To guard Union shipping against Confederate forces, the Union Army and Navy worked closely together by blocking the channel to prevent Confederate warships from coming down the upper navigable reaches of the James. USS Tecumseh was instrumental during these operations, sinking four hulks and a schooner. Although USS Tecumseh was involved in a number of notable operations along the James River, its most famous battle would be its last--the Battle of Mobile Bay in which she led the van of monitors, which included USS Manhattan, USS Winnebago, and USS Chickasaw.
 

On 12 December 1862, while engaged in mine clearance activities on the Yazoo River, Mississippi, USS Cairo was sunk by a Confederate mine. Her wreck was recovered in 1965, but was badly damaged during the salvage efforts.  USS Cairo has subsequently been partially restored and is on exhibit at Vicksburg, Mississippi. 

The USS Hartford was the flagship of Rear Admiral David G. Farragut in the Battle of Mobile Bay, August 5th, 1864.  This decisive battle secured the South could not win the war. 

USS Pontoosuc was a side wheel gunboat which was commissioned at Portland on 10 May 1864. After the war, she returned to Boston where she was decommissioned 5 July 1865 and was sold 3 October 1866. Constructing now.  Sign up for updates: Newsletter

("spouting meadow" in Dutch)

 

The Union Navy suffered heavy losses from the explosion of Confederate torpedoes and decided to design and build vessels capable of using this new weapon. Designed by Naval Chief Engineer William W. Wood, the torpedo boat Spuyten Duyvil was constructed in a record three months. It was the first “stealth” ship in U.S. Naval history.  Her state of the art weapons system consisted of spar torpedoes: A mechanical boom with a torpedo attached to the end was extended to the opposing ship and then detonated once the Spuyten Duyvil had backed a safe distance away. While not a submarine, the ironclad would partially submerge by filling lower compartments with water until little but the gunwale showed above the surface. After the war, the Spuyten Duyvil was modified and used in Naval experiments that led to a more modern understanding of torpedo technology. Art work provided by Joe Hinds who is working with Model Ship Master on a Civil War ship book. Sign up for updates: Newsletter or have it faster: commission it.
 

The New Ironsides was the most formidable vessel built by the Union during the Civil War. This large, dangerous warship carried fourteen 11-inch guns and two 8-inch Parrott rifles.  She was hit by enemy fire more frequently than any other vessel in the war but suffered virtually no damages due to her 4.5 inch thick armor plating of forged steel.  New Ironsides' menace came to an end only when the submarine CSS David damaged its hull below the waterline. Sign up for updates: Newsletter or have it faster: commission it.
 

On July 15, 1862, the Arkansas steamed down the Yazoo River.  There she fought the Tyler, the Queen of the West, and the Carondelet.  She sank the Carondelet and chased the other two Union vessels down the Mississippi where she then fought her way through the entire Mississippi squadron of ships commanded by Admiral Farragut! Art work provided by Joe Hinds who is working with Model Ship Master on a Civil War ship book   Sign up for updates: Newsletter or have it faster: commission it.
 

The launch of the Gloire in 1859 was a milestone in the development of warship.  Prior to that time, fighting ships had been made of wood.  The French Gloire was the first of a new breed.  While her hull was made of oak, her sides were fortified with a belt of iron armor plate almost five inches thick.  The vessel's extra armor plate, together with her steam power plant and screw propeller, made her the most advanced man-of-war in the world.  She could steam a respectable 13.5 knots.  Her armament consisted of a single deck of guns of a new 66-pounder design.  Wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

CSS David, a 50-foot steam torpedo boat of "cigar-shaped" hull design, was privately built at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1863. After being taken over by the Confederate States Navy, she made a daring spar torpedo attack on the Federal ironclad New Ironsides on the night of 5 October 1863. The Union ship was damaged and David was nearly lost when the splash from her torpedo's explosion swamped her powerplant.  David attacked the Federal gunboat Memphis in March 1864 and the frigate Wabash on 18 April of that year. As a result of her actions, several similar torpedo boats were begun at Charleston in 1864-65. Art work provided by Joe Hinds who is working with Model Ship Master on a Civil War ship book. Sign up: Wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

Launched in 1862 during the Civil War, Alligator was an the 47-foot long submarine that was primarily intended to counter the threat of the Confederate ironclad, the Virginia.  She was an  engineering marvel that helped usher in a new era in undersea travel. But until recently, little was known about the green, 47-foot-long Union vessel. The Alligator was lost off the North Carolina coast during a storm in 1863. It was never seen again.  Art work provided by Joe Hinds who is working with Model Ship Master on a Civil War ship book.  Sign up for updates: Newsletter or have it faster: commission it.