USS ''Linden'' was a
steamer acquired by the
Union Navy
), (official)
, colors = Blue and gold
, colors_label = Colors
, march =
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment_label ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the
Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Service history
''Linden'', a wooden sidewheel steamer, was built in 1860 at
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania
Belle Vernon is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. It is situated along the Monongahela River abutting two other counties, Westmoreland to the north and Washington across the river. As of the 2020 census Belle Vernon had a population of ...
; purchased by the Navy at
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
, 20 November 1862; and commissioned at
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo ( ) is the southernmost city in Illinois and the county seat of Alexander County.
The city is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Fort Defiance, a Civil War camp, was built here in 1862 by Union General Ulysses ...
, 3 January 1863, acting Master
Thomas E. Smith
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
in command. ''Linden'' departed Cairo 9 January escorting charter steamer ''Home'' and five coal barges to
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
. After
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
duty up and down the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
, ''Linden'' was ordered to cooperate with General
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...
in cutting a canal between the
Red
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...
and Black Rivers through
Tensas Bayou. The project was pressed vigorously but as Porter later noted "...there were miles of forest to work through and trees to be cut down. The swift current drove the steamers (Army transports) against the trees and injured them so much that this plan had to be abandoned."
Throughout the winter and spring of 1863, ''Linden'' continued to support operations against the Confederate river stronghold at
Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to:
* Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States
* The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign
* The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle
Vicksburg is also the name of ...
. She remained above the fortress when Admiral
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter (June 8, 1813 – February 13, 1891) was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. Promoted as the second U.S. Navy officer ever to attain the rank o ...
and his gunboats dashed under Vickburg's guns to support Grant's campaign from below. On 29 April with seven other Union Navy ships, three mortar boats and 10 large Army transports, ''Linden'' began a feigned attack on the Confederate batteries at
Haynes Bluff on the
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi. It is considered by some to mark the southern boundary of what is called the Mississippi Delta, a broad floodplain that was cultivated for cotton plantations before the ...
above Vicksburg. The movement was designed to prevent southern reinforcement of
Grand Gulf where Grant was about to land his troops after crossing the Mississippi River. That day the expedition proceeded as far as
Chickasaw Bayou Chickasaw Bayou is a stream in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is a tributary to the Yazoo River.
Chickasaw Bayou derives its name from the Chickasaw tribe.
The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, also called the Battle ...
. On the 30th the task force moved up the Yazoo River, and landed troops who marched up " ... the levee, making quite a display, and a threatening one also." Naval gunfire supported the demonstration until Grant had safely ferried his men across the river and landed at
Bruinsburg, Mississippi
Bruinsburg is a ghost town in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States.
It was located on the south bank of Bayou Pierre, east of the Mississippi River. The town's port, Bruinsburg Landing, was located directly on the Mississippi River, ju ...
. Then the diversionary troops withdrew from Haynes Bluff, reembarked, and the expedition returned to the mouth of the Yazoo River.
Grant then daringly abandoned his supply lines, drove deep into
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
, and defeated converging Confederate forces in detail in several spectacular victories before turning back toward the river to threaten Vicksburg in reverse. At mid-May, Admiral Porter ordered ''Linden'' back up the Yazoo to assist the Army in encircling the southern river stronghold and to supply the Union Army. When Confederate troops were cut off at
Snyder's Bluff
Snyder's of Hanover is an American bakery and pretzel brand distribution company based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, specializing in German traditional pretzels. Its products are sold throughout the United States, Canada, many European nations, Asia, ...
, the Union ships pushed on to Haynes Bluff which the South was evacuating. When these heavy works fell, the gunboat again advanced and began to shell the hill batteries at Vicksburg. On 18 May ''Linden'' while escorting five Army transports on the Mississippi silenced a masked battery at Island No. 82; then covered troops who landed and destroyed buildings in the area. On 21 May, ''Linden'',
''Baron De Kalb'',
''Choctaw'',
''Forest Rose'', and
''Petrel'' ascended the Yazoo River to
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a U.S. city in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's m ...
, and forced the Confederate Navy to destroy three "powerful steamers, rams, and a fine Navy Yard" to prevent their capture. On 20 May ''Linden'' and ''Forest Rose'' reconnoitered
Quiver River
Quiver River is a river in Mississippi, United States.
The source of Quiver River is the Upper Quiver River and Lower Quiver River, located northwest of Sumner, Mississippi.
Quiver River flows south, passing through Tallahatchie County, Leflor ...
, Mississippi, and a boat expedition from the ships captured and burned ''Dew Drop'' and ''Emma Bett''.
The tireless efforts of both Navy and Army bore fruit when Vicksburg's dogged defenders finally hauled down the Confederate flag 4 July giving the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
one of its greatest birthday presents, freedom to navigate the Mississippi River from source to the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...
. In the coming months ''Linden'' performed valuable but unspectacular service on reconnaissance and convoy missions on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. On 22 February 1864, while attempting to aid transport ''Ad. Hines'', ''Linden'' struck a snag 15 miles up the
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in the western United Stat ...
and sank.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linden
Ships of the Union Navy
Gunboats of the United States Navy
Steamships of the United States Navy
Ships built in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania
1860 ships
Shipwrecks in rivers
Shipwrecks of the American Civil War
Maritime incidents in February 1864