USS Valley City?

[corn-fed-erate]

The Valley City was a work horse for the Union navy on the Roanoke River during the war. Wiki lists it as a 127' x 21' screw steamer with 4 32lbr smoothbore cannons. UAE identified the wreck off of Florida in 2009 as a schooner rigged steamer. I want to know what the Vally City may have looked like as I can't seem to find a picture of this boat.
Could anyone help?

Andy, you were a huge help to Jason and I with the Bombshell, I hope you have some ideas.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

This is our guess at a schooner rigged screw steamer with 4 32lb cannons.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

One of our members sent a message that he had a sketch of the Valley City burried in his notes and would try to dig it up. He said he remembered that it had hog bracing like the Maple Leaf.

Something like this?

 

[Story]

I think your best bet would be to find an image/drawings of a 130' (or so) schooner rigged screw steamer built by Birely* just before the war.

* See first post http://www.rebreatherworld.com/show...he-VALLEY-CITY-(formerly-the-USS-VALLEY-CITY)

 

[corn-fed-erate]

I think your best bet would be to find an image/drawings of a 130' (or so) schooner rigged screw steamer built by Birely* just before the war.

* See first post http://www.rebreatherworld.com/show...he-VALLEY-CITY-(formerly-the-USS-VALLEY-CITY)

Can't seem to find any from Birely and Sons.

 

[Story]

They are somewhat obscure.

 

[NC Squadron]

One of our members sent a message that he had a sketch of the Valley City burried in his notes and would try to dig it up. He said he remembered that it had hog bracing like the Maple Leaf.
View attachment 110166
Something like this?

I was wrong on the hog bracing. I was thinking of the Hetzel. The Valley City looked like the Bangor with a cabin that started after the mast at mid-ship. They were built by the same company. The Valley City is the top photo and the Bangor is the lower one.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

I was wrong on the hog braciit'sg. I was thinking of the Hetzel. The Valley City looked like the Bangor with a cabin that started after the mast at mid-ship. They were built by the same company. The Valley City is the top photo and the Bangor is the lower one.View attachment 113216
View attachment 113215

I can't tell much from the first pic but we can work with second. Looks like its back to the shop for me. Jason will use the first one for something else later. Any clue as to where 4 32lbr guns would have been placed on a design like that?

 

[Story]

Any clue as to where 4 32lbr guns would have been placed on a design like that?

Most likely looted from Norfolk Navy Yard or somesuch in a traditional four wheel naval carriage.
24lb in such
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/cannon2.jpg

I'd found this illustration of a 32lb in a seacoast mounting
http://previewcf.turbosquid.com/Preview/2014/05/23__04_29_17/32 pound seacoast cannon.jpgc76aec76-1354-4967-8ccc-1244d445231eOriginal.jpg

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Most likely looted from Norfolk Navy Yard or somesuch in a traditional four wheel naval carriage.
24lb in such
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/cannon2.jpg

I'd found this illustration of a 32lb in a seacoast mounting
http://previewcf.turbosquid.com/Preview/2014/05/23__04_29_17/32 pound seacoast cannon.jpgc76aec76-1354-4967-8ccc-1244d445231eOriginal.jpg

We have the 4 wheel carriages. my main question is arrangement on the deck of a ship like that. 3 guns up front and 4th one on top of cabin at back?

 

[Story]

I read that white horizontal line with gunports as a full-length gundeck. I'd think two guns (port & starboard) on the foredeck, with maybe one broadside and one quasi-bow chaser (45 or 30 degree from line of travel) gunport for each gun.

I would suspect the gundeck at the fantail would be the same arrangement in reverse, underneath that superstructure (I've posted photos of the drafted ferryboats having the gundeck-under-upperdeck-added-later arrangement); one broadside and one semi-stern gunport each.

More knowledgeable folk feel free to correct me, but I think a 32 lb on top of that rear structure might result in a significant emotional event.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Yep, sounds a little top heavy. I was kind of joking about the gun on top. Don't see a link for the pics you posted. Sorry to say I'm not knowledgeable enough to follow your description, I need a visual.

 

[AndyHall]

If this is the original configuration of Valley City, and barring other constraints, I'd put (1) one 32 pdr on a pivot on a forcastle, (2) a pair in broadside just forward of the pilot house, and (3) cut away the aft end of the cabin to put the fourth on a pivot at the stern. That distributes the weight and gives three guns firing on the broadside.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Thanks NC Squadron, Story and Andy. I think we can do justice to the Valley City with all of this info!