CSS City of Vicksburg-- Part 1

Another ship involved with the saga of the USS Queen of the West was the Confederate ship named the CSS City of Vicksburg and also referred to as the CSS Vicksburg.

From Wikipedia.

It was built in 1857 at New Albany, Indiana, and was home ported at New Orleans.  With the coming of the war, she was seized and converted for military operations of the Mississippi River. By 19 February, she was reported to have carried cannons upriver to forts above Memphis.

In May 1862, she was carrying troops to defend Natchez, Mississippi, only to find five Union ships before the city, but was warned just in time and managed to escape.  One shop, the USS Oneida, pursued her upriver, but the Vicksburg got away.

Later in 1862, she was spotted on the Black River probably carrying Confederate troops and supplies.

--Old B-R'er

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: September 1st to 4th,1862

SEPTEMBER 1ST

The CSS Florida, under command of Lt. Maffitt, put into Havana after suffering a yellow fever epidemic on board which was fatal to several crew members.


SEPTEMBER 3RD

The USS Essex, in pursuit of the CSS Webb, had a landing party fired on at Natchez, Miss.  The Essex bombarded the town for an hour and the mayor surrendered it.

SEPTEMBER 4TH

The Confederate Congress had its first session of its Naval Investigating Committee to examine Secretary of Navy Mallory's administration and reasons for the loss of New Orleans.  The final report was favorable to Mallory.

The CSS Florida, Lt. Maffitt ran the blockade into Mobile Bay and anchored under the guns of Fort Morgan.  Many of the crew were still suffering from yellow fever.  This successful run led to orders for stricter enforcement of the blockade.

Old B-Runner