The USS Cairo Gunboat in Vicksburg is the lead ship of seven shallow-draft City Class river ironclad vessels and was commissioned on Thursday, January 16, 1862. Named after towns along the upper Mississippi River and Ohio River, the seven formidable City Class gunboats prowled the Mississippi River and connecting shallow waterways as they menaced Confederate supply lines and shore batteries. This ship was named after Cairo in the southernmost part of Illinois.
USS Cairo Gunboat in Vicksburg
“The Cairo’s skipper, Lt. Commander Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., was an aggressive and skilled captain”, according to the official Internet web site of the National Park Service of the United States. “On the cold morning of December 12, 1862, Selfridge led a small flotilla of gunboats into the hazardous confines of the Yazoo River. Tasked with destroying Confederate batteries and clearing the river of torpedoes (underwater mines) the flotilla inched its way up the murky waters. As the Cairo reached a point seven miles north of Vicksburg the flotilla came under fire and the aggressive Selfridge ordered his guns to the ready and called for full steam, bringing the ironclad into action. Seconds later, disaster struck. Cairo was rocked by two explosions in quick succession. The first tore and gaping hole into the port (left) bow of the wooden hulled ironclad. The second detonated a moment later near the armored belt amidships on the starboard side. The hole on the bow proved to be catastrophic. As the doomed ironclad took on water, Selfridge ordered the Cairo to be beached and the crew to abandon ship. Within twelve minutes the Cairo slid from the river bank into six fathoms (36 feet) of water without any loss of life. ”
The vessel remained at the bottom of the Yazoo River until a decision was reached in December of 1964 to recover the USS Cairo in three sections. The remains were raised from the Yazoo River, placed on barges, and towed to Vicksburg. First raised on Saturday, December 12, 1964, the effort of recovering as much of the gunboat from the river as possible continued through 1966.
The words that are embossed on this metal plaque at the gangplank entrance of the remains of the ship itself are as follows:
NATIONAL HISTORIC
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LANDMARKU.S.S. CAIRO ENGINE AND BOILERS
1862The Cairo is the sole survivor of the fleet of river gunboats built by the Union during the Civil War with the object of controlling the lower Mississippi River. Designed by Samual Pool and built by James B. Eads, the 175-foot ironclad vessel had 18 guns.
The propulsion system is the only known early example of the widely used “western rivers” steamboat engine, characterized by multiple fire-tube boilers with shared steam and mud drums and a two-cylinder noncondensing engine having a small bore, long strokes, and puppet valves. This engine was designed by A.T. Merritt. With a 22-inch bore and 6-foot stoke, it developed about 600 horsepower and drove a sheltered paddlewheel of 22-foot diameter and 15-foot width.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS – – 1990
This view of the inner workings of the USS Cairo is seen from the gangplank entrance of the gunboat.
Steam from the boilers powered the capstan. This powerful winch helped members of the crew haul heavy lines, move guns on the gun deck, and pull in the anchor. In the event of an emergency, this essential tool was turned by hand with wooden spokes inserted into the hub at the top.
A circle of sloping iron plates overhead shielded the pilothouse of the USS Cairo. From this exposed perch atop the upper deck, the pilot steered the gunboat; and the officer on duty kept a watchful eye on the river. Orders to the engine room to change speed were sent using a signal board or by shouting through a speaking tube.
The rear of the gunboat had a paddlewheel. The brick building in the background on the left is where the museum is located.
Interlocking iron plates protected the pilothouse and sloping casemates from enemy fire. Behind the 2-1/2 inch thick plates were white oak planks that were 12 inches thick to 25 inches thick. When the iron plates took a hit, their wooden backing kept them from shattering.
The crew of the USS Cairo added iron railroad rails to protect the exposed forward casemate of the gunboat.
Lewis Cohen of England was one of the seamen who was a member of the crew on the USS Cairo at 21 years of age. I am not related to him — at least, as far as I know.
Final Boarding Call
The brief history of the USS Cairo Gunboat is quite interesting. Unfortunately, the museum was closed temporarily for public access when I visited — but the boat, the outdoor exhibit area, and restrooms were open to the public.
The USS Cairo is protected from the elements by a white tent-like structure which quite resembles the main area of Denver International Airport.
Give yourself a minimum of one hour to visit this site, which is conveniently located fewer than two miles north of downtown Vicksburg and approximately 4.5 miles north of Interstate 20.
USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum
3201 Clay Street
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39183
601-636-0583
The museum for the USS Cairo Gunboat is open Thursdays through Sundays from 8:30 in the morning through 4:30 in the afternoon. The museum is closed Mondays through Wednesdays — as well as on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Vicksburg National Military Park is open every day from 8:30 in the morning through 4:30 in the afternoon. The tour road open until 5:00 in the afternoon, with the last vehicle entry at 4:40 in the afternoon. The park is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Credit cards are accepted.
All Weekly Passes are valid for seven days.
Weekly passes are non-transferable and are valid for seven consecutive days — including the date of purchase. Weekly passes may be upgraded to annual passes within seven days of purchase.
- Private Vehicle: $20.00. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers and all occupants to Vicksburg National Military Park.
- Motorcycle: $15.00. Admits one non-commercial motorcycle to Vicksburg National Military Park.
- Per Person: $10.00. Admits one individual with no car to Vicksburg National Military Park. This weekly pass is typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
