American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Outdoor image of the USS Conemaugh. N.p.: N.p., n.d. Approx. 4 x 4 in. albumen photograph on cardstock mount (light toning, strong clarity). A profile shot of a rakish-looking side-wheeler incorrectly inked "Albatross off Baton Rouge, La."  The vessel is, in fact, the USS Conemaugh, another side-wheel steamer purchased by the navy and commissioned in July 1862. Conemaugh was initially assigned to the South Atlantic blockading Squadron where she served as a picket inshore frequently "engaging Confederate batteries and detachments along stream banks."  After an extended overall she joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and during the spring of 1864 captured a Confederate blockade runner, later participating in the battle of Mobile Bay under Farragut. Conemaugh remained active until she was decommissioned in July 1867 and sold out of service.

[With:] Wharf and Transports. [Baton Rouge?]: N.p., n.d. Approx. 4 x 4 in. albumen photograph on cardstock mount (light toning, strong clarity). Captioned in ink on mount recto.  The battle-damaged US Ram Switzerland is visible in the background at far left with a tilted stack. The side-wheeler Switzerland was one of the original Ellet rams associated with the Mississippi Marine Brigade that participated in the battle of Memphis in June 1862.  She later patrolled up the Yazoo and was damaged by shore batteries while passing Vicksburg on 25 March 1863, and later the next week at Grand Gulf. She operated on the Red River as the siege of Vicksburg commenced. Switzerland was never formally commissioned into the Navy and was sold off in October 1865.

[Also with:] "Flag Ship 'Carondelet' - after passing Vicksburg - taken in front of Baton Rouge, La." N.p.: N.p., n.d. 7 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. albumen photograph on cardstock mount (somewhat soft in focus showing heavy edge damage to three corners of the mount). Provenance: Charles Scribner's Sons (property stamp to verso). Captioned (incorrectly) to both recto and verso. In fact, the albumen is the large one-off sidewheel steamer USS Choctaw commissioned in March 1863. Purchased by the Army in September 1862, the former merchant vessel was converted into an ironclad ram before transferring to Navy control at St. Louis. Streaming up the Yazoo she engaged Confederate batteries at Haynes' Bluff between 29 April and 1 May 1863, being struck no less than 53 times. Choctaw remained on station and contributed to the destruction of the Confederate works and navy yard at Yazoo City later in the month. In June she joined in repelling an attack at Milliken's Bend rescuing a number of Confederates from the river and taking them prisoner. During the spring of 1864, she was engaged in operations that preceded the capture of Fort DeRussy. Choctaw was decommissioned in July 1865 and sold out of service in March 1866.