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USS Baron DeKalb (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Baron DeKalb (1861) was a City class ironclad
gunboat
constructed for the Union Navy
by James B. Eads during the American Civil War
.
The USS Baron DeKalb, named after General Baron DeKalb of Hüttendorf near Erlangen
, in present-day Bavaria
, was originally named Saint Louis, and was one of seven City class ironclad
s built at Carondelet, Missouri and Mound City, Illinois
, for the United States Navy
's Western Gunboat Flotilla.
These ironclads were shallow draft with a center driven paddle wheel
. They were partially armored and slow and very hard to steer in the currents of rivers. This ironclad was also vulnerable to plunging fire and also by hits in their un-armored areas. Called "Pook Turtles" for the designer, they did yeoman service through 4 years of war and were present at almost every battle on the Mississippi River
and its tributaries.
, 12 October 1861 and joined the Western Gunboat Fleet.
Lieutenant L. Paulding U.S.N., was attached to Rear Admiral Rear Admiral
Andrew Hull Foote
's squadron and participated in the Battle of Lucas Bend
and the capture of Fort Henry
on the Tennessee River
(6 February 1862). She served as flagship
for the squadron when it assisted the Union Army
at the capture of Fort Donelson
on the Cumberland River
(14–16 February 1862). Between April and June 1862, she operated against Fort Pillow, Tennessee
.
St. Louis was renamed Baron De Kalb 8 September 1862.
During 1863 Baron De Kalb took part in the capture of Arkansas Post (10–11 January); expedition up the White River
(12–14 January); Yazoo Pass Expedition (20 February-5 April); action at Fort Pemberton (11–13 March); action at Haines' Bluff (29 April-2 May, 18 May); action at Yazoo City, Mississippi
(20–23 May); and the Yazoo River Expedition (24–31 May).
(then called a "torpedo") in the Yazoo River
, one mile below Yazoo City, Mississippi.
smoothbore cannons were fairly modern most of the other original armaments were antiquated; such as the 32-pounders, or modified; such as the 42-pounder "rifles" which were in fact, old smoothbores that had been gouged out to give them rifling. These 42-pounder weapons were of particular concern to military commanders because they were structurally weaker and more prone to exploding than purpose-built rifled cannons. Additionally, the close confines of riverine combat greatly increased the threat of boarding parties. The 12-pounder howitzer was equipped to address that concern and was not used in regular combat.
City class ironclad
The Pook Turtles, or City class gunboats to use their semi-official name, were war vessels intended for service on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. They were also sometimes referred to as "Eads gunboats." The labels are applied to seven vessels of uniform design built from...
gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
constructed for the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
by James B. Eads during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The USS Baron DeKalb, named after General Baron DeKalb of Hüttendorf near Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, in present-day Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, was originally named Saint Louis, and was one of seven City class ironclad
City class ironclad
The Pook Turtles, or City class gunboats to use their semi-official name, were war vessels intended for service on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. They were also sometimes referred to as "Eads gunboats." The labels are applied to seven vessels of uniform design built from...
s built at Carondelet, Missouri and Mound City, Illinois
Mound City, Illinois
Mound City is a city located along the Ohio River in Pulaski County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 692. It is the county seat of Pulaski County.-Geography:Mound City is located at ....
, for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's Western Gunboat Flotilla.
These ironclads were shallow draft with a center driven paddle wheel
Paddle wheel
A paddle wheel is a waterwheel in which a number of scoops are set around the periphery of the wheel. It has several usages.* Very low lift water pumping, such as flooding paddy fields at no more than about height above the water source....
. They were partially armored and slow and very hard to steer in the currents of rivers. This ironclad was also vulnerable to plunging fire and also by hits in their un-armored areas. Called "Pook Turtles" for the designer, they did yeoman service through 4 years of war and were present at almost every battle on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and its tributaries.
Built in Missouri in 1861
Originally built as the St. Louis, the stern wheel casemate gunboat was built by James B. Eads, Carondelet, Missouri, for the U.S. War Department. She was launched as St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, 12 October 1861 and joined the Western Gunboat Fleet.
Assigned to Union Army operations
During 1862 St. Louis, under the command of LieutenantLieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
Lieutenant L. Paulding U.S.N., was attached to Rear Admiral Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Andrew Hull Foote
Andrew Hull Foote
Andrew Hull Foote was an American naval officer who was noted for his service in the American Civil War and also for his contributions to several naval reforms in the years prior to the war. When the war came, he was appointed to command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla, predecessor of the...
's squadron and participated in the Battle of Lucas Bend
Battle of Lucas Bend
The Battle of Lucas Bend took place on January 11, 1862 near Lucas Bend, four miles north of Columbus on Mississippi River in Kentucky as it lay at the time of the American Civil War. In the network of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio rivers, the Union river gunboats under Flag Officer Andrew...
and the capture of Fort Henry
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
on the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
(6 February 1862). She served as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for the squadron when it assisted the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
at the capture of Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
on the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
(14–16 February 1862). Between April and June 1862, she operated against Fort Pillow, Tennessee
Battle of Fort Pillow
The Battle of Fort Pillow, also known as the Fort Pillow Massacre, was fought on April 12, 1864, at Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. The battle ended with a massacre of surrendered Federal black troops by soldiers under the command of...
.
St. Louis was renamed Baron De Kalb 8 September 1862.
Reassigned to the Union Navy
On 1 October 1862 Baron De Kalb was transferred to the Navy Department. During 21–28 December she took part in the Yazoo Expedition and participated in the action at Drumgould's Bluff (28 December).During 1863 Baron De Kalb took part in the capture of Arkansas Post (10–11 January); expedition up the White River
White River (Arkansas)
The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
(12–14 January); Yazoo Pass Expedition (20 February-5 April); action at Fort Pemberton (11–13 March); action at Haines' Bluff (29 April-2 May, 18 May); action at Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
(20–23 May); and the Yazoo River Expedition (24–31 May).
Sunk by mine
On 13 July 1863 Baron De Kalb was sunk by a mineNaval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
(then called a "torpedo") in the Yazoo River
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
, one mile below Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Chronology
- 11 January 1862 against CSN vessels near Lucas Bend, Missouri.
- 6 February 1862 attacking Battle of Fort Henry, TennesseeBattle of Fort HenryThe Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
. - 14 February 1862 attacking Fort Donelson, TennesseeBattle of Fort DonelsonThe Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
. (Hit 59 times with severe damage). - Repaired at St. Louis.
- 23 February 1862 attacked Columbus, KentuckyColumbus, KentuckyColumbus is a city in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 229 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Columbus is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, a demonstration during Battle of BelmontBattle of BelmontThe Battle of Belmont was fought on November 7, 1861, in Mississippi County, Missouri. It was the first combat test in the American Civil War for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the future Union Army general in chief and eventual U.S...
. - 15 March through 7 April 1862, Battle of Island Number 10.
- 13 April 1862, attacked Fort Pillow
- 10 May 1862, involved in the Fort PillowBattle of Fort Pillow (Naval)The naval battle at Fort Pillow, Tennessee took place on the Mississippi River between ships of the Confederate River Defense Fleet, which consisted of a number of wooden sidewheel paddleboats converted to naval rams, and ships of the Union Mississippi River Squadron, which consisted of a number...
. - 6 June 1862, Battle of MemphisBattle of MemphisThe First Battle of Memphis was a naval battle fought on the Mississippi River immediately above the city of Memphis on June 6, 1862, during the American Civil War. The engagement was witnessed by many of the citizens of Memphis. It resulted in a crushing defeat for the Rebels, and marked the...
destroying the Confederate Mississippi river fleet with her sister ships and several "Ellet Rams" - 17 June 1862, participated in the expedition up the White River (Arkansas)White River (Arkansas)The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
bombarding positions at St. Charles, ArkansasSt. Charles, ArkansasSt. Charles is a town in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 261 at the 2000 census. It is best known for the Battle of Saint Charles having been fought there on the White River, and the St. Charles Lynchings of 1904. - History :...
. - 8 September 1862, re-christened USS Baron De Kalb.
- 21 November through 11 December 1862; Expedition up the Yazoo RiverYazoo RiverThe Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
. - 5 December 1862, captured the steamer Lottie.
- 28 December 1862, bombarded the batteries at Drumgold's Bluff.
- 10–11 January 1863, took part in the Battle of Fort HindmanBattle of Fort HindmanThe Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...
, ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... - 11–23 March 1863, took part in the Battle of Fort Pemberton, Tallahatchie RiverTallahatchie RiverThe Tallahatchie River flows from Tippah County, Mississippi to Leflore County, Mississippi, where it joins the Yalobusha River to form the Yazoo River.-History:Tallahatchie is a Choctaw name meaning "rock of waters"....
- 18 May 1863, took part in capture of Battle of Haynes Bluff.
- 19 May 1863, captured the steamer Alonzo Child.
- 20–23 May 1863, helped destroy the Yazoo City Navy Yard.
- 24–31 May 1863, made an expedition up the Yazoo River.
- 13 July 1863, sunk by a torpedo one mile below Yazoo City.
Armament
Like many of the Mississippi theatre ironclads, Baron Dekalb had its armament changed multiple times over life of the vessel. To expedite the entrance of Baron DeKalb into service, she and the other City-class ships were fitted with whatever weapons were available; then had their weapons upgraded as new pieces became available. Though the 8 in (203.2 mm) DahlgrenDahlgren gun
Dahlgren guns were muzzle loading naval artillery designed by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren USN, mostly used in the period of the American Civil War. Dahlgren's design philosophy evolved from an accidental explosion in 1849 of a 32-pounder being tested for accuracy, killing a gunner...
smoothbore cannons were fairly modern most of the other original armaments were antiquated; such as the 32-pounders, or modified; such as the 42-pounder "rifles" which were in fact, old smoothbores that had been gouged out to give them rifling. These 42-pounder weapons were of particular concern to military commanders because they were structurally weaker and more prone to exploding than purpose-built rifled cannons. Additionally, the close confines of riverine combat greatly increased the threat of boarding parties. The 12-pounder howitzer was equipped to address that concern and was not used in regular combat.
| Ordinance characteristics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1862 | October 1862 | December 1862 | Early 1863 |
| • 3 × 8-inch smoothbores • 4 × 42-pounder rifles • 6 × 32-pounder rifles • 1 × 12-pounder rifle |
• 3 × 8-inch smoothbores • 2 × 42-pounder rifles • 6 × 32-pounder rifles • 2 × 30-pounder rifles • 1 × 12-pounder rifle |
• 2 × 10-inch smoothbores • 3 × 8-inch smoothbores • 2 × 42-pounder rifles • 6 × 32-pounder rifles • 2 × 30-pounder rifles • 1 × 12-pounder rifle |
• 1 × 10-inch smoothbore • 2 × 9-inch smoothbores • 2 × 8-inch smoothbores • 6 × 32-pounder rifles • 2 × 30-pounder rifles • 1 × 12-pounder rifle |