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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:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Benton (1862-1865)

USS Benton, a 1033-ton ironclad river gunboat, was converted from a catamaran snagboat at Saint Louis, Missouri, for the Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla. Commissioned in February 1862, she took an active part in the Federal operations to open the Mississippi River and its tributaries. In the Spring of 1862, she was present at the captures of Island Number Ten, Fort Pillow and Memphis. During the Summer, Benton was in action with the Confederate ironclad Arkansas near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and participated in an expedition up the Yazoo River. She was transferred to the Navy in October 1862, and continued her service as the Mississippi Squadron's flagship into 1863.

In December 1862, Benton was damaged by Confederate gunfire during another operation on the Yazoo River. She was one of the ships that ran past Vicksburg on 16 April 1863 and bombarded Grand Gulf, Mississippi, later in that month. She participated in an attack on Fort DeRussy, Arkansas, in May, then provided gunfire support for the siege of Vicksburg. In March-May 1864, Benton was involved in the Red River expedition, in Louisiana, and returned to that vicinity in June 1865 during operations that followed the formal end of the Civil War. USS Benton was decommissioned in July 1865 and sold the following November.

This page features views of USS Benton and provides links to pictures of her actions.

For additional images, showing USS Benton's Civil War actions, see:

  • USS Benton -- Actions and Activities.

    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 56664

    USS Benton (1862-1865)


    Off Natchez, Mississippi, in July 1864.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56665

    USS Benton (1862-1865)


    Off Natchez, Mississippi, in July 1864, with a tugboat alongside her starboard quarter.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 55828

    USS Benton (1862-1865)


    Wash drawing by F. Muller, circa 1900, depicting Benton on the Western Rivers during the Civil War.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 420 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 75623

    USS Benton (1862-1865)


    Wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1900, depicting the ship off Natchez, Mississippi, in July 1864.

    Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 68439

    "Iron Clad Gunboat Benton."

    "Designed and constructed by Jas. B. Eads, St. Louis, Mo."
    "By order of Maj. Genl. J.C. Fremont, U.S.A.."
    "Commanding Western Department -- Sept. 1861."

    Inboard and outboard profile drawings, prepared at about the time Benton was converted for Civil War employement.

    Courtesy of Lieutenant Commander Lyle W. Eads, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59002

    "Commodore Foote's Gun-boat Flotilla on the Mississippi"


    Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
    Ships are identified below the image as (from left to right): Mound City, Essex, Cairo, Saint Louis, Louisville, Benton, Pittsburg and Lexington.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 270 pixels

     

    For additional images, showing USS Benton's Civil War actions, see:

  • USS Benton -- Actions and Activities.


    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.

    31 May 2000