USS Benton (1861)

USS "Benton" (1861) was an ironclad river gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for American senator Thomas Hart Benton.

Conversion from snagboat

"Benton" was a former center-wheel catamaran snagboat and was converted by James B. Eads, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1861 and commissioned 24 February 1862, Lieutenant J. Bishop in command as part of the Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla.

Civil War service

In the Spring of 1862, she was present at the captures of Island Number Ten, Fort Pillow and Memphis, Tennessee. During the Summer, "Benton" was in action with the Confederate ironclad "Arkansas" near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and participated in an expedition up the Yazoo River. She was transferred to the Union Navy in October 1862, and continued her service as the Mississippi Squadron's flagship into 1863.

In December 1862, "Benton" was damaged by Confederate gunfire during another operation on the Yazoo River. She was one of the ships that ran past Vicksburg, Mississippi on 16 April 1863 and bombarded Grand Gulf, Mississippi, later in that month. She participated in an attack on Fort DeRussy, Louisiana, in May, then provided gunfire support for the siege of Vicksburg. In March-May 1864, "Benton" was involved in the Red River expedition, in Louisiana, and returned to that vicinity in June 1865 during operations that followed the formal end of the Civil War.

Post-war decommissioning

Decommissioned 20 July 1865 at Mound City, Illinois, "Benton" was sold 29 November 1865.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War
* Confederate States Navy