AUGUST 7TH, 1861: The War department contracted with J.B. Eads of St. Louis for construction of seven shallow-draft ironclad river gunboats. The Eads gunboats, all named for river cities, were the Cairo, Carondelet, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg and St. Louis.
They formed the core of Union naval forces on western waters.
Built with the aid of Naval Constructor Samuel M. Pook, USN, they became known as "Pook's Turtles and were the key to Grant's great series of campaigns beginning in February 1862, which ultimately split the Confederacy and had a decisive influence on the war.
--Old B-R'er
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