USS Baron DeKalb (1861)

USS Baron DeKalb (1861) was a City class ironclad gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War.

The USS Baron DeKalb, named after General Baron DeKalb of Hüttendorf near Erlangen, in present-day Bavaria, was originally named Saint Louis, and was one of seven City class ironclads built at Carondelet, Missouri and Mound City, Illinois, for the Western Gunboat Flotilla^[1]

These ironclads were shallow draft with a center driven paddle wheel. They were partially armored and slow and very hard to steer in the currents of rivers. This ironclad was also vulnerable to plunging fire and also by hits in their un-armored areas. Called "Pook Turtles" for the designer, they did yeoman service through 4 years of war and were present at almost every battle on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Built in Missouri in 1861

Originally built as the St. Louis, the stern wheel casemate gunboat was built by James B. Eads, at the Union Marine works at Carondelet, Missouri, for the U.S. War Department. She was launched as St. Louis, Missouri, 12 October 1861 and joined the Western Gunboat Flotilla.

Civil War service

Assigned to Union Army operations

During 1862 St. Louis, under the command of Lieutenant Lieutenant L. Paulding U.S.N., was attached to Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote's squadron and participated in the Battle of Lucas Bend and the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (6 February 1862). She served as flagship for the squadron when it assisted the Union Army at the capture of Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River (14–16 February 1862). Between April and June 1862, she operated against Fort Pillow, Tennessee.

St. Louis was renamed Baron De Kalb 8 September 1862. This change was apparently in anticipation of the vessel's transfer from the War Department to the Navy Department, there already being a USS St. Louis in commission with the Navy.

Reassigned to the Union Navy

On 1 October 1862 Baron De Kalb was transferred to the Navy Department. During 21–28 December she took part in the Yazoo Expedition and participated in the action at Drumgould's Bluff (28 December).

During 1863 Baron De Kalb took part in the capture of Arkansas Post (10–11 January); expedition up the White River (12–14 January); Yazoo Pass Expedition (20 February-5 April); action at Fort Pemberton (11–13 March); action at Haines' Bluff (29 April-2 May, 18 May); action at Yazoo City, Mississippi (20–23 May); and the Yazoo River Expedition (24–31 May).

Sunk by mine

On 13 July 1863 Baron De Kalb was sunk by a mine (then called a "torpedo") in the Yazoo River, one mile below Yazoo City, Mississippi.

Chronology

• 11 January 1862 against CSN vessels near Lucas Bend, Missouri.
• 6 February 1862 attacking Battle of Fort Henry, Tennessee.
• 14 February 1862 attacking Fort Donelson, Tennessee. (Hit 59 times with severe damage).
• Repaired at St. Louis.
• 23 February 1862 attacked Columbus, Kentucky, a demonstration during Battle of Belmont.
• 15 March through 7 April 1862, Battle of Island Number 10.
• 13 April 1862, attacked Fort Pillow
• 10 May 1862, involved in the Fort Pillow.
• 6 June 1862, Battle of Memphis destroying the Confederate Mississippi river fleet with her sister ships and several "Ellet Rams"
• 17 June 1862, participated in the expedition up the White River (Arkansas) bombarding positions at St. Charles, Arkansas.
• 8 September 1862, re-christened USS Baron De Kalb.
• 21 November through 11 December 1862; Expedition up the Yazoo River.
• 5 December 1862, captured the steamer Lottie.
• 28 December 1862, bombarded the batteries at Drumgold's Bluff.
• 10–11 January 1863, took part in the Battle of Fort Hindman, Arkansas
• 11–23 March 1863, took part in the Battle of Fort Pemberton, Tallahatchie River
• 18 May 1863, took part in capture of Battle of Haynes Bluff.
• 19 May 1863, captured the steamer Alonzo Child.
• 20–23 May 1863, helped destroy the Yazoo City Navy Yard.
• 24–31 May 1863, made an expedition up the Yazoo River.
• 13 July 1863, sunk by a torpedo one mile below Yazoo City.

Armament

Like many of the Mississippi theater ironclads, Baron Dekalb had its armament changed multiple times over life of the vessel. To expedite the entrance of Baron DeKalb into service, she and the other City-class ships were fitted with whatever weapons were available; then had their weapons upgraded as new pieces became available. Though the 8 in (200 mm) Dahlgren smoothbore cannons were fairly modern most of the other original armaments were antiquated; such as the 32-pounders, or modified; such as the 42-pounder "rifles" which were in fact, old smoothbores that had been gouged out to give them rifling. These 42-pounder weapons were of particular concern to military commanders because they were structurally weaker and more prone to exploding than purpose-built rifled cannons. Additionally, the close confines of riverine combat greatly increased the threat of boarding parties. The 12-pounder howitzer was equipped to address that concern and was not used in regular combat.^[2]

See also

• American Civil War
• Union Navy
• Confederate States Navy

References

1. ^ The Western Gunboat Flotilla was a unique "joint service" organization. The gunboats were built using funds from the War Department, were manned by Navy personnel, and were under the ultimate command of the U.S. Army theater commander.
2. ^ Angus Konstam, (2002), Union River Ironclad 1861-65, Osprey Publishing, New Vanguard 56, ISBN 978-1-84176-444-3

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here. (photos)