar view (undated) on a carte de visite, the number 2 projects a little to one side of the smokestack (https://www.horsesoldier.com/products/photography/cdvs/9556). It appears to be a three-dimensional cut-out hung from the smokestack – somewhat reminiscent of the letters and symbols hung between the smokestacks of Cairo class gunboats and rams of the Federal Mississippi squadrons.
No. 3 USS Kineo – a watercolour by 'Davis' shows her on the Mississippi on 8th November 1862, with no. '3' on her smokestack (http://www.briancullity.com/Product.aspx?title=Details+and+more+photos.&invno=we02&cat=Folk+Art).
A pair of stereoscopic photos shows the Kineo (and Hartford etc.) at a coaling dock at Baton Rouge in March 1863, now repainted a light colour, presumably grey. (https://www.loc.gov/item/2011660494/). Even on the highest resolution version of this photo, it is uncertain if there is a faint number, such as 3 (or 8 or 9), on the smokestack at this date.
USS Kineo, Hartford, and others, Baton Rouge coaling yard, March-1863 (Library of Congress master-pnp-stereo-1s00000-1s02000-1s02800-1s02821u)
Another 'Davis' watercolour shows an unidentified 90 day gunboat, again on the Mississippi, and dated to 10th September 1862 (https://www.freemansauction.com/auc...odore-russell-davis1840-1894/?lot=436481&sd=1). The number on the smokestack looks like a 3 on the website image (but possibly an 8 or even 9), suggesting that it is another painting of the Kineo. This is supported by the distinctive buildings in the background matching those of the 'Davis' pictures of the Katahdin and Kineo, but from a slightly different angle, and the style and features of the ship are identical to those of the watercolour of the Kineo. However, the position of the US ensign is different to the identified Kineo watercolour.
No. 8 USS Katahdin – a sketch by Davis of 22nd November 1862, on the Mississippi, with no. '8' on her smokestack. This was made in the same month as Davis' watercolour of the Kineo discussed above, and the characteristic buildings on right hand side look extremely similar in both pictures.
USS Katahdin, sketch by Davis 22nd Nov 1862 (navsource 120991601)
These lead to some questions, which members of the forum may be able to answer ? (references to sources would be appreciated):
- Above all, does anyone know of any other pictures or written evidence for 90 day gunboats (or other vessels) with similar numbers ?
- Which vessels were numbers 1, 4 to 7, and any above 8 ?
- Is there any evidence for three-dimensional numbers on gunboats other than the Winona ?
- Were these numbers confined to 90 Day Gunboats, or were they used for other vessels at the time ?
- This system appears to have been used on the West Gulf Blockading Squadron vessels on the Mississippi, were any similar systems used by other squadrons ? The only ones that I know of are the tinclads (ORN Ser I Vol 25, 187).
- Was this numbering system fairly short-lived ? It was in use in September and November 1862, and in March 1863 survived on Winona, and perhaps Kineo.
- Does anyone know who the artist 'Davis' – who painted Kineo and sketched Katahdin in 1862 – might have been, and did he produce any more pictures of gunboats or other vessels ?
Apologies for what has turned into a rather long post,
Nick
Whilst looking at the colours of Federal 90 Day Gunboats, I came across a few illustrations of numbers on their smokestacks that were new to me, in addition to the widely-reproduced photo of the USS Winona at Baton Rouge in March 1863. This may all be old hat to the 'old sweats' on this forum – if so, apologies – but they are:
No. 2 USS Winona – two photographs of her on the Mississippi River off Baton Rouge in March 1863, with no. '2' on her smokestack (navsource).
USS Winona - Mississippi River off Baton Rouge March 1863 (navsource 098604302)
In the above two photos the number 2 looks as if it was painted on the smokestack, however, in a very similar view (undated) on a carte de visite, the number 2 projects a little to one side of the smokestack (https://www.horsesoldier.com/products/photography/cdvs/9556). It appears to be a three-dimensional cut-out hung from the smokestack – somewhat reminiscent of the letters and symbols hung between the smokestacks of Cairo class gunboats and rams of the Federal Mississippi squadrons.
No. 3 USS Kineo – a watercolour by 'Davis' shows her on the Mississippi on 8th November 1862, with no. '3' on her smokestack (http://www.briancullity.com/Product.aspx?title=Details+and+more+photos.&invno=we02&cat=Folk+Art).
A pair of stereoscopic photos shows the Kineo (and Hartford etc.) at a coaling dock at Baton Rouge in March 1863, now repainted a light colour, presumably grey. (https://www.loc.gov/item/2011660494/). Even on the highest resolution version of this photo, it is uncertain if there is a faint number, such as 3 (or 8 or 9), on the smokestack at this date.
USS Kineo, Hartford, and others, Baton Rouge coaling yard, March-1863 (Library of Congress master-pnp-stereo-1s00000-1s02000-1s02800-1s02821u)
Another 'Davis' watercolour shows an unidentified 90 day gunboat, again on the Mississippi, and dated to 10th September 1862 (https://www.freemansauction.com/auc...odore-russell-davis1840-1894/?lot=436481&sd=1). The number on the smokestack looks like a 3 on the website image (but possibly an 8 or even 9), suggesting that it is another painting of the Kineo. This is supported by the distinctive buildings in the background matching those of the 'Davis' pictures of the Katahdin and Kineo, but from a slightly different angle, and the style and features of the ship are identical to those of the watercolour of the Kineo. However, the position of the US ensign is different to the identified Kineo watercolour.
No. 8 USS Katahdin – a sketch by Davis of 22nd November 1862, on the Mississippi, with no. '8' on her smokestack. This was made in the same month as Davis' watercolour of the Kineo discussed above, and the characteristic buildings on right hand side look extremely similar in both pictures.
USS Katahdin, sketch by Davis 22nd Nov 1862 (navsource 120991601)
These lead to some questions, which members of the forum may be able to answer ? (references to sources would be appreciated):
- Above all, does anyone know of any other pictures or written evidence for 90 day gunboats (or other vessels) with similar numbers ?
- Which vessels were numbers 1, 4 to 7, and any above 8 ?
- Is there any evidence for three-dimensional numbers on gunboats other than the Winona ?
- Were these numbers confined to 90 Day Gunboats, or were they used for other vessels at the time ?
- This system appears to have been used on the West Gulf Blockading Squadron vessels on the Mississippi, were any similar systems used by other squadrons ? The only ones that I know of are the tinclads (ORN Ser I Vol 25, 187).
- Was this numbering system fairly short-lived ? It was in use in September and November 1862, and in March 1863 survived on Winona, and perhaps Kineo.
- Does anyone know who the artist 'Davis' – who painted Kineo and sketched Katahdin in 1862 – might have been, and did he produce any more pictures of gunboats or other vessels ?
Apologies for what has turned into a rather long post,
Nick