Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Photos of Civil War Ironclads

Quite a few history nerds on here, I know I'm one as well. Growing up working on cars in an auto salvage, I developed an interest in mechanical gizmos, and I'm also a dyed in the wool gun nut too!
Anyway, I thought some of you might get a kick outta this like I did.
Civil War Ironclads
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Thanks. Hadn't seen some of those before. Monitor and Merrimack[Virginia], yeah, not some of the others. Neat stuff.

After reading the book "The Monitor and the Merrimac" in grade school, I built my own "Monitor" using a steel garbage can as my turret, and a firecracker in pipe, as my canon. That book had quite the lasting influence on me as I ended up retiring from the Navy.

Great history.

Thanks!

The USS Essex, she had a 6' draft and mounted one 32 pounder, 3 Dahlgren 11" smoothbores, one 10" Dahlgren, and one 12 pound howitzer. I guess that 12 pounder would be handy with cannister for clearing enemy decks!
She fought in the Cumberland River, and later on in the Mississippi, where she helped heel the CSS Arkansas.
She survived the war, and was scrapped in 1870.

USS St Louis, later USS De Kalb, she had a 6' draft mounted several different guns at different times, mostly big Dahlgrens or 32 or 42 pounders.
She supported U. S. Grant in his first battle at Belmont.
She struck a mine and sank in the Yazoo River in 1863.

USS Onondaga, twin turret River Monitor. She had a 12' draft and mounted 2 x 15" Dahlgrens and 2 x 150 pound Parrot Rifles.
She served in the James River Sqaudron and also took part attacking Ft Fisher in NC. After the war she was sold to France.

Interesting.

I had no idea how extensive the fleets of ironclads were. Thanks.

USS Ft Hindman, actually a Tinclad. She drew 28' of water and mounted 4 x 8" guns and 4 x 8" smoothbores.
She patrolled the Mississippi and it's tributaries.
Decommissioned and sold after the war, she continued sailing the Mississippi until the mid 1870's.

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I've always found the ironclads fascinating, was surprised by the size of the guns they mounted. Even if it doesn't penetrate, a shot from one of those must ring your bell pretty good, judging by the dents they leave.

USS Mound City and USS Carondolet were both sisters of the Essex.
Known as Eads Gunboats or "Pook Turtles" on account of their shape.
There were 7 boats of this class using a catamaran style hull for shallow draft and sloped armor.
They were built by James Eads, actually for the Union Army!

It’s surprising to me that it drew 28’ of,water.

CSS Atlanta started the war as a blockade runner called Fingal. The Confederacy bought her and fitted her in out similar to the Merrimack (CSS Virginia).
She drew 12' of draft and mounted 4 Brookes Rifles (2 x 7" and 2 x 6.4") along with a spar torpedo.
She ran aground in the Wilmington River in 1863, and was captured.
The Yankees added her to the James River Squadron.
After the war she was sold to Haiti and was lost at sea in 1869.

Last but not least was the USS Monitor and her class of sister ships.
I would imagine everybody is familiar with the story of Erickson's idea and submission to the Navy, and their poo hoo of it. and Lincoln's support.
They mounted many different guns, Monitor herself a pair of 11" Dahlgrens.
After she proved herself vs CSS Virginia, the Union purchased many more.
I can't imagine what a smoke choked, ungodly hot, and noisy hell they were to serve in battle.
Although not a particular part of this thread, the story of USS Keokuk, her sinking, and the salvage of her guns by the Rebels is one of the most interesting stories of the rebellion.

I just figured a little more background on each boat would be interesting and welcome here. Lord knows I learn an awful lot doing it.
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Cool pictures...

Except for the ones with d Yankees in em...

Holy cow!! Are you back here again?
Good to see you back, Charley!
I've found the best way to deal with this place now is to skim through it and only follow the threads that interest me.
Lord knows the politics and idiots ain't like it was, but I figure if I let them drive the good guys off, they win.
I hope you'nes are in the mood for Gettysburg once it warms up. Matter of fact Penny and I talked about going to Ft Lee's ordinance museum come summer.
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Ya... losers don't always like to partake in history. I understand.