USS Essex (1856)

USS ''Essex'' was a 1000-ton ironclad river gunboat of the United States Army and later United States Navy during the American Civil War. It was named for Essex County, Massachusetts. USS ''Essex'' was originally constructed in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana as a steam-powered ferry named ''New Era''.

Service in Tennessee

In September 1861 ''New Era'' was purchased by the United States Army for use in its Western Gunboat Flotilla and was modified into a 355-ton timberclad gunboat. In November 1861 USS ''New Era'' took part in an expedition up the Cumberland River. Shortly thereafter she was renamed USS ''Essex'' and received an upgrade to iron armor and various other alterations. On 11 January 1862, USS ''Essex'' engaged Confederate States Navy gunboats near Lucas Bend, Missouri. On 6 February 1862, she took part in the attack on Fort Henry, Tennessee and was badly damaged by Confederate gunfire.

Battling the CSS ''Arkansas''

Commanding officer William D. Porter upgraded his ship without official authorization into an ironclad gunboat. Under his orders she was lengthened, widened, and completely reengineered, and her appearance was changed drastically. New, more powerful, engines were put in place and she was rearmored. After her upgrade ''Essex'' took part in operations near Vicksburg, Mississippi. On 15 July 1862, USS ''Essex'' was engaged with CSS ''Arkansas'' as that ship successfully ran past the Union fleets in front of the city. On 23 July, ''Essex'' unsuccessfully attacked the ''Arkansas'' at her moorings but was repelled by the ''Arkansas'' and the shore guns under whose protection the ''Arkansas'' lay. Federal forces withdrew from Vicksburg shortly thereafter. After withdrawing, ''Essex'' joined Admiral David Farragut's squadron and was the only Federal ironclad on the lower Mississippi River. On 5 August 1862, ''Essex'' helped repel a Confederate Army attack on Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On 6 August, the ''Essex'' once again engaged CSS ''Arkansas'' as that vessel attempted to relieve the beleaguered Confederates attacking Baton Rouge. As ''Essex'' approached, the steering mechanism of the ''Arkansas'' jammed and her crew was forced to scuttle her due to the presence of the ''Essex''.

Transfer to the Navy

In October 1862 the ''Essex'' was transferred from the Army to the United States Navy. She was involved in the bombardment of Port Hudson, Louisiana and assisted during the occupation of Baton Rouge. In May–July 1863 under the command of Robert Townsend she participated in the siege and capture of Port Hudson. USS ''Essex'' took part in the Red River Campaign of March–May 1864.

In December 1864, the USS ''Essex'' was in Memphis, Tennessee. According to David Redrick, the Rear Admiral's cook, some of the boat's crew "slipped ashore at night" and "got on a spree". Boatswain William Bernard Dolen, age 33, was part of a detail sent ashore to "arrest the boys". During the arrest, he was stabbed in the right chest by a fellow seaman, and was honorably discharged for disability due to the chronicity of the wound, from which he later died in 1878.

After the war

''Essex'' was decommissioned in July 1865. She was sold in November 1865 and reverted to the civilian name ''New Era''. She was scrapped in 1870. USS ''Essex'' had the reputation as one of the most active gunboats on the Mississippi River, despite her relatively weak armor. It often was damaged in actions.

References

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External links

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships USS Essex (1861-1865)Civil War Era albumen view of USS EssexBombardment of Fort Henry (Feb. 2-6, 1862)

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Ships built in New Albany, Indiana
Essex (1856)
Massachusetts in the American Civil War
1856 ships