Star of the West facts for kids
_from_Pictorial_History_(Lossing,_1866).jpg)
A drawing of Star of the West from the time it was built.
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Owner |
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| Operator | U.S. Department of War (1861–) |
| Builder | Jeremiah Simonson |
| Launched | 17 June 1852 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Steamship |
| Tonnage | 1,172 tons |
| Length | 228.3 ft (69.6 m) |
| Beam | 32.7 ft (10.0 m) |
| Propulsion | Paddlewheels |
Star of the West was a steamship from America. It was built in 1852. Later, Confederate forces sank it in 1863.
In January 1861, the United States government rented the ship. They wanted it to carry military supplies and soldiers. These were for the U.S. military base at Fort Sumter. A group of cadets from The Citadel fired cannons at the ship. This happened on Morris Island, South Carolina. Many people believe these were the first shots of the American Civil War.
Confederate forces later captured the ship. They used it for different jobs. It was a hospital ship and helped sneak supplies past blockades. Finally, it was sunk in 1863 to help defend Vicksburg.
Contents
Early Journeys of the Star of the West
The Star of the West was a 1,172-ton steamship. It was built by Jeremiah Simonson in New York City. The ship was launched on June 17, 1852. It was first owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt.
The ship was about 228 feet long and 32 feet wide. It had wooden paddle wheels on its sides. It also had two masts for sails.
The Star of the West began its service on October 20, 1852. It traveled between New York and San Juan de Nicaragua. From 1853 to 1856, it worked for Charles Morgan. In 1857, it started a route from New York to Aspinwall. This was for the U.S. Mail Steamship Company. In 1859, it changed routes. It then sailed between New York, Havana, and New Orleans. In January 1861, the War Department rented the ship.
The Star of the West in the Civil War
On January 9, 1861, the Star of the West arrived at Charleston Harbor. This was weeks after South Carolina had left the United States. The ship was there to bring supplies to Major Robert Anderson and his soldiers. They were stationed at Fort Sumter.
First Shots of the War
Cadets from The Citadel Academy fired cannons at the ship. The ship was hit three times. These shots are seen as the first shots of the American Civil War. Even though the Star of the West was not badly damaged, its captain, John McGowan, decided it was too risky. He turned the ship around and left the harbor. The mission was stopped. The Star of the West then sailed back to New York.
Capture and New Roles
The ship was then rented from New York City. It became a troop transport for $1,000 a day. It sailed to Texas to pick up seven companies of Union Army soldiers. On April 18, 1861, the ship was anchored near Indianola. It was captured by Colonel Earl Van Dorn and two local groups of soldiers.
Two days later, the ship was taken to New Orleans. The governor of Louisiana, Thomas Overton Moore, changed its name. He called it CSS St. Philip. However, people still often called it Star of the West. The ship was used as a naval base and a hospital ship. It served in these roles until Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans.
Sinking the Ship
The Star of the West was still under Confederate control. It managed to escape being captured again. It was sent to carry a lot of gold, silver, and paper money. After delivering this valuable cargo to Vicksburg, it went to Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Union forces tried to attack Vicksburg from behind. They wanted to sail through the Yazoo Pass into the Tallahatchie River. To stop them, Confederate defenders quickly built Fort Pemberton. Major General William W. Loring ordered the Star of the West to be sunk. It was placed sideways in the Tallahatchie River near Greenwood. This blocked the Union ships. In a fight on April 12, 1863, the Union forces lost many soldiers. They had to leave.
After the war, the original owners of the Star of the West received money from the U.S. government for their lost ship.
The Star of the West Medal
The Star of the West Medal is a special award. It is given every year to the "best drilled cadet" at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. In June 1893, the head of The Citadel, Colonel Asbury Coward, took the cadets to Aiken, South Carolina. This was for their yearly camp and graduation.
A Confederate Veteran named Dr. Benjamin H. Teague was impressed by the cadets. He collected old Confederate items. He decided to give a medal to The Citadel. It would be for the best drilled cadet. Dr. Teague had a piece of oak wood from the Star of the West ship. He cut a small star shape from this wood. He had it put on a gold medal. The winner would wear the medal for one year. Then they would pass it to the next winner. The names of the winners are carved on a monument at the college. Sadly, the original medal with the wood is now lost.
Star of the West in Books
The story of the Star of the West is important in a book by John Updike. The book is called Memories of the Ford Administration (1992). In the book, the main character is trying to write about the 1970s. But his mind keeps going back to the 1800s. He thinks about events like the Star of the West mission to Fort Sumter.
