Transport Mississippi.

[FlorianWarth]

One of the things I heard about my great great Grandfather of my ID name is that he was killed in an explosion on the transport Mississippi. Several years ago I did find something that seemed to be that ship: as I recall a ship of that name was sunk or damaged in the Gulf of Mexico. I can't recall because I read this years ago. Anybody here know anything about it? I haven't been able to track down much info about my ancestor. He doesn't seem to be listed as a soldier.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

One of the things I heard about my great great Grandfather of my ID name is that he was killed in an explosion on the transport Mississippi. Several years ago I did find something that seemed to be that ship: as I recall a ship of that name was sunk or damaged in the Gulf of Mexico. I can't recall because I read this years ago. Anybody here know anything about it? I haven't been able to track down much info about my ancestor. He doesn't seem to be listed as a soldier.

I understand the large steam paddle frigate, USS Mississippi (commissioned 1841), joined Farragut's squadron and was part of the Federal naval attack against Port Hudson, Louisiana. I believe the vessel ran aground in this action on March 14, 1863. As a result, its Captain ordered the ship abandoned and set it alight to avoid capture. Apparently, the burning ship subsequently drifted away from the shore and floated downriver where a couple of hours later it exploded and sank. Although most of the crew were saved by comrades, 64 men were lost (with 37 captured).

Further relevant information might be found in the following title,

'Port Hudson, Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi' by Lawrence L. Hewitt.

 

[ErnieMac]

Any chance he was a crew member?

 

[GwilymT]

Hi @FlorianWarth , do you have any more details of your ancestors' service, perhaps he wasn't a soldier but rather a sailor in the navy, if so it'd be easier to pinpoint if @Nathan Stuart 's findings apply to your ancestor. Do you know where he was from?

Welcome to CWT!

 

[John Hartwell]

It may refer to the transport Mississippi, per this thread:

A Rough Voyage for Butler's Boys | Soldier's Tales

They were mostly youngsters from the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Many had never seen the ocean before January 1862. Their introduction would be a rough one. ON THE OCEAN WAVE Editor of the National Tribune: In February, 1862, Gen, Benjamin F. Butler’s New England division, the...

civilwartalk.com

That refers to early 1862. I'm afraid I have no information about the ship's later career, nor its eventual fate.
Of course, there may have been more than one hired steamer named Mississippi in government service.

 

[ErnieMac]

I've seen reference to a transport steamer Mississippi having mechanical issues at the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

One of the things I heard about my great great Grandfather of my ID name is that he was killed in an explosion on the transport Mississippi. Several years ago I did find something that seemed to be that ship: as I recall a ship of that name was sunk or damaged in the Gulf of Mexico. I can't recall because I read this years ago. Anybody here know anything about it? I haven't been able to track down much info about my ancestor. He doesn't seem to be listed as a soldier.

Welcome to the forums !

While I can't help with your ancestor,
And I'm not familiar with a transport vessel named Mississippi ...
My first thought is that he may have served on the first USA warship named
" Mississippi ".

This ship is very significant in American history.
It was an 1840's era paddle-wheel steamship that did meet it's demise during the Civil War.

Here's a very old thread about that :

"Howitzers in the tops" | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

In the Autobiography of Admiral George Dewey (1913), speaking of the preparations for Farragut's attack on New Orleans, when the young Lieutenant was Executive Officer in USS Mississippi, we read (p.52): "The vessels had to be prepared for the river work ahead of them ... Where feasible, guns...

civilwartalk.com

What most people don't know, this was also Admiral Perry's "flagship" when he sailed into Japan to
open trade relations between the USA and the isolated Japanese Empire prior to our Civil War.

He doesn't seem to be listed as a soldier.

Not all guys serving in the navy were considered official naval personnel.
Quite a few were highly skilled civilians hired for a specific job on the ship.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It appears there may have been another vessel named, 'Mississippi', that operated as a US steam transport.

There is a NY Times newspaper article, dated March 24, 1863, reporting the arrival of this ship on March 23, 1863, at New York, from New Orleans via Key West, under the command of Captain Baxter. The transport was carrying civilian passengers, as well as Union soldiers returning as paroled prisoners. No other information is found at this stage.

The other ship with the same name mentioned in the earlier post was a steam paddle frigate (a warship) in the Union Navy and under the command of Captain Melancton Smith. As previously stated, it was involved in the naval action at Port Hudson where it exploded and sank soon after on March 14, 1863.

The transport vessel (identified in this present post) appears to be a commercial ship crewed by merchant marine (civilians), not naval personnel in the US Navy.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

It appears there may have been another vessel named, 'Mississippi', that operated as a US steam transport.

There is a NY Times newspaper article, dated March 24, 1863, reporting the arrival of this ship on March 23, 1863, at New York, from New Orleans via Key West, under the command of Captain Baxter. The transport was carrying civilian passengers, as well as Union soldiers returning as paroled prisoners. No other information is found at this stage.

Great info !

In hindsight, I'm sure there were indeed many civilian vessels named "Mississippi".

 

[FlorianWarth]

Any chance he was a crew member? Yes, there's a chance he was a crew member. I really don't know. I haven't been able to find anything about him as a soldier so maybe he was a sailor.

 

[FlorianWarth]

Hi @FlorianWarth , do you have any more details of your ancestors' service, perhaps he wasn't a soldier but rather a sailor in the navy, if so it'd be easier to pinpoint if @Nathan Stuart 's findings apply to your ancestor. Do you know where he was from?

Welcome to CWT!

What I know for sure is that he came from Baden in Germany. He became a citizen at St. Paul, Minnesota in 1856, having arrived in the U.S. in 1845. The following is what I've heard: He seems to have had some Massachusetts connections. I think his daughter married someone from there. His wife left Minnesota during the war because of the indian raids. I understand that his wife got a pension because of his death in the war. I've begun to believe that maybe he was not a soldier, simply because I can't find his name listed on any of the regimental rosters.

I understand the large steam paddle frigate, USS Mississippi (commissioned 1841), joined Farragut's squadron and was part of the Federal naval attack against Port Hudson, Louisiana. I believe the vessel ran aground in this action on March 14, 1863. As a result, its Captain ordered the ship abandoned and set it alight to avoid capture. Apparently, the burning ship subsequently drifted away from the shore and floated downriver where a couple of hours later it exploded and sank. Although most of the crew were saved by comrades, 64 men were lost (with 37 captured).

Further relevant information might be found in the following title,

'Port Hudson, Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi' by Lawrence L. Hewitt.

I don't think it was the one involved in the 14 March 1863 battle but I really don't know.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Great info !

In hindsight, I'm sure there were indeed many civilian vessels named "Mississippi".

Agree! Noticed in my inquiry process that there were a few other insignificant vessels with the name, 'Mississippi'.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

What I know for sure is that he came from Baden in Germany. He became a citizen at St. Paul, Minnesota in 1856, having arrived in the U.S. in 1845. The following is what I've heard: He seems to have had some Massachusetts connections. I think his daughter married someone from there. His wife left Minnesota during the war because of the indian raids. I understand that his wife got a pension because of his death in the war. I've begun to believe that maybe he was not a soldier, simply because I can't find his name listed on any of the regimental rosters.

I don't think it was the one involved in the 14 March 1863 battle but I really don't know.

Given the scant information, if it was a Transport vessel and your ancestor is not listed as a Civil War soldier/sailor, it seems more likely (of the two ships found) it was the Transport ship, 'Mississippi', that arrived in New York on March 23, and was manned by merchant marine crew (civilians).

 

[FlorianWarth]

One thing I'd like to make clear is how frustrated I've been trying to find more information about him. I've tried off and on for years to find more information. I found a list once of crew involved in the 14 March battle but he wasn't on that list, not sure if it was complete. I don't think he was involved in that battle but I'm not sure. I'd really like to know more about my German ancestors.

 

[FlorianWarth]

I've seen reference to a transport steamer Mississippi having mechanical issues at the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864.

That might be the one I read about years ago. Do you know any more about it?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

One thing I'd like to make clear is how frustrated I've been trying to find more information about him. I've tried off and on for years to find more information.

Hang in there ... and never stop researching.

I think I can safely say, many of us have experienced your same frustrations.

 

[ErnieMac]

That might be the one I read about years ago. Do you know any more about it?

I found the reference in the Naval Official Records For the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. The transport Mississippi was transporting a cavalry battalion from Louisiana to Mobile Bay when it ran aground at the South West Pass of the Mississippi River. No additional information is mentioned.

 

[FlorianWarth]

John Hartwell's post interests me since it mentions a Massachusetts regiment. I think Florian's daughter married a man from Massachusetts. Still I'm mystified that I can't find his name anywhere.

 

[Biscoitos]

I understand the large steam paddle frigate, USS Mississippi (commissioned 1841), joined Farragut's squadron and was part of the Federal naval attack against Port Hudson, Louisiana. I believe the vessel ran aground in this action on March 14, 1863. As a result, its Captain ordered the ship abandoned and set it alight to avoid capture. Apparently, the burning ship subsequently drifted away from the shore and floated downriver where a couple of hours later it exploded and sank. Although most of the crew were saved by comrades, 64 men were lost (with 37 captured).

Further relevant information might be found in the following title,

'Port Hudson, Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi' by Lawrence L. Hewitt.

Many of the men who lost their lives were sick or wounded, who were left on board when the vessel was abandoned.
Although no exact figures are known, most of those left on board are believed to have burned to death.