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USS Sumter (1863)
Encyclopedia
USS Sumter (1863) was a 525-ton steamer captured by the Union Navy
during the Union blockade of the American Civil War
.
Sumter was the cottonclad ram CSS General Sumter. She was placed into service for a short period of time before she ran aground and was destroyed.
. She operated on the Mississippi River
and its tributaries as a towboat
until early 1861 when she was purchased by the State of Louisiana
from Charles H. Morgan's Southern Steamship Company.
In January 1862, she was acquired by Capt. James E. Montgomery, CSN, for the Confederate War Department's River Defense Fleet. The steamer was refitted at Algiers as a cottonclad ram by the James Martin yard. Her bow was strengthened by 4-inch oak sheathing covered by 1-inch iron plates. In addition, cotton bales were compressed between double pine bulkheads for added strength.
, on 17 April to be armed.
On 10 May, defending the main avenue to Memphis, Tennessee
, Montgomery's fleet of eight attacked the Federal ironclads. In this action at Plum Point Bend, 4 miles above Fort Pillow, General Sumter, Capt. W. W. Lamb in command, steamed within 20 yards of Mortar Boat No. 16, whose projectiles were threatening the fort, and fired everything she had, including a rifle volley; two 32-pound shot pierced the iron blinds of the Union floating battery.
Then CSS General Sterling Price and General Sumter cooperated in a well executed coordinated attack, one after the other, ramming Cincinnati
at full speed so that she lost her rudder and much of her stern; Cincinnati
(whom Montgomery reported as Carondelet
) had to be run ashore to avoid sinking. Next, General Sumter rammed and damaged Mound City
, but was damaged by artillery fire herself. Thus, the Southern rams held off the Federal flotilla until the fort was successfully evacuated on 1 June. They then retired to Memphis to refuel.
Quickly following up the capture of Ft. Pillow, Union Flag Officer Charles H. Davis
appeared off Memphis in force on 6 June. Montgomery, cornered without coal enough to retreat to Vicksburg, Mississippi
, yet unwilling to scuttle his fleet, fought it out desperately in the Battle of Memphis
. General Sumter rammed and seriously damaged Queen of the West
, but eventually most of the Confederate vessels were destroyed or surrendered.
shore, was captured, refloated, and renamed Sumter by the Union Navy
.
, and was abandoned except for spare-part raids on her machinery by the rest of the squadron at periods of low water. Before the local populace completed stripping her, Confederate authorities succeeded in setting fire to the hulk.
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...
during the Union blockade of 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...
.
Sumter was the cottonclad ram CSS General Sumter. She was placed into service for a short period of time before she ran aground and was destroyed.
Acquired by the Confederacy in 1861
Sumter was a side wheel steamer built as Junius Beebe, in 1853 at Algiers, LouisianaAlgiers, Louisiana
Algiers is a neighborhood within the city of New Orleans. It is the portion of Orleans Parish on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.Algiers is also known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.-History:...
. She operated 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 as a towboat
Towboat
Not to be confused with the historic boat type with the same name, also called horse-drawn boat.A towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines...
until early 1861 when she was purchased by the State of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
from Charles H. Morgan's Southern Steamship Company.
In January 1862, she was acquired by Capt. James E. Montgomery, CSN, for the Confederate War Department's River Defense Fleet. The steamer was refitted at Algiers as a cottonclad ram by the James Martin yard. Her bow was strengthened by 4-inch oak sheathing covered by 1-inch iron plates. In addition, cotton bales were compressed between double pine bulkheads for added strength.
Serving the Confederacy as CSS General Sumter
Renamed General Sumter, the ram proceeded to Fort Pillow, TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, on 17 April to be armed.
On 10 May, defending the main avenue to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Montgomery's fleet of eight attacked the Federal ironclads. In this action at Plum Point Bend, 4 miles above Fort Pillow, General Sumter, Capt. W. W. Lamb in command, steamed within 20 yards of Mortar Boat No. 16, whose projectiles were threatening the fort, and fired everything she had, including a rifle volley; two 32-pound shot pierced the iron blinds of the Union floating battery.
Then CSS General Sterling Price and General Sumter cooperated in a well executed coordinated attack, one after the other, ramming Cincinnati
USS Cincinnati (1862)
The City class ironclad USS Cincinnati was a stern-wheel casemate gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Cincinnati, Ohio and was the first ship to bear that name in the United States Navy....
at full speed so that she lost her rudder and much of her stern; Cincinnati
USS Cincinnati (1862)
The City class ironclad USS Cincinnati was a stern-wheel casemate gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Cincinnati, Ohio and was the first ship to bear that name in the United States Navy....
(whom Montgomery reported as Carondelet
USS Carondelet (1861)
USS Carondelet was a gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War...
) had to be run ashore to avoid sinking. Next, General Sumter rammed and damaged Mound City
USS Mound City
USS Mound City was a City class ironclad gunboat built for service on the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the American Civil War. Originally commissioned as part of the Union Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla, she remained in that service until October 1862...
, but was damaged by artillery fire herself. Thus, the Southern rams held off the Federal flotilla until the fort was successfully evacuated on 1 June. They then retired to Memphis to refuel.
Quickly following up the capture of Ft. Pillow, Union Flag Officer Charles H. Davis
Charles Henry Davis
Charles Henry Davis was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, serving primarily during the American Civil War, and with the United States Coast Survey.-Early life and career:...
appeared off Memphis in force on 6 June. Montgomery, cornered without coal enough to retreat to Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, yet unwilling to scuttle his fleet, fought it out desperately in the Battle of Memphis
Battle of Memphis
The 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...
. General Sumter rammed and seriously damaged Queen of the West
USS Queen of the West (1854)
US Ram Queen of the West, a sidewheel steamer built at Cincinnati, Ohio in 1854, was purchased by the United States Department of War in 1862 and fitted out as a ram for Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr.'s Ram Fleet which operated on the Mississippi River in the U.S...
, but eventually most of the Confederate vessels were destroyed or surrendered.
Captured by Union forces, renamed USS Sumter
General Sumter did not sink; badly shot up, she ran on the ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas 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...
shore, was captured, refloated, and renamed Sumter by 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...
.
Abandoned after grounding
In August, she grounded again, downriver off Bayou Sara, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and was abandoned except for spare-part raids on her machinery by the rest of the squadron at periods of low water. Before the local populace completed stripping her, Confederate authorities succeeded in setting fire to the hulk.