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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 Conestoga (1861-1864)

USS Conestoga was originally a civilian side-wheel towboat built at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. She was acquired by the U.S. Army in June 1861 and converted to a 572-ton "timberclad" river gunboat for use by the Western Gunboat Flotilla, with officers provided by the Navy. Conestoga's first combat action took place in September 1861 when she engaged CSS Jackson near Lucas Bend, Kentucky. Other skirmishes punctuated the routine of river patrol service into 1862. In February, she participated in an expedition up the Tennessee River that led to the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson. Later in the month, she saw action at Columbus, Kentucky, a Confederate strong point on the Mississippi River.

During the rest of her service, Conestoga continued to operate along the rivers. She took part in the bombardment of Saint Charles, Arkansas, in June 1862 and was formally transferred to the Navy in October of that year. In April and July 1863, she was involved in expeditions to Palmyra, Tennessee, and up the Red River, Louisiana. The following March, she went up Louisiana's Black and Ouachita Rivers. Soon after, on 8 March 1864, USS Conestoga was sunk in a collision with USS General Price.

This page features all our views of USS Conestoga.


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 55321

USS Conestoga (1861-1864)


Photographed on the Western Rivers during the Civil War.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 480 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59003-KN (Color)

"Gun-Boats Fitting Out at Cincinnati, Ohio, for Government Service on the Mississippi"

Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861. This example has been hand-tinted in water colors.
The scene represents the conversion of the first "timber-clad" gunboats for the Western Gunboat Flotilla, in mid-1861. These ships were Conestoga, Lexington and Tyler, two of which are depicted here.

Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 147KB; 740 x 435 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59004

"The Flotilla of Federal Gunboats for the Protection of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Under the Command of Captain John Rodgers, U.S.N. -- From a Sketch by our Special Artist at Cairo, Illinois"


Line engraving published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated ...", 1861, depicting the "timber-clad" gunboats Tyler, Lexington and Conestoga.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 390 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59589

"The 'Conestoga' and 'Lexington,' United States Gun-Boats on the Mississippi."


Line engraving, after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861.
It depicts Conestoga on the right, with Lexington at left.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 380 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 58898

"The Gun-boat Attack on the Water Batteries at Fort Donelson"


Line engraving, based on a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862, depicting the bombardment of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, by Federal warships, 14 February 1862. Many of the ships were damaged in this action. As identified on the engraving, they are (from left to right): "Timberclads" Tyler and Conestoga; Ironclads Carondelet, Pittsburg, Louisville and Saint Louis.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 285 pixels

 
Photo #: KN-969 (Color)

Bombardment and Capture of Island Number Ten on the Mississippi River, April 7, 1862

Colored lithograph published by Currier & Ives, New York, circa 1862.
It depicts the bombardment of the Confederate fortifications on Island Number Ten by Federal gunboats and mortar boats. Ships seen include (from left to right): Mound City, Louisville, Pittsburg, Carondelet, Flagship Benton, Cincinnati, Saint Louis and Conestoga. Mortar boats are firing from along the river bank.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 535 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-KN-969

 
Photo #: NH 42365

"Brilliant Naval Victory on the Mississippi River, Near Fort Wright, May 10th 1862"

"By the Union Flotilla of 6 Gunboats, commanded by Com. C.H. Davis, and the Rebel fleet of 8 Iron-clads, under Hollins. The action lasted one hour. Two of the Rebel gunboats were blown up and one sunk, when the remainder retired precipitately under the guns of the fort."

Lithograph by Currier & Ives, New York, providing a curious (and quite inaccurate) view of the action off Fort Pillow in which the Confederate River Defense Fleet, under Captain James E. Montgomery, attacked Federal gunboats.
The print identifies the following ships (from left to right): CSS "Mallory" (a non-existent vessel, shown sinking); CSS Louisiana (an ironclad that had already been destroyed by this time); USS Cincinnati; USS Benton; USS Cairo; USS Carondelet; USS Saint Louis; and USS Conestoga.

Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 1936.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59057

"Battle at St. Charles, White River, Arkansas--Explosion of the 'Mound City'"


Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
This action between Federal gunboats and Confederate shore batteries took place on 17 June 1862. USS Mound City was disabled by a shot that penetrated her steam drum, causing heavy casualties among her crew. Other U.S. ships present were the ironclad Saint Louis (seen in the right foreground) and "timberclads" Lexington and Conestoga. The gunboat in left center is one of the "timberclads".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 470 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.

8 June 2000