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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 Pittsburg (1862-1865).
Name also spelled Pittsburgh.

USS Pittsburg, a 512-ton Cairo class ironclad river gunboat, was built at Saint Louis, Missouri. Commissioned in January 1862 as part of the U.S. Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla, she was damaged in action during the bombardment of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, in February. After repairs, she took part in the successful seiges of the Island Number Ten fortress in March and April and Fort Pillow in May.

Late in 1862 and during the first part of 1863, following her transfer from the Army to the Navy in October 1862, Pittsburg participated in operations on the Yazoo River and Steele's Bayou, Mississippi. In April 1863, she was one of the ships that ran past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg and attacked fortifications at Grand Gulf. Pittsburg's later operations included participation in the Red River expedition of March-May 1864. She was decommissioned following the end of the Civil War and was sold in November 1865.

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

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

  • USS Pittsburg -- 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 45557

    USS Pittsburg (1862-1865)


    On one of the Western Rivers, during the Civil War.
    A second "City" class ironclad gunboat is at right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 525 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

     
    Photo #: 165-C-703

    "City" Class armored gunboats


    Under construction by James Eads, at St. Louis, Missouri, prior to October 1861.
    This view shows four ships being built in pairs, at two levels on the shore, with casemate side timbers largely installed. Vertical timbers extending above the slanting casemate sides are framing for the ships' paddle-wheel boxes.
    The four ships of this class built at St. Louis were Carondelet, Louisville, Pittsburg and Saint Louis.
    Note building and flagpole in the right background, timber stockpile in the foreground, and twin rudder posts at the ships' sterns with the paddle raceway between them.

    Photograph from the Collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: 165-C-702

    "City" Class armored gunboats


    Under construction by James Eads, at St. Louis, Missouri, prior to October 1861.
    This view looks along the main deck on one gunboat, with its boilers in the foreground and casemate timbers at the sides. Another vessel is beyond, with some spar deck beams atop the casemate side timbers and upright framing in place for her wheel box.
    The four ships of this class built at St. Louis were Carondelet, Louisville, Pittsburg and Saint Louis.
    Note flagpole in the left background.

    Photograph from the Collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59001

    "United States Mississippi Gun-boats being built at Carondelet, near St. Louis, Missouri"


    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 5 October 1861.
    It depicts, rather inaccurately, the construction of four of the "City" class ironclads by James Eads, including Carondelet, Louisville, Pittsburg and Saint Louis.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 410 pixels

     


    The following photograph shows a replica of USS Pittsburg during a parade in 1908:

    Photo #: NH 91185

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sesqui-Centennial, 1908


    Civil War Navy veterans' float in the Sesqui-Centennial parade.
    This float is a semi-scale replica of the Civil War ironclad USS Pittsburg (1862-1865).

    Collection of E.W. McMillin, donated by Mrs. M.R. Reardon.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     

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

  • USS Pittsburg -- 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.

    18 April 2000