"The Return of the USS Cairo – How a Lost Civil War Ironclad " Topic

….Was Brought Back to Life.

"THE IRONCLAD USS Cairo had only been in service for one year when she was lost in action in 1862. But after lying in a watery grave for 102 years the ship was recovered and stands today as one of only four Civil War era gunboats still in existence.

Named after the city of Cairo, Illinois, the 175-foot vessel was the lead ship in the Union's City-class gunboats (also referred to as Cairo class). Union gunboats during this time were commonly named for towns and cities along the major rivers. Although christened in honour of the city of Cairo, the ship was actually built in Mound City, Illinois by James Eads and Company in 1861 and commissioned as part of the United States Army's Western Gunboat flotilla, which operated on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. In 1862, Cairo was transferred to the U.S. Navy and took part in the Yazoo Pass Expedition, the Battle of Memphis and actions on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to take and occupy the cities of Clarksville and Nashville…."

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Amicalement
Armand

Wait, there are three other ACW gunboats around somewhere? Anybody know which ones and where they are?

I drove out to Vicksburg to see the Cairo back in the fall of 1996 when I was taking a class in Montgomery, Alabama. Great adventure, took in a batch of other ACW battlefields as well, and saw a part of the country I'd never visited before.

Grelber

The lower portion of the CSS Jackson is preserved in the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA. The museum has an extensive collection of exhibits, flags and artifacts and a very detailed history of the war on the rivers and sea. Well worth a visit. And you can also visit the extensive US army museum at Fort Benning, which is nearby.

Also known as the Muskogee, I believe this was the second ship named Jackson. (There was a sidewheel steamer lost at New Orleans.) Due to delays in armor shipments the ship never saw action, and was set afire when Union forces approached.

I was just a teenager when they raised the Cairo. The efforts were always in the news here.

For anyone who is interested in Civil War naval history, a visit to the museum at the Vicksburg National Military Park is a must see.

Jim

Yes, I have visited the Vicksburg battlefield. Walking over the Cairo is a great experience. A must if you are able to go there.
Another rare experience is to visit the Confederate naval Museum located right on US HWY 280 in Columbus GA. Fascinating tour.

If you are in North Carolina, you can visit the remains of the CSS Neuss and see the full scale replica. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Neuse

Many thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

As an FYI for those of you attempting to pronounce the name of the Cairo – if named after the city in Southern IL it is pronounced "KayRo". I don't ask.

Southern IN has a city spelled Versailles – pronounced "VerSails".

My children and I do give our friends a hard time – but I know enquiring minds like yours would want to know.

If you are in Plymouth, NC, there is a half scale (or is it 3/4?) CSS Albemarle that operates on the river as well as a nearby museum. This is where the real CSS Albemarle was sunk by Cushing in his daring raid.

Don't forget Vienna, Illinois pronounced VY-AN-Na.