Beschreibung:

A fine trio of warships in profile all related to prominent Mississippi River service. First is the USS Conestoga. A.D. Lytle: Baton Rouge, LA, n.d. The ill-fated Conestoga was civilian side-wheel vessel acquired by the Army in June 1861 and converted to a reliable timberclad gunboat armed with 4 x 32-pdr smoothbores. She steamed into combat in September 1861 when she engaged the small Rebel side-wheeler CSS Jackson on the northern reaches of the Mississippi near Lucas Bend, Kentucky. In February 1862, Conestoga joined in the expedition up the Tennessee River that culminated with the fall of ultimately indefensible Forts Henry and Donelson in bitter winter weather. The gunboat's subsequent service on the southern reaches of the river and its many tributaries reflected a routine assumed by smaller warships of the Mississippi Squadron, this comprising patrol, convey, and escort missions punctuated by campaigning largely in support of the army. On March 8, 1864, Conestoga was sunk after being accidentally rammed by the USS General Price after apparent confusion in whistle signals. CDV identified in period ink as "US Gun Clad Steamer/'Essex'/off Memphis/Tenn." J.W. Taft: Memphis, TN, n.d. Green three-cent Washington revenue stamp on verso. The Essex was a former civilian vessel acquired by the Army in September 1861 and converted into a timberclad. She was badly damaged by Confederate fire at Fort Henry in February 1862 and while under repair underwent a a significant refit - ordered personally by Admiral Porter - that resulted in a 640 ton river ironclad armed with a powerful battery of 11-inch Dahlgren smoothbores. In this guise she took up station near Vicksburg and engaged the Confederate ram CSS Arkansas as she brazenly ran past the Porter's fleet on July 5, 1862, mooring under the protective batteries of the fortress. Essex unsuccessfully attacked the Arkansas on July 23 but withdrew under the combined fire of Arkansas' guns and Vicksburg's shore batteries. Essex encountered Arkansas for a last time on August 6, 1862 as the Confederate ram attempted to intervene in the fighting at Baton Rouge. As Essex prepared to engage the unlucky Arkansas lost her steering and was subsequently scuttled by her crew to prevent capture. Essex was turned over to the Navy in October 1862 and afterwards participated in the bombardment of Port Hudson and occupation of Baton Rouge. During the early summer of 1863 she was particularly active during the seize and capture of Port Hudson. Essex later participated in Banks' ill-fated Red River Campaign that abruptly ended in May 1864 with Texas still in Confederate hands. Having earned a reputation as a fighting warship - a key piece in winning control of the Mississippi - Essex was decommissioned in November 1865 and sold out of service. CDV, period copy shot ink captioned on verso as "The Ill Fated Mississippi." McPherson & Oliver: Baton Rouge, LA, n.d. A veteran of Perry's Expedition to Japan, USS Mississippi joined the blockade off Key West in June 1861 and was successful in capturing a schooner, later in November taking a British flagged bark off New Orleans. She then reported to Farragut for operations against New Orleans engaging Forts Jackson and St. Philip on March 24, 1862, and here ramming and destroying the unique rebel turtle-ram Manassas "with two mighty broadsides." While attempting to run Confederate batteries at Port Hudson on March 14, 1863, the deep draft Mississippi grounded and was taken under intense cannonade. Captain Melancthon Smith and his executive officer George Dewey (of later Manila Bay fame) tried valiantly to re-float her but to no avail. Smith ordered her machinery destroyed, the guns spiked before she was fired to prevent capture, blowing up and sinking. Sixty four Union sailors were killed while 223 survived. Three extraordinary members of Mississippi's crew were later awarded the Navy Medal of Honor for their courageous actions during the ordeal. The Richard B. Cohe