USS Diana

[Gay Maxwell]

I believe that my Great Grandfather, James M. Walker, was one of the 120 Confederate prisoners captured by the Union forces and taken from the USS Diana. Does anyone know if there is a manifest of the Confederate soldiers of this boat?

 

[CMWinkler]

Welcome.

 

[AndyHall]

Can you provide other information about Walker, such as his Confederate unit and additional details? It would help to have as many points of data to cross-reference as possible.

 

[Miles Krisman]

I believe that my Great Grandfather, James M. Walker, was one of the 120 Confederate prisoners captured by the Union forces and taken from the USS Diana. Does anyone know if there is a manifesto of the Confederate soldiers of this boat?

Without further information, I would hazard a guess that your ancestor was 1st Lieutenant James M. Walker of Company K, 28th Louisiana Infantry.

On March 28, 1863, a detatchment of troops from the 28th Louisiana Infantry, helped capture the Federal gunboat USS Diana, in a skirmish on the Atchafalaya River, in Louisiana. Within a week or so, after the gunboat had been refurbished for active service, some of the members of Company K went on board to serve as the crew. I believe 1st Lt. Walker may have commanded that detail.

There are several Walkers in Company K, which was from Winn Parish, Louisiana, including William Walker (may be a relative of James M. Walker), who served as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment.

More information can be found at: http://www.penandsaber.com/grays28th/index.html

 

[rebelatsea]

USS / CSS DIANA.
Type: Ironclad Gunboat Paddles: two, side-wheels Speed: 11 knots
Dimensions: 165ft x 29ft x 5ft, 342 tons
Guns : 1 - 30pdr MLR, 2 -12pdr howitzers, 2-32pdr SB
Armour: 4.25ins iron over boilers and machinery, there was no armour aft.,

General arrangement drawing by the author from an eyewitness sketch.
Please note that she may not have had the guards, as the superstructure appears to be within the hull width rather than occupy the full width of an extended weather deck. this sketch therefore is appearance only

Captured at Fort St Phillip. taken into USN, who turned her into a tinclad. Recaptured by the Confederate Army , extra armour added and used by them as a transport until 14/04/1863 when she was destroyed to prevent capture . This vessel was never the property of the Government.

Commanded and manned by the CS Army she carried a battery of field guns in her action in support of CSS J. A. Cotten , 15th January 1863

 

[donna]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Carronade]

Destroyed by the Confederates to prevent capture - so I'm curious how Lt. Walker and other Confederates were captured?

 

[Kazziga]

John, there is a drawing of her in Nestell's collection and it shows one stack and there is another one in "Harper's Weekly" magazine (I don't remeber which issue) also with one stack.

Nestell's drawing is here: http://cdm16099.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15241coll4/id/357/rec/9

 

[rebelatsea]

John, there is a drawing of her in Nestell's collection and it shows one stack and there is another one in "Harper's Weekly" magazine (I don't remeber which issue) also with one stack.

Nestell's drawing is here: http://cdm16099.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15241coll4/id/357/rec/9

Thanks Kaz,
I must have the wrong ship, or that is before conversion ! It does look as if there is one funnel each side of the pilot house though.

 

[Kazziga]

Here's a very small copy of the "Harper's Weekly" image:

And here's the entire image:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/may/brashear-city.htm

 

[Kazziga]

This may also be of interest: http://www.youngsanders.org/Thearticle.pdf

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

There's a book out, though I have not gotten 'round to it yet:

• Morris, Raphael. Gunboat Named Diana, A, and Other Exciting Stories of Civil War Battles Which Raged in the Bayou Country of Louisiana. New Iberia, La.: R. Morris, 1993. 216 pp.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here's a very small copy of the "Harper's Weekly" image:

View attachment 70500

And here's the entire image:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/may/brashear-city.htm

That's the one Kaz. It's clearer than the copy I have, and looks as if I've got it a bit wrong !

 

[rebelatsea]

There's a book out, though I have not gotten 'round to it yet:

View attachment 70505

• Morris, Raphael. Gunboat Named Diana, A, and Other Exciting Stories of Civil War Battles Which Raged in the Bayou Country of Louisiana. New Iberia, La.: R. Morris, 1993. 216 pp.

Interesting the cover rendition giver a pilot house, where the Harper's doesn't !

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Not having read the book, I can't begin to guess at the accuracy of the cover illustration. But two things lead me to take it seriously-- it was done by the author, and from at least outward appearances (and citations in other works), the author did some significant research on the topic. But I'll have to reserve final judgment until I get it and read it.

 

[rebelatsea]

I

Not having read the book, I can't begin to guess at the accuracy of the cover illustration. But two things lead me to take it seriously-- it was done by the author, and from at least outward appearances (and citations in other works), the author did some significant research on the topic. But I'll have to reserve final judgment until I get it and read it.

I'll see if its available on Amazon later.

 

[CivilWarSon]

Greetings - my first official post on this forum My great-great grandfather Henry Emil Otto Wapler served aboard the Diana in 1863. In September of that year at Sunnyside Landing (Greensville Bridge), according to his pension records, he was forced to stand guard under the heavy guns on the Diana during a severe cannonading for about two hours. He suffered total hearing loss which lasted for a month at which time he had partial recovery of his hearing in his left ear. He claimed the experience also made worse a vericose vein condition in his left leg which caused him much trouble later in life. In any event, my records on my relative also include a formal War Department letter from May 14, 1886 responding to an inquiry about his reported experience aboard the Diana:

<snip>..."Regimental Letter book shows Steamer Diana was at Greenville Miss., June 8 1864. Morning reports of CoC above organization, June 8 to 14, 1864, show above named steamer was at Greenville Miss.... Morning reports of Co Diana not on file."

Reading from this, it's hard to tell. I believe they were saying that they'd confirmed from 1864 log book entries that the Diana had been in Greenville (in confirmation of my relatives disability claim). However, it also could be reporting the ship was in Greenville on the dates June 8-14, 1864, which seems to be in conflict with reports that the ship had been destroyed by that time. Though I wonder at the relevance of the latter interpretation in light of my relatives claim situation.

In any event, Otto was a colorful character by any measure. He was a Prussian immigrant who got directly on a train out west to Illinois immediately after getting off the boat in New York in 1858. A year or two before joining up with the Union in Indiana, he'd joined a wagon train out to Colorado to chase gold in Golden, Co. with his buddy. During the experience, he talks of smoking the peace pipe with local Indians, but warns the reader that he didn't trust them as they were wont to thieve as anything. He ran around the hills in that area for a season, getting stuck in a river crossing with his ox team, and then finally made it back to Indiana after empty pockets and his fill of adventure.

After the war, he settled down in Kansas to a career as a cabinet maker and had a bevy of daughters (his 'Jayhawks' he called them fondly) - one of which of course was my great-grandmother

 

[CivilWarSon]

Here's a picture of Otto from close around the time of the war. My grandmother had it 'colorized' (rather short-sighted of her, but I believe it may have been the fashion to do this), simulating a painting. It's possible the original photo was painted over to achieve this effect. There were several copies of these circulated around. We had this image in a place of honor in our living room growing up. I remember it fondly.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here's a picture of Otto from close around the time of the war. My grandmother had it 'colorized' (rather short-sighted of her, but I believe it may have been the fashion to do this), simulating a painting. It's possible the original photo was painted over to achieve this effect. There were several copies of these circulated around. We had this image in a place of honor in our living room growing up. I remember it fondly.
View attachment 91647

Great information CivilWarSon, and very interesting to see that she may not have been destroyed in 1863 after all. I shouldn't be surprised really as so much information on CSN ironclad / protected vessels has turned out ot be "received wisdom"

 

[TinCan]

Enjoyed that...welcome to the forum!