After Vicksburg by Myron J. Smith Jr

Author:Myron J. Smith, Jr. [Myron J. Smith, Jr.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781476672205
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2021-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

USS Queen City. A converted ferryboat, the Queen City was a victim of a June 24/25, 1864, attack at Clarendon, Arkansas, by Confederate cavalrymen under Brig. Gen. Joseph O. (“Jo”) Shelby. Captured, she would be destroyed before a USN task group could reach and save her. This excellent photograph gives the reader an excellent perspective of size. Note the crewmen on deck and the cannon protruding from the casemate (Naval History and Heritage Command).

The first or second round from Collin’s guns smashed into the Queen City’s starboard engine. A piece of it flew on into the steam pipe of the starboard power plant, which fortunately did not burst. The ­­one-sided contest continued for about 15 minutes during which, a Memphis newspaper later stated, the gunboat was struck 45 times by artillery shots “and her pilot house was completely torn away.”

The St. Louis Daily Missouri Democrat July 2 coverage indicates that the Queen City attempted to drop down with the current to get a range for her cannon. This was a goal she was unable to accomplish.

It was not long into the fight before Acting Volunteer Lt. Hickey knew that he would have to surrender. Writing about the white flag years later, RAdm. Porter was contemptuous of Hickey for “not having the bravery to fight it out as many of his contemporaries would have done.”

As the ship was riddled with cannon shell and rifle bullets, the able men in the crew (Shelby’s count was 65, but it was far less) were advised by their captain to give up or dive overboard and swim to the freedom of the opposite bank. The ethnic makeup of the crew is not certain, but it was not the band of “­­devil-may-care Irishmen” John Edwards later reported. There were many African Americans and the fate of any of those tars who gave up was very uncertain. Rumor had it that Shelby routinely ordered such prisoners shot.

With one seaman dead in the fight and nine wounded, Hickey signaled his surrender and Shelby’s men stopped shooting. The wreck of the heavily perforated tinclad was pulled to shore, where Hickey was taken prisoner, along with four officers, 20 seamen (four wounded), and eight African American contrabands. The latter, reported the Chicago Daily Tribune on Independence Day, “were immediately put to death.” The remainder of the crew had escaped to the opposite shore, though one white crewman and one African American were drowned. As late as July 12, the Memphis Argus would report that 23 men got away and 11 were killed or remained missing.

While the crewmen were interrogated and the officers paroled preparatory to their release to Helena authorities, Confederate horsemen ran aboard the ransacked the gunboat. Immediate prizes included in excess of $10,000 just drawn by the paymaster a few days earlier, the paymaster’s stores, wearing apparel, small arms, most of the ammunition, and a brass ­­12-pounder wheeled boat howitzer. Fearing that there were other gunboats in the vicinity that could arrive before he was finished, Shelby cancelled

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