USS Essex (1856) facts for kids
Essex at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 1862
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | New Era |
| Launched | 1856 |
| Acquired | 20 September 1861 |
| Decommissioned | 20 July 1865 |
| Renamed | Essex in late 1861 |
| Refit | as an ironclad late 1861 |
| Fate | sold on 29 November 1865; scrapped 1870 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ironclad |
| Displacement | 640 tons |
| Length | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Speed | 5.5 knots |
| Complement | 124 |
| Armament | 1 × 32-pounder; 3 × 11-inch Dahlgren smooth bores;1 × 10-inch Dahlgren smoothbore;1 × 12-pounder howitzer |
| Armor | 1 ¾" forward casemate, ¾" sides |
The USS Essex was a special kind of warship called an ironclad river gunboat. It weighed 1000 tons. This ship was used by the United States Army and later the United States Navy during the American Civil War. It got its name from Essex County, Massachusetts. The USS Essex started out as a regular steam-powered ferry named New Era. It was built in 1856 in New Albany, Indiana.
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Early Service in Tennessee
In September 1861, the U.S. Army bought the New Era. They wanted to use it in their Western Gunboat Flotilla. The ship was changed into a 355-ton timberclad gunboat. A timberclad ship was covered with thick wood to protect it.
In November 1861, the USS New Era went on a trip up the Cumberland River. Soon after, its name was changed to USS Essex. It also got an important upgrade: iron armor was added to make it even stronger.
On January 11, 1862, the USS Essex fought against Confederate States Navy gunboats. This battle happened near Lucas Bend, Missouri. Then, on February 6, 1862, the Essex helped attack Fort Henry, Tennessee. During this fight, the ship was badly damaged by gunfire from the Confederate side.
Battling the CSS Arkansas
The commanding officer, William D. Porter, decided to make his ship even better. He upgraded the Essex into a powerful ironclad gunboat without official permission at first. Under his orders, the ship was made longer and wider. Its entire design was changed a lot. New, stronger engines were put in, and it received more armor.
After these big upgrades, the Essex took part in battles near Vicksburg, Mississippi. On July 15, 1862, the USS Essex faced off against the CSS Arkansas. The Arkansas managed to get past the Union fleets that were blocking the city.
A few days later, on July 23, the Essex tried to attack the Arkansas while it was docked. But the Essex was pushed back by the Arkansas and by cannons on the shore. Soon after, the Union forces left Vicksburg. The Essex then joined Admiral David Farragut's group of ships. It was the only Union ironclad on the lower Mississippi River at that time. On August 5, 1862, the Essex helped stop a Confederate Army attack on Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The very next day, August 6, the Essex fought the CSS Arkansas again. The Arkansas was trying to help the Confederates who were attacking Baton Rouge. As the Essex got closer, the steering system of the Arkansas broke. Its crew had to sink their own ship because the Essex was there.
In October 1862, the Essex was officially moved from the U.S. Army to the United States Navy. It helped bombard Port Hudson, Louisiana and assisted when Union forces took over Baton Rouge. From May to July 1863, under the command of Robert Townsend, the Essex helped in the long battle to capture Port Hudson. The USS Essex also took part in the Red River Campaign from March to May 1864.
In December 1864, the USS Essex was in Memphis, Tennessee.
After the War
The Essex was taken out of service in July 1865. It was sold in November 1865 and went back to its original civilian name, New Era. The ship was taken apart for scrap metal in 1870.
The USS Essex was known as one of the busiest gunboats on the Mississippi River. Even though its armor was not the strongest, it was often involved in battles and frequently got damaged.
Images for kids
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Essex at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 1862
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A contemporary illustration of the 1861 conversion of the steamer New Era into the gunboat USS Essex.
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CSS Arkansas running through the Union fleet above Vicksburg, Mississippi, 15 July 1862
