View source for USS Queen of the West

{{Short description|Sidewheel steamer ram ship}}
{{For|the 1995 sternwheeler|Queen of the West{{!}}''Queen of the West''}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
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|Ship image=[[Image:USS Queen of the West (1854) watercolor.jpg|300px|CSS Queen of the West]]
|Ship caption=''USS Queen of the West''
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|1861}}
|Ship name=''USS Queen of the West''
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|Ship fate=Captured by [[Confederate States Army]], February 14, 1863
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|Ship country=Confederate States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Confederate States of America|naval}}
|Ship name=CSS ''Queen of the West''
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|Ship type=[[Paddle steamer|Sidewheel steamer]]
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|Ship displacement=406 tons<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen of the West (side-wheel ram) 1862-1863 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/confederate_ships/queen-of-the-west-side-wheel-ram.html |website=www.history.navy.mil |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>
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|Ship complement=120 officers and men
|Ship armament=*1 × 30-pounder cannon
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The '''USS ''Queen of the West''''' was a [[Paddle steamer|sidewheel steamer]] [[Ram (ship)|ram ship]] and the [[flagship]] of the [[United States Ram Fleet]] and the [[Mississippi Marine Brigade]].  It was built at [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], in 1854.  It served as a commercial steamer until purchased by Colonel [[Charles Ellet Jr.]] in 1862 and converted for use as a ram ship.  The ship operated in conjunction with the [[Mississippi River Squadron]] during the Union [[brown-water navy]] battle against the Confederate [[River Defense Fleet]] for control of the [[Mississippi River]] and its tributaries during the [[American Civil War]].

The ship played a critical role in the Union Navy victory at the [[First Battle of Memphis]] and sank the Confederate flagship {{ship|CSS|Colonel Lovell}}.  In actions south of [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]], she severely damaged the CSS ''City of Vicksburg'' and captured four transport ships supplying Confederate forces.

On February 14, 1863, the USS ''Queen of the West'' was captured by Confederate forces on the [[Red River of the South|Red River]], repaired and returned to service as the CSS ''Queen of the West''.  Together with the {{ship|CSS|Webb}}, it was used to force the surrender of the {{ship|USS|Indianola}} on the Mississippi River.

On April 11, 1863, she was attacked and destroyed on the [[Atchafalaya River]] by the [[USS Estrella (1862)|USS ''Estrella'']], [[USS Calhoun (1851)|USS ''Calhoun'']] and [[USS Arizona (1858)|USS ''Arizona'']].

==Service as USS ''Queen of the West''==
[[File:Ellet rams h59007.jpg|thumb|An engraving from Harper's Weekly depicting several of the [[United States Ram Fleet]] ships. The ''Queen of the West'' is second from the front with the large "Q" between the smoke stacks]]
The ''Queen of the West'' was built in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1854 and served as a commercial steamer.  She was purchased by Charles Ellet, Jr. in 1862 due to her speed and converted for usage as a ram ship.  The hull was reinforced, the forward end filled with hard oak wood, the steam-engine secured and the pilot house protected by thick wooden planks.  Three longitudinal bulkheads were added and supported with iron bars. A central beam was installed from bow to stern and iron peaks were installed on the bow.  A large ornamental "Q" was installed in the support cables between the twin chimney stacks.  She was originally not equipped with any guns.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|p=68}}  The ''Queen of the West'' was designated as Colonel Ellet's flagship of the United States Ram Fleet.{{sfn|Abbott|1866|p=301}}

On May 25, the ''Queen of the West'' and the ram fleet joined the Mississippi River Squadron, led by [[Charles H. Davis (naval officer)|Charles H. Davis]], on the Mississippi River north of Fort Pillow.  Davis had little faith in the effectiveness of the rams but allowed the fleet to accompany his gunboats down the river to Memphis.{{sfn|Fowler|1990|p=}}

===First Battle of Memphis===
[[File:Memphis h42367.jpg|thumb|The ''Queen of the West'' sank the Confederate flagship {{ship|CSS|Colonel Lovell}} at the [[First Battle of Memphis]]]]
On June 6, Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr. led the ram ships in the [[First Battle of Memphis]] as captain of the ''Queen of the West''.  Ellet had not coordinated a plan of attack with Davis and when the flotilla approached Confederate forces, the ''Queen of the West'' and the [[USS Monarch (1862)|USS ''Monarch'']] steamed ahead of Davis' gunboats.  The ''Queen of the West'' rammed and sank the Confederate flagship {{ship|CSS|Colonel Lovell||6}}.  After the collision, the ''Queen of the West'' came under attack from the {{ship|CSS|Sumter}} and the CSS ''Beauregard''. The attack sheared off one of the paddle wheels from the ''Queen of the West'' and forced her to ground on the riverbank. Ellet was wounded in the knee by a Confederate sharpshooter during the battle. His wound was the only serious casualty received on the Union side during the battle.  Ellet died 15 days from a blood infection due to the injury.  Ellet's brother, [[Alfred W. Ellet]] took command of the ram fleet and his son [[Charles Rivers Ellet]] became captain of the ''Queen of the West''.{{sfn|Fowler|1990|p=}}

===Actions near Vicksburg===
[[File:Charles R. Ellet.png|thumb|[[Charles R. Ellet]] commanded the ''Queen of the West'' in daring actions on the Yazoo River and on the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg]]
On July 15, the ''Queen of the West'', {{USS|Carondelet|1861|6}}, and {{USS|Tyler|1857|6}} engaged the Confederate ironclad ram {{Ship|CSS|Arkansas}} in the [[Yazoo River]]. The ''Arkansas'' was heavily damaged but escaped into the Mississippi and took refuge under the Confederate batteries at [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]]. On July 22, ''Queen of the West'' and {{USS|Essex|1856|6}} attacked ''Arkansas'', despite the batteries at Vicksburg. The ''Queen of the West'' rammed the ''Arkansas'' but inflicted only minor damage and rejoined the Mississippi River Squadron ships above Vicksburg.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|p=85}}

The ''Queen of the West'' continued to support operations against Vicksburg.  On September 19, while escorting two transport barges, the ''Queen of the West'' had a short engagement with Confederate infantry and artillery on the Mississippi River above [[Bolivar, Mississippi]].  The ''Queen of the West'' also conducted operations in the Yazoo River clearing mines and engaging Confederate batteries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen of the West (side-wheel ram) 1862-1863 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/confederate_ships/queen-of-the-west-side-wheel-ram.html |website=www.history.navy.mil |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>

In November 1862, the [[Mississippi Marine Brigade]], an amphibious raiding unit, was organized by Alfred W. Ellet.  The ram fleet including the ''Queen of the West'' was incorporated as a part of the brigade.  On November 5, Charles Rivers Ellet was promoted to the rank of colonel{{sfn|Abbott|1866|p=306}} and assigned command of the ram fleet.<ref name=Laidig>{{cite web |last1=Laidig |first1=Scott |title=The Fighting Ellets: Ingenuity, Courage, Nepotism and Corruption? |url=https://ehistory.osu.edu/articles/fighting-ellets-ingenuity-courage-nepotism-and-corruption-0 |website=www.ehistory.osu.edu |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>

On December 12, 1862, the ''Queen of the West'' was one of the ships that accompanied the {{ship|USS|Cairo}} up the Yazoo River.  The ''Cairo'' was struck by a 'torpedo' or [[naval mine]] and began to sink rapidly.  The ''Queen of the West'' was able to rescue part of the crew from the ''Cairo'' before it sank.{{sfn|Bearss|1980|pp=98-100}}

On February 2, 1863, Charles Rivers Ellet was ordered by Admiral [[David Dixon Porter]] to run the ''Queen of the West'' past the batteries at [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]] to support Admiral [[David Farragut]] below the city.  The boat was equipped with a 30-pounder bow gun, three 12-pounder howitzers, cotton bales and wooden sheathing for protection.  Ellet intended to "run the gauntlet" of Vicksburg by cover of night, however delays resulted in passage of the guns at daybreak.  The guns at Vicksburg fired for 50 minutes straight.  The ''Queen of the West'' took 12 hits and lost a gun but made it past the batteries with minimal damage.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Scheibert |first1=Justus |title=A Prussian Observes the American Civil War: The Military Studies of Justus Scheibert (Shade of Blue and Gray Series) |date=2001 |publisher=University of Missouri Press |location=Columbia and London |isbn=0-8262-1348-0 |page=176 |url=https://epdf.pub/a-prussian-observes-the-american-civil-war-the-military-studies-of-justus-scheib.html |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> The run provided the Union forces with insight as to where the guns at Vicksburg were positioned.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|p=110}}

[[File:Queen Vicksburg.jpg|thumb|The ''Queen of the West'' rammed the CSS ''City of Vicksburg'' and set her ablaze with turpentine soaked balls fired from the forward gun]]
Once past the batteries, the ''Queen of the West'' found the [[CSS Vicksburg|''City of'' ''Vicksburg'']] docked, rammed her, and set her ablaze with turpentine-soaked balls fired from the forward gun.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen of the West Runs the Vicksburg Blockade |url=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/february/queen-west-blockade-run.htm |website=www.sonofthesouth.net |access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref>  The ''City of Vicksburg'' was severely damaged but not destroyed.  The ''Queen of the West'' had to disengage before destroying the ''City of Vicksburg'' due to enemy fire which set the cotton bales aboard the ''Queen of the West'' ablaze.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|pp=110-111}}

The Union forces supplied the ''Queen of the West'' with fuel by floating an unmanned coal barge filled with 20,000 bushels of coal past the Vicksburg batteries at night.  The barge went unnoticed by the Confederate forces and floated downriver 10 miles before being intercepted by the ''Queen of the West''.  The barge provided the ''Queen of the West'' with enough fuel to continue her mission.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|p=110}}

On February 3, the ''Queen of the West'' captured three Confederate transport ships - the CSS ''A.W. Baker'', CSS ''Moro'' and CSS ''Berwick Bay''.  The ''Moro'' was empty of cargo since it had just dropped off supplies at [[Port Hudson, Louisiana]].  The other two ships were laden with food supplies headed toward Vicksburg.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chatelain |first1=Neil |title=Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865 |date=2020 |publisher=Savas Beatie |location=El Dorado Hills, CA |isbn=978-1-61121-510-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRD5DwAAQBAJ |access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>

The ''Queen of the West'' rendezvoused with the ''De Soto'' and on February 12, both ships went down the [[Atchafalaya River]] to [[Simmesport, Louisiana]] in search of Confederate forces. The crew went ashore, destroyed all supplies found and looted the residential area.  On the way back up the Mississippi River, the ''Queen of the West'' received Confederate gun fire and the 1st mate was injured.  In retaliation, Ellet and his crew burned three plantations that were believed to be the residences of those that injured the 1st mate.<ref name=Barnhart>{{cite web |last1=Barnhart |first1=Donald Jr. |title=Admiral Porter's Ironclad Hoax During the American Civil War |url=https://www.historynet.com/admiral-porters-ironclad-hoax-during-the-american-civil-war.htm |website=www.historynet.com |date=June 12, 2006 |access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref>

===Loss of the Queen of the West===
[[File:Queen of the West Capture.jpg|thumb|The ''Queen of the West'' was captured by Confederate forces on the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] near [[Fort DeRussy (Louisiana)|Fort DeRussy]]]]
On February 14, the ''Queen of the West'' and ''De Soto'' went up the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] and captured the steamboat [[Era No. 5]] carrying 4,500 bushels of corn.<ref name=Barnhart/> The ''Queen of the West'' continued upstream to investigate reports of steamships at Gordon's Landing near [[Marksville, Louisiana]].  She came under heavy fire by the shore batteries of [[Fort DeRussy (Louisiana)|Fort DeRussy]] and was run aground onto the right bank by her pilot instead of backing down river as ordered.  She was directly in the sight of Confederate guns, which pounded her until Ellet ordered "abandon ship".  Ellet and the crew escaped and floated downstream on bales of cotton and were rescued by the ''De Soto''.  The ''Queen of the West'' was not burned out of concern for the 1st mate, who was wounded and could not be moved.  The USS ''Queen of the West'' was captured, repaired and re-entered into service as the CSS ''Queen of the West'' by the Confederate forces.{{sfn|Joiner|2007|p=114}}

==Service as CSS ''Queen of the West''==
[[File:USS Indianola blown up.jpg|thumb|The CSS ''Queen of the West'' and the {{ship|CSS|Webb}} forced the surrender of the {{ship|USS|Indianola}}]]
In conjunction with the Confederate ram, {{Ship|CSS|Webb}}, she forced the surrender of {{USS|Indianola|1862|6}} in the Mississippi River below Vicksburg on February 24.{{sfn|Abbott|1866|pp=309-310}} On April 11, 1863, she was attacked on the [[Atchafalaya River]] in [[Louisiana]] by Union ships {{USS|Estrella|1862|6}}, {{USS|Calhoun|1851|2}}, and {{USS|Arizona|1858|2}}. A shell from ''Calhoun'' set fire to ''Queen of the West''<nowiki/>'s cotton, and her burning wreck drifted down the river for several hours before she grounded and exploded.<ref>April 11 (not April 14) is the reported destruction date by the Commander of the flotilla that engaged Queen of the West. {{citation|url=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/vicksburg-blockade-runner.htm|author=Lt. Commander A.P. Cook|publisher=Harper's Weekly|issue=335|page=337|title=Extract of Official Report of Lieutenant-Commander Cooke to Commodore Morris|volume=7}}</ref>  90 members of the Confederate crew were captured and 26 killed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gaines |first1=W. Craig |title=Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks |date=2008 |publisher=Louisiana State University Press |location=Baton Rouge |isbn=978-0-8071-3274-6 |page=72 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90d2LcmfpCcC&q=USS+Queen+of+the+West&pg=PA72 |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Queen of the West Destruction-engraving.png|thumb|The ''CSS Queen of the West'' was destroyed on the Atchafalaya River by the ''[[USS Estrella]]'', [[USS Calhoun (1851)|''USS Calhoun'']] and [[USS Arizona (1858)|''USS Arizona'']]]]

==See also==
{{Portal|American Civil War}}
*[[Anaconda Plan]]
*[[Union Navy]]

==References==
<references/>

==Sources==
* {{cite book
  | last = Abbott
  | first = John S.C.
  | year = 1866
  | title = Charles Ellet and His Naval Steam Rams
  | publisher = Harper's Magazine, Volume 32
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WXsCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA295
}}
*{{cite book
  |last=Bearss
  |first=Edwin C.
  |year=1980
  |title=Hardluck Ironclad: The Sinking and Salvage of the ''Cairo''
  |publisher=Louisiana State University Press
  |location=Baton Rouge
  |isbn=978-0-8071-0684-6
  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTXjnKDmCCMC&pg=PP1
}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Crandall
  | first = Warren Daniel
  | year = 1907
  | title = History of the Ram Fleet and the Mississippi Marine Brigade in the War for the Union on the Mississippi and its tributaries: the story of the Ellets and their men
  | publisher = Press of the Buschart Brothers
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jvlBAAAAYAAJ&q=the+history+of+the+ellets+and+their+men
}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Fowler
  | first = William M.
  | year = 1990
  | title = Under Two Flags: The American Navy in the Civil War
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | isbn = 978-1-61251-196-2
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OXtHAAAAQBAJ
}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Hearn
  | first = Chester G.
  | year = 2000
  | title = Ellet's Brigade: The Strangest Outfit of All
  | publisher = LSU Press
  | isbn = 0-8071-2559-8
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PSyYCwAAQBAJ&q=ellet%27s+brigade+the+strangest+outfit
}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Joiner
  | first = Gary D.
  | year = 2007
  | title = Mr. Lincoln's Brown Water Navy - The Mississippi Squadron
  | publisher = Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
  | isbn = 978-0-7425-5097-1
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ox2kdwbVbEC&q=ellet
}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Tomblin
  | first = Barbara Brooks
  | year = 2016
  | title = The Civil War on the Mississippi: Union Sailors, Gunboat Captains, and the Campaign to Control the River
  | publisher = University Press of Kentucky
  | isbn = 978-0-8131-6703-9
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GkgxDAAAQBAJ&q=ellet
}}

{{Commons category|USS Queen of the West (ship, 1854)}}

{{CSN cottonclad rams}}
{{1863 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen Of The West}}
[[Category:1854 ships]]
[[Category:American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:Cottonclad rams of the Confederate States Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1863]]
[[Category:Naval magazine explosions]]
[[Category:Paddle steamers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Ships of the Union Navy]]
[[Category:Ships of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in rivers]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the American Civil War]]
[[Category:United States Ram Fleet]]