What about this ship.

[major bill]

I am doing my docent work at the Michigan History Museum as I write this. A student asked why there was a photo of a ship on wall of the Civil War galley, where was the boat,
/ship and what it has to do with Michigan in the Civil War. I had never given any real thought about this photo and was not sure what to say.

So why is this on the wall of the Michigan History Museum? I may have to look in to this after my shift is over.

 

[major bill]

So do we know where this image was taken? Another question, why do the smokestacks lean?

 

[AndyHall]

It's a steamship of the type used on the Great Lakes, the Hudson River, and coastwise traffic in the East -- not on the Western Rivers like the Mississippi and its tributaries. It might have been chartered as a transport at some point, but I don't have references with me right now.

I'll try and check later.

 

[AndyHall]

Likely had no direct involvement in the war.

MISSISSIPPI - Historical Collections of the Great Lakes - BGSU University Libraries

 

[lupaglupa]

This ship looks very similar to the Lady Elgin, which famously wrecked in Lake Michigan in 1860 carrying members of a militia unit from Milwaukee. She had "Lady Elgin" on her sides where this ship has "Mississippi."

 

[major bill]

S

Likely had no direct involvement in the war.

MISSISSIPPI - Historical Collections of the Great Lakes - BGSU University Libraries

So it is a nice image for the Great Lakes and a great image for Michigan, just not really related to the Civil War. Still the Civil War gallery does cover the Civil War era not just the War itself.

 

[major bill]

She dies not look like she could handle a real storm on the Great Lakes. We are not talking about a storm like The Big Blow of 1913 either (sustain wind oabove 70 mph, gusts over 90 mph, and waves over 35 feet) just a normal Great Lakes storm. I am guessing she would not do well in waves much over 20 feet.

 

[lupaglupa]

S


So it is a nice image for the Great Lakes and a great image for Michigan, just not really related to the Civil War. Still the Civil War gallery does cover the Civil War era not just the War itself.

Don't give up yet! There are amazing wells of knowledge on this site. I would not be at all surprised to have an expert come on in the next 24 hours to correctly ID the ship AND explain its significance to Civil War history in Michigan. ☺

 

[zburkett]

First, great question. It is a nice shot of a period ship that likely hauled troops and supplies during the war. What does Michigan know?

 

[major bill]

I am trying to remember where I read this, but I think I read that early in the War, when Fort Wayne in Detroit ran out of housing for officers and even enlisted men, the Mississippi was anchored at Fort Wayne to provide additional housing for the men. I do know that two ships were used for this purpose, but am not certain the Mississippi was one of the ships used. Could that be the Detroit River she is sitting on?

 

[lupaglupa]

Bingo! You got it with that last clue! The image is from the Detroit Public Library - "Paddle steamer Mississippi at Fort Wayne"

Paddle steamer Mississippi | DPL DAMS

digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org

 

[lupaglupa]

The University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library mentions the steamer in a collection of letters written by Colonel J.G. Parkhurst

Civil War

bentley.umich.edu

 

[major bill]

Bingo! You got it with that last clue! The image is from the Detroit Public Library - "Paddle steamer Mississippi at Fort Wayne"

Paddle steamer Mississippi | DPL DAMS

digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org

I knew I had heard the name. However it might have transported troops or some other task, but for some reason I think I read it it was used mostly to house officers.

 

[lupaglupa]

I knew I had heard the name. However it might have transported troops or some other task, but for some reason I think I read it it was used mostly to house officers.

There were a few things online, including (of course!) something here at CWT where the use of docked ships to house soldiers who didn't fit within the fort was mentioned. None that I found named the Mississippi specifically but it stands to reason that she was used that way and that this is why she is featured in your Civil War gallery. Now you only need that student to return so you can explain it to them.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article. Learned something new today.

 

[James N.]

​

I am trying to remember where I read this, but I think I read that early in the War, when Fort Wayne in Detroit ran out of housing for officers and even enlisted men, the Mississippi was anchored at Fort Wayne to provide additional housing for the men. I do know that two ships were used for this purpose, but am not certain the Mississippi was one of the ships used. Could that be the Detroit River she is sitting on?

There were a few things online, including (of course!) something here at CWT where the use of docked ships to house soldiers who didn't fit within the fort was mentioned. None that I found named the Mississippi specifically but it stands to reason that she was used that way and that this is why she is featured in your Civil War gallery. Now you only need that student to return so you can explain it to them.

Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan | The Traveler's Companion - Visit Historic Sites

Ft. Wayne's original 1850's stone barracks stand within the earthen star fort. About three miles south of the center of downtown Detroit, Mich., and along the detroit River which separates the United States from Canada stands historic Fort Wayne. Like the more famous Fort Wayne in neighboring...

civilwartalk.com

 

[lupaglupa]

Thanks for putting the link in James N.