USS Pittsburgh (1861)
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| History | |
|---|---|
  United States
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| Namesake: | The City of Pittsburgh |
| Launched: | October, 1861 |
| Commissioned: | January 25, 1862 |
| Decommissioned: | November 29, 1865 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 1865 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 512 tons |
| Length: | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Beam: | 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m) |
| Draft: | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | Stern wheeler |
| Complement: | 251 |
| Armament: | (see section below) |
| Armour: |
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USS Pittsburgh (1861) (often Pittsburg) was a City-class ironclad gunboat constructed for the Union Army by James B. Eads during the American Civil War, and transferred to the Union Navy in October 1862. She was commissioned in January 1862, Commander Egbert Thompson in command.
Joining Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote's Western Gunboat Flotilla in river patrol duty, Pittsburgh attacked Fort Donelson February 14, 1862, and was damaged by counter-fire. The support from the gunboats contributed greatly to the capture of the strategic fort two days later.
Repaired, she attacked Island No. 10 on April 3, then ran its batteries by dark April 7, being lashed by a heavy thunderstorm as well as the island's 73 guns. This daring feat made it possible for her and Carondelet to demolish batteries below New Madrid, Missouri that same day, clearing the way for the Army to cross the Mississippi River.
Pittsburgh gave continued service in the lengthy series of operations which wrested control of the lower Mississippi from the Confederacy. Her flotilla, previously under Army control, came under naval command October 1, 1862. Lieutenant Commander William R. Hoel USN took command of the Pittsburgh at this time. Highlights of her service were the operations against Plum Point Bend, Fort Pillow and Memphis in April, May and June 1862; the Steele's Bayou Expedition of March 1863; and the passing of the Vicksburg batteries April 16, 1863. She led the attack on the batteries at Grand Gulf on April 29 and was heavily damaged during the five-and-a-half-hour engagement. One of Pittsburgh's sailors, Boatswain's Mate John Woon, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his part in the battle. The action at Grand Gulf secured Union control of an important stretch of the river, making it possible for Grant to cross the river and attack Vicksburg from the rear. The strong Confederate river fortress surrendered July 4, allowing President Abraham Lincoln at last to report, "The Father of Waters flows unvexed to the sea."
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