Image ID: ANPB

Library of Congress says: U.S. gunboat Pittsburg – Mississippi River Fleet.

Miller, Photographic History of the Civil War, Vol. 6, p148: A veteran of the rivers – the “Pittsburg.” The “Pittsburg” was one of seven ironclads that Eads completed in a hundred days. She first went into action at Fort Donelson, where she was struck forty times. Two shots from the Confederates pierced her below the guards. She began shipping water so fast that it was feared that she would sink. In turning around to get out of range, she fouled the “Carondelet’s” stern, breaking one of her rudders. In going ahead to clear the “Carondelet” from the “Pittsburg,” Commander Walke was forced to approach within 350 yards of the fort, which immediately concentrated the fire of the batteries upon that single vessel, whose consorts were all drifting out of action in a disabled condition. It was only by great coolness and courage that the “Carondelet” was extricated after being exposed to a terrific fire for some time. The “Pittsburg” was conspicuously in the fight with the Confederate flotilla at Fort Pillow. She was sent by Admiral Porter on the famous “land cruise” up the Yazoo, which nearly cost him the flotilla. She ran the batteries at Vicksburg and helped to silence the batteries at Grand Gulf, Mississippi. In May, 1863, she was with Admiral Porter on the first Red River expedition and distinguished herself in the action with Fort Beauregard. The next year she was in the second Red River expedition and shared with the other vessels the dangers of the return. She was one of the most serviceable of the first Eads ironclads.