Skip to main content

Choctaw (Gunboat, 1863)

View
@ University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

Description

BOAT DESCRIPTION: SidewheelBOAT TYPE: GunboatBUILT: in CincinnatiFINAL DISPOSITION: Out of commission on July 22, 1865; sold at New Orleans on March 28, 1866OWNERS: U.S. NavyOFFICERS & CREW: Lieut. Commander F.M. RamseyRIVERS: Mississippi River; Yazoo RiverOTHER INFORMATION: Civil War gunboat rebuilt from the Nebraska. She was designed by Lt. Wm. Porter, U.S. Navy. Her sidewheel was located far aft which gave her good maneuverability in narrow waters. She was called a ram but her slow speed made her useless for ramming. Her exposed sidewheel was highly vulnerable to enemy ramming. Her armor was a half inch of iron over one inch of India rubber. The rubber rotted and the rot spread to the wooden backing. She had multiple casements. The Choctaw led other gunboats in the attack upon Hayne's Bluff on the Yazoo River on April 30, 1863. This was her first engagement and she was hit 46 timesPHOTO DESCRIPTION: On the water near Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Type:
Image
Rights:
This image cannot be copied or reproduced without the permission of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Murphy Library, Special Collections
View Original At:

Record Contributed By

University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

Record Harvested From

Recollection Wisconsin