JANUARY 2ND, 1862: Flag Officer Foote wrote secretary of Navy Welles: "I hope to be able to send 60 men on board of each gunboat within the week. We are waiting on 1,000 men to fill up our complement ... The carpenters and engineers are behindhand in their work."
Eads completion of the gunboats had been much delayed beyond his contract time. This placed a great strain upon the wooden gunboats, whose daily service in the rivers was demonstrated by General Grant's typical communication with Foote: "Will you please direct a gunboat to drop down the river ... to protect a steamer I am sending down to bring up produce for some loyal citizens of Kentucky."
--Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label Eads James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eads James. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Friday, August 5, 2016
155 Years Ago: J.B. Eads to Construct Seven Ironclad River Gunboats
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
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
Monday, September 10, 2012
The James Eads Turret
From the Sept. 9th Alton (Il) Telegraph.
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis is extending its Civil War in Missouri exhibit through June 2, 2013.
It includes James Eads' patent model for his "Improved Turret for War Vessels" from 1862. Eads was responsible for the construction of most of the ironclads on western waters.
From the City of Art site, Early Turret Ships.
The USS Chickasaw, a Winnebago-class monitor built specifically for use on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, had an Eads turret in the bow and an Ericsson turret aft. The site mentions that there are no drawings of the Eads turret on the web.
What set these turrets apart were that they used steam power to lower the whole turret after firing, where the guns cold be safely reloaded and then raised back into firing position. Eads turrets were used on all four Winnebago-class monitors: Milwaukee, Winnebago, Chickasaw and Kickapoo.
These monitors were 970 tons, 226 feet long, 57 foot beam and drew 6 feet of water.
Where'd It Go? --Old B-Runner
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis is extending its Civil War in Missouri exhibit through June 2, 2013.
It includes James Eads' patent model for his "Improved Turret for War Vessels" from 1862. Eads was responsible for the construction of most of the ironclads on western waters.
From the City of Art site, Early Turret Ships.
The USS Chickasaw, a Winnebago-class monitor built specifically for use on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, had an Eads turret in the bow and an Ericsson turret aft. The site mentions that there are no drawings of the Eads turret on the web.
What set these turrets apart were that they used steam power to lower the whole turret after firing, where the guns cold be safely reloaded and then raised back into firing position. Eads turrets were used on all four Winnebago-class monitors: Milwaukee, Winnebago, Chickasaw and Kickapoo.
These monitors were 970 tons, 226 feet long, 57 foot beam and drew 6 feet of water.
Where'd It Go? --Old B-Runner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)