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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the UNITED STATES ARMY --

U.S. Ram Lancaster (1862-1863)

Lancaster was a 257-ton side-wheel towboat built at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855. While in civilian use, she had also been named Lancaster Number 3 and Kosciusko. In March-May 1862, she was converted to a ram by Colonel Charles Ellet for his U.S. Ram Fleet. Lancaster was present in the background during the naval action off Memphis, Tennessee, on 6 June 1862, and subsequently took part in operations against the Confederate fortress at Vicksburg, Mississippi. On 15 July 1862 she was disabled in action with the enemy ironclad CSS Arkansas. Returning to the Vicksburg area after repairs, Lancaster joined her sister ram Switzerland in a daring run past the fortress on 25 March 1863. Hit in her steam drum and hull by Confederate cannon fire, Lancaster was sunk during this operation.

This page features our only views of the U.S. Ram Lancaster.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 59007

"Colonel Ellet's Ram Fleet on the Mississippi"


Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
Ships in the foreground are: Monarch (letter "M" between stacks), Queen of the West (with letter "Q") and Lioness(letter "L"). In the left background are: Switzerland (with letter "S" on paddlebox), Samson and Lancaster.
Note cotton bales stacked on deck to protect boilers.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 360 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59103

"The Rams 'Switzerland' and 'Lancaster" Running the Blockade at Vicksburg", 25 March 1863


Line engraving after a sketch by Theodore R. Davis, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1863.
In this operation, Switzerland (depicted here in the foreground) was disabled by gunfire from the Vicksburg batteries, but succeeded in passing the city. Lancaster (in the left center distance) was fatally damaged and sank.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 212KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

22 March 2000