USS De Soto-- Part 2: New York to New Orleans Run

The De Soto was built in Brooklyn, New York and launched in 1859.  It ran passengers and mail between New York and New Orleans.  At 1,675 tons and 253 feet it was one of the larger steamships of its time.  Plus, it was extremely fast, several times going faster than 14 knots per hour.

It was named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.

A round trip between the two cities usually took about a month.

It was one of the last U.S. ships to enter a Confederate port.  It left New York 23 April 1861, 11 days after Fort Sumter was fired upon.  But for some reason, Confederate authorities in New Orleans didn't seize what would have been a very valuable ship for the Confederacy.

It went to Havana a couple times before being acquired by the  Union Navy and converted into a warship.

--Old B-Runner