Another ship at the Battle of Butte La Rose with an interesting history. This ship saw service in both the Confederate and Union navies, but also the Union Army before a long career as the SS Calhoun after the war.
The Calhoun was built in New York City in 1851 as the Cuba. It became a Confederate privateer and blockade-runner and was captured by the 44 gun USS Colorado steam screw frigate off Southwest Pass, Louisiana 23 Jan 1862.
It joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron 19 March 1862 and took part in the captures of 13 blockade-runners off the Passes of the Mississippi River. During its US naval career, it mounted two 32-pdrs and one 30 pdr. rifled gun. The USS Calhoun participated in the destruction of the first CSS Cotton and it is said a shell from the Calhoun turned the CSS Queen of the West into an inferno and ending its service. Less than a week later, it was at Butte La Rose.
It later took four more prizes off Ship Island, Mississippi and often shelled fortifications on shore.
The last two weeks in February, it flew the flag of Admiral David Farragut in Mobile Bay.
It was sold June 4, 1864 to the US Army and became the general Sedgwick for the remainder of the war, before becoming the SS Calhoun and leading a long career.
Is This The End? --Old B-Runner
