This contemporary print depicts the CSS General Beauregard (center right) being rammed by the USS Monarch, while other CSN ships are variously sunk, burnt, or run aground during the Battle of Memphis.
Built in Algiers, Louisiana in 1847 as a towboat, the paddle steamer Ocean was selected in January 1862 by Capt. James E. Montgomery, former river steamboat master, for his River Defense Fleet. At New Orleans, on 25 January, Captain Montgomery began her conversion to a cotton-cladram, installing 4-inch (100 mm) oak and 1-inch (25 mm) iron sheathing over her bow, with cotton bales sandwiched between double pine bulkheads to protect her boilers.
Conversion completed on 5 April, and now renamed CSS General Beauregard, the ship steamed to Fort Pillow, Tennessee, to defend the approaches to Memphis. On 10 May 1862, General Beauregard, Capt. J. H. Hart, and seven more of Montgomery's fleet, attacked the Federal Mississippi ironclad flotilla. The Battle of Plum Point Bend witnessed effective ramming tactics by the Confederates, although General Beauregard succeeded only in keeping her four 8-inch guns bravely firing in the face of a withering hail of Union shells. Montgomery's force held off the Federal rams until Fort Pillow was safely evacuated, 4 June, then fell back on Memphis to coal, on the fifth.
Battle of Memphisedit
After Fort Pillow fell, Flag OfficerCharles Henry Davis, USN, commanding the Mississippi River Squadron, lost no time in appearing off Memphis, on 6 June 1862. Montgomery, with a smaller squadron short of fuel, was unable to retreat to Vicksburg; unwilling to destroy his boats, he fought against heavy odds. In the ensuing Battle of Memphis, "witnessed by thousands on the bluff," Beauregard unluckily missed ramming USS Monarch and "cut away entirely the port wheel and wheel-house" of her partner, CSS General Sterling Price, also engaging Monarch. General Beauregard, backing out, gave Union flagship USS Benton a close broadside with a 42-pounder, and Benton replied with a shot into the Confederate's boiler, killing or scalding many of her crew, 14 of whom, in agony, were rescued by Benton. General Beauregard' was sunk off the coast of NC and rests at Carolina Beach to this day
Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: CSS General Beauregard
December 17, 2023
general, beauregard, cottonclad, sidewheel, confederate, navy, during, american, civil, this, contemporary, print, depicts, center, right, being, rammed, monarch, while, other, ships, variously, sunk, burnt, aground, during, battle, memphis, historyconfederate. CSS General Beauregard was a cottonclad sidewheel ram of the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War This contemporary print depicts the CSS General Beauregard center right being rammed by the USS Monarch while other CSN ships are variously sunk burnt or run aground during the Battle of Memphis HistoryConfederate StatesNameGeneral BeauregardNamesakeGeneral P G T BeauregardLaunched1847AcquiredJanuary 1862CommissionedApril 1862FateSunk at action 6 June 1862General characteristicsTypeSidewheel steamerTonnage454 long tons 461 t PropulsionSteam engine side wheelsArmament4 8 in 200 mm gunsBuilt in Algiers Louisiana in 1847 as a towboat the paddle steamer Ocean was selected in January 1862 by Capt James E Montgomery former river steamboat master for his River Defense Fleet At New Orleans on 25 January Captain Montgomery began her conversion to a cotton clad ram installing 4 inch 100 mm oak and 1 inch 25 mm iron sheathing over her bow with cotton bales sandwiched between double pine bulkheads to protect her boilers Contents 1 Service history 1 1 Battle of Plum Point Bend 1 2 Battle of Memphis 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksService history editBattle of Plum Point Bend edit Conversion completed on 5 April and now renamed CSS General Beauregard the ship steamed to Fort Pillow Tennessee to defend the approaches to Memphis On 10 May 1862 General Beauregard Capt J H Hart and seven more of Montgomery s fleet attacked the Federal Mississippi ironclad flotilla The Battle of Plum Point Bend witnessed effective ramming tactics by the Confederates although General Beauregard succeeded only in keeping her four 8 inch guns bravely firing in the face of a withering hail of Union shells Montgomery s force held off the Federal rams until Fort Pillow was safely evacuated 4 June then fell back on Memphis to coal on the fifth Battle of Memphis edit After Fort Pillow fell Flag Officer Charles Henry Davis USN commanding the Mississippi River Squadron lost no time in appearing off Memphis on 6 June 1862 Montgomery with a smaller squadron short of fuel was unable to retreat to Vicksburg unwilling to destroy his boats he fought against heavy odds In the ensuing Battle of Memphis witnessed by thousands on the bluff Beauregard unluckily missed ramming USS Monarch and cut away entirely the port wheel and wheel house of her partner CSS General Sterling Price also engaging Monarch General Beauregard backing out gave Union flagship USS Benton a close broadside with a 42 pounder and Benton replied with a shot into the Confederate s boiler killing or scalding many of her crew 14 of whom in agony were rescued by Benton General Beauregard was sunk off the coast of NC and rests at Carolina Beach to this daySee also editBibliography of early American naval historyReferences editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editNaval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images CSS General Beauregard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CSS General Beauregard amp oldid 1169313593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
