Some More on the CSS Pontchartrain

The Pontchartrain served in the Arkansas and White rivers. The 454 ton side wheel boat was built in New Albany, Indiana in 1859 and purchased by the Confederate Navy October 12, 1861. Even though it never saw actual combat,it was involved in a lot of activities in the area until its destruction in 1863.

It was 204 feet long, had a 36.6 foot beam, 10 foot draft (which hindered its movement considerably) and mounted seven guns.

It was at New Madrid, Missouri and Island No. 10. At one point, the Union Navy believed it was being clad in iron and it was very much on the minds of its commanders for fear of a sudden attack.

On February 6, 1863, Union Lt.-Cmdr. Thomas O. Selfridge (the sinker of ships, especially those beginning with the letter C), commander of the USS Conestoga, proposed a run up the Arkansas River to sink the Pontchartrain, but it never came to pass. The Conestoga was later sunk by an accidental collision with another Union ship.

When Union forces occupied Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 10, 1863, the Confederate burned the ship. With yesterday's entry, evidently the wreck site is known, but I never came across any mention of salvage, so perhaps the cannons are still aboard.

Again, before this article, I had never heard of the CSS Pontchartrain (and finally have figured out how to spell it without looking.

So Much for Its History. --B-R'er

Looking for the CSS Pontchartrain

From the February 24th THV of Little Rock, Arkansas.

William Stevens is leading an effort in the Arkansas River to locate and bring up items from the Confederate gunboat Pontchartrain. A bell and a jug have been found so far. Inside the jug, they found a pocket knife, marbles and bullets.

Before the war, it was a civilian boat called the Lizzie Simmons before it was acquired by the Confederacy.

When it was set on fire, it burned for 24 hours and there is only one known picture of the ship which appeared in a boat menu.

Never heard of It. --Old B-Runner