USS Fort Hindman was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was placed in service and used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
USS Fort Hindman photographed during her Civil War service on the Western Rivers.
History
United States
Name
USS Fort Hindman
Namesake
A fortification in the Arkansas River near Saint Charles, captured from the Confederates in January 1863.
Fort Hindman, a side wheel steamer, was purchased 14 March 1863 as James Thompson; she was converted into a river gunboat by the addition of timber bulwarks and thin iron plate: a style of warship commonly referred to as a "tinclad". She joined the Mississippi Squadron in April 1863, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. in command; was renamed Manitou 23 March 1863; and renamed Fort Hindman 8 November 1863. The USS Fort Hindman was designed to patrol in shallow waters and small tributaries where heavier ironclads could not enter. Her light armor was only intended to stop small arms fire.
Ordinary Seaman Duncan throwing a burning cartridge overboard on USS Fort Hindman, after it was set afire by an exploding shell. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in this incident, which took place during an engagement with an enemy battery near Harrisonburg, Louisiana, on 2 March 1864.
She continued to patrol the central Mississippi River and its tributaries, taking a Confederate merchantman prize in the Red River 1 March, engaging Confederate sharpshooters and a battery ashore in the Black and later that day in the Ouachita River. During the expedition, Fort Hindman transported troops and prisoners of war, over and over again engaged Confederate batteries, and took part in the passage of the falls off Alexandria, Louisiana, on 8 May.
Moving to a more southerly patrol area, Fort Hindman operated in the rivers and bayous of Louisiana, occasionally returning to Natchez, Mississippi.
Post-war decommissioning and sale
She arrived at Mound City, Illinois, 1 August 1865. There she was decommissioned 3 August 1865, and sold 17 August 1865.
fort, hindman, steamer, acquired, union, navy, during, american, civil, placed, service, used, navy, patrol, navigable, waterways, confederacy, prevent, south, from, trading, with, other, countries, photographed, during, civil, service, western, rivers, histor. USS Fort Hindman was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War She was placed in service and used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries USS Fort Hindman photographed during her Civil War service on the Western Rivers HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS Fort HindmanNamesakeA fortification in the Arkansas River near Saint Charles captured from the Confederates in January 1863 Orderedas James ThompsonYard numberTinclad 13Laid downdate unknownLaunchedin 1862 at Jeffersonville IndianaAcquired14 March 1863Commissionedcirca 14 March 1863Decommissioned3 August 1865 at Mound City IllinoisStricken1865 est FateSold 17 August 1865NotesRenamed James Thompson and remained in use until about 1874General characteristicsTyperiver gunboatDisplacement286 tonsLength150 ft 46 m Beam37 ft 11 m Draught28 ft 8 5 m Propulsionsteam engine side wheel propelledSpeednot knownComplementnot knownArmamenttwo 8 smoothbore guns four 8 gunsArmortinclad Contents 1 Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron 2 Patrolling the Mississippi and adjacent rivers 3 Post war decommissioning and sale 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAssigned to the Mississippi Squadron EditFort Hindman a side wheel steamer was purchased 14 March 1863 as James Thompson she was converted into a river gunboat by the addition of timber bulwarks and thin iron plate a style of warship commonly referred to as a tinclad She joined the Mississippi Squadron in April 1863 Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Thomas O Selfridge Jr in command was renamed Manitou 23 March 1863 and renamed Fort Hindman 8 November 1863 The USS Fort Hindman was designed to patrol in shallow waters and small tributaries where heavier ironclads could not enter Her light armor was only intended to stop small arms fire Patrolling the Mississippi and adjacent rivers EditIn July 1863 the steamer headed an expedition up the Little Red River a tributary of the Black River and captured quantities of ordnance and Confederate Government provisions as well as the heavier Federal ironclad Louisville Ordinary Seaman Duncan throwing a burning cartridge overboard on USS Fort Hindman after it was set afire by an exploding shell He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in this incident which took place during an engagement with an enemy battery near Harrisonburg Louisiana on 2 March 1864 She continued to patrol the central Mississippi River and its tributaries taking a Confederate merchantman prize in the Red River 1 March engaging Confederate sharpshooters and a battery ashore in the Black and later that day in the Ouachita River During the expedition Fort Hindman transported troops and prisoners of war over and over again engaged Confederate batteries and took part in the passage of the falls off Alexandria Louisiana on 8 May Moving to a more southerly patrol area Fort Hindman operated in the rivers and bayous of Louisiana occasionally returning to Natchez Mississippi Post war decommissioning and sale EditShe arrived at Mound City Illinois 1 August 1865 There she was decommissioned 3 August 1865 and sold 17 August 1865 See also EditBlockade runners of the American Civil War Union Navy Confederate States NavyReferences EditThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links EditUSS Fort Hindman 1863 1865 Tinclad 13 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Fort Hindman amp oldid 1161400943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
