Topic starter
21/11/2012 9:26 am
I just completed my first book, "Muskets and Memories: A Modern Man's Journey through the Civil War" (which took me 5-1/2 years to write and edit) and am in the research phase of my next work, a novel with the working title, "In the Heart of Dixie."
I want to use the USS Red Rover, the US Navy's hospital ship that was a former Confederate vessel that was captured at Island No. 10 in April 1862. She was towed from Island No. 10 to St. Louis and then to Mound City, Illinois where she was retrofitted as a hospital ship. Does anybody know where I might be able to find any deck plans with the hospital configuration, if any exist? I'm at a loss here.
21/11/2012 11:59 am
*RE: USS RED ROVER design/plans*
Dear Jeff & Steamboating colleagues:
Your above quest made my ears perk up. I typed in USS RED ROVER, hospital ship on my computer search engine with numerous web sites and photos popping up. Alas, no design plans so far. I searched my research files and computer 'Address Book' for a few sources that may help you. In turn, the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress may have resources. I'll try to find access and let you know by private E=Mail. Today busy leading into Thanksgiving tomorrow. Here are two sources I know well and hope they are still current.
1.
Chris Havern
U.S. Coast Guard 2100 Second Street SW #Stop 7362
Washington, D.C. 20593 - 7362
FAX: (202) 372-4984
E=Mail: U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office Official Website
2.
Dr. Josh Smith
C/O Museum
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
E=Mail: [email protected]
U.S. Navy & Marine Corps medicine was my billet during my active years in supply, logistics, training, public relations. I'll search the archives at my Literary Club of Cincinnati for any monographs or related papers in our Civil War section. Last week I uncovered a few fascinating penned accounts and letters from Charles Dickens on his visit to America in 1842 with interesting comments on his travels by steamboats here. Good to see steamboat history here perking up again.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
Topic starter
24/11/2012 10:03 am
Chronology of U.S.S. Red Rover
Thanks Dale. Your help would be much appreciated. I have uncovered some historical information from a variety of sources to put together a chronology of sorts on the activity of the U.S.S. Red Rover during the war. Not exactly comprehensive, but I know I'm on the right track here. I will definitely be consulting with your contacts next week.
U.S.S. Red Rover Chronology
April 7, 1862 Federal gunboat U.S.S. Mound City discovers C.S.S. Red Rover, Confederate unarmed accommodation ship (floating barracks). Run aground and abandoned after plunging shot penetrated all of its decks and caused flooding. U.S.S. Mound City makes temporary repairs and tows vessel to St. Louis.
April 13, 1862 Ann Graves hired as “chambermaid.” ($20/month)
May 1862 Mary Warfield hired as “chambermaid.” ($15/month)
May 25, 1862 Still in St. Louis, Fleet Captain Alexander Pennock oversees engine and hull overhaul. Quartermaster George D. Wise procured items needed to equip a hospital boat. Assistance given by U.S. Sanitary Commission.
June 1, 1862 Sisters Mary Adela and Veronica entered books as nurses. They are with the Order of the Holy Cross.
June 1862 Mary Bryant, Marisa Cassidy, Eliza McLothian hired as “laundresses) ($15/month)
June 10, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover enters U.S. service assigned to U.S. Army gunboat service under Fleet Captain Pennock.
June 11, 1862 Receives first five patients from Ram Fleet vessels
June 12-13, 1862 Receives additional 51 patients from flotilla vessels
June 14, 1862 Davis issues General Order
June 17, 1862 U.S.S. Mound City struck by shell fired from Fort St. Charles, Arkansas. Shell penetrates port casemate killing three crewmen before crashing into the steam drum, which exploded. Eight scalded to death, 82 died in casemate, 43 drowned or shot after escaping overboard, leaving 23 unwounded out of crew of 175.
June 19, 1862 Thirty-seven of U.S.S. Mound City’s casualties left Memphis on U.S.S. Red Rover en route to Mound City Naval Hospital but told to stop in Cairo, Illinois for changes first. Changes include moving the galley below deck, open aft cabin for air circulation, install steam boiler for the laundry, add awning for the “cabin upper side light.”
June 24, 1862 Dr. Bixby receives letter from Davis concerning treatment of U.S.S. Mound City wounded.
June 26, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover transports 35 of 37 U.S.S. Mound City wounded; 2 prisoners of war and several other patients to Mound City Naval Hospital. Inspection reveals broken stern post – moved to Mound City shipyard for repairs.
June 27, 1862 Dr. Bixby replies to Davis.
June 27, 1862 “Woman dressed in man’s clothes” aboard. Mistress of Captain A. McDaniel.
July 8, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover gets underway to rejoin flotilla above Vicksburg, Mississippi.
July 12, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover rejoins flotilla. Steam Sloop U.S.S. Richmond enters a description of U.S.S. Red Rover in logbook.
July 15, 1862 C.S.S. Arkansas ran through Western Fleet. U.S.S. Red Rover accommodates injured left in Arkansas wake, plus numerous combat casualties around Vicksburg.
July 18, 1862 Captain McDaniel informs Captain Pennock of intention to give up command.
July 21, 1862 Captain McDaniel resigns.
August 1862 Mattie Perkins, Betsy Bishop, Nancy Rogers hired as “laundresses” ($10/month)
Aft. Sept. 1, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover suffers fire. Little damage caused but needed assistance of U.S.S. Benton to extinguish the blaze.
September 1862 Sarah Watson hired as laundress ($7/month) – raised to $15/month on October 13, 1862.
September 16, 1862 Federal Prize Court in Illinois sells U.S.S. Red Rover to U.S. Navy for $9,314.28.
September 16, 1862 Acting Master William R. Wells arrives to take command of U.S.S. Red Rover.
October 1862 Dr. Bixby recommends changes to U.S.S. Red Rover to make vessel suitable for winter operations. Approved by Davis and Pennock. U.S.S. Red Rover’s patients transferred to Mound City Hospital while vessel is at Cairo, Illinois for a re-fit. Additional boiler and steam ducts added throughout ship for heating purposes.
October 16, 1862 “Western Gunboat Flotilla” transferred from Army to Navy and becomes the Mississippi Squadron. David Dixon Porter arrives to take command and establishes the U.S.S. Black Hawk as his flagship. Army Ram Fleet becomes “Mississippi Marine Brigade” and “temporarily attached” to Porter’s Mississippi Squadron.
December 1, 1862 Sisters Adela, Veronica and Calista return to U.S.S. Red Rover as nurses.
December 26, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover is commissioned into U.S. Navy under command of Acting Master Wells. It also contains a 32-pound cannon with grape, canister and shell projectiles; muskets, bayonets, cutlasses, revolvers and a full complement of boarding pistols and pikes, plus accoutrements and ammunition needed for a combat vessel. Wells commanded “12 officers; White Men 25; Contrabands 10; In all, 47 souls,” plus persons “not shipped” – most who worked in the Medical Department.
December 1862 Fleet Surgeon Ninian Pinkney arrives and makes U.S.S. Red Rover his headquarters ship.
December 29, 1862 U.S.S. Red Rover moved to Memphis to receive the first five patients transferred from the gunboat U.S.S. General Bragg and continues south to Helena, Arkansas and meets the U.S.S. Longside, whose officers report a Confederate blockade at Bolivar, Mississippi. Both vessels return to Helena.
December 31, 1862 U.S.S. Longside and U.S.S. Red Rover meet the U.S.S. Lancaster and U.S.S. Tigress to run the Confederate blockade. At midnight, Wells runs the U.S.S. Red Rover through the blockade unescorted. Bales of straw surround the boiler area and the entire crew was at general quarters including the 32-pounder loaded with grapeshot. The U.S.S. Red Rover passes through undetected.
January 1, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover rendezvous with Porter on the U.S.S. Black Hawk at the mouth of the Yazoo River.
January 2, 1863 Anchored at the Yazoo River’s mouth with the U.S.S. Black Hawk, waiting for troop transports that were anchored along the Louisiana shore. Departs to the White River.
January 7, 1863 Meets with Ordnance ship U.S.S. Judge Torrence. U.S.S. Red Rover and U.S.S. Judge Torrence are to guard mouth of the White River and protect the coal barges. U.S.S. Black Hawk joins the main flotilla. U.S.S. Red Rover transfers patients to an Army hospital transport. Flotilla arrives to bombard Fort Hindeman, Arkansas, to support the infantry assault. Flotilla vessels include U.S.S. Rattler on point, U.S.S. Black Hawk next, ironclads, transports with the U.S.S. Lexington gunboat covering the rear. U.S.S. Red Rover and U.S.S. Judge Torrence remain at the river’s mouth awaiting orders.
January 11, 1863 Fort Hindeman falls. U.S.S. Signal and U.S.S. New Era head down river to deliver the wounded to the U.S.S. Red Rover and to take on stores.
January 14-16, 1863 “Stormy gales” with rain changing to heavy snow. U.S.S. Red Rover crew “was employed cleaning snow and burying the dead.” Eleven of crew are on sick list.
January 18, 1863 Weather changes to “clear and cold” – U.S.S. Red Rover remains at anchor at mouth of White River.
January 21, 1863 Fleet is underway again. U.S.S. Red Rover and U.S.S. Black Hawk moved from the White River and anchors just below Napoleon, Mississippi but is under fire from Confederate artillery. Two plunging shots penetrate U.S.S. Red Rover smashing through hospital wards. No serious damages or injuries reported. Crew replies with rifle fire and the vessel is withdrawn four miles for the night.
January 23, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives at mouth of Yazoo River to support the squadron’s attempt to interdict supplies intended for Confederate defenders at Vicksburg, where it remains until April 25, 1863. U.S.S. Red Rover’s wards were constantly filled to capacity.
February 1863 Sister Mary John/St. John arrives as a nurse.
February 1863 Admiral Porter sends Dr. Pinkney to secure Major General Grant’s permission to occupy buildings suitable for a Naval Hospital. Memphis is chosen as the location. Hospital Pinkney established in ex-Confederate Hotel and adjacent buildings. Hospital Pinkney soon cared for 240 patients.
April 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover moved to Louisiana shore above Vicksburg, arriving just as Union gunboats and transports prepared to break Confederate blockade. After blockade is broken, 16,000 Union Navy shells rained down upon Confederate defenders. Decks and wards of U.S.S. Red Rover overflowed with casualties.
April 23, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover delivers casualties from Vicksburg to Hospital Pinkney and berthed at Memphis Navy Yard for repairs.
April-May 1863 Ten pairs of “Hand Irons” and 6 pairs of “Leg Irons” used daily as crew takes shore leave.
April 29, 1863 “Blackmun” arrested while passing the Guard Boat in a dingy with a clothes bag containing 10 bottles of whiskey – placed in double irons in the brig.
May 9, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover the subject of Harper’s Weekly illustrations by Theodore R. Davis, a reknown artist.
May 16, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover returns to Hospital Pinkney to take on 11 new crewmen and then rejoin the fleet near Vicksburg.
May 22, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives at the mouth of the Yazoo River, its old anchorage.
June 7, 1863 Anticipates attack near Milliken’s Bend.
June 8, 1863 Receives distinguished visitors from Iowa.
June 11, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover has “sale of deceased patients clothing.”
June 20, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover crew with 32-pounder armed and ready above Young’s Pass to help deny escape to Vicksburg’s defenders.
June 29, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover transfers ice and medicine to the U.S.S. Rattler. Then, “at 1 P.M. a crazy man named Perkins from U.S.S. Petrel jumped overboard from upper hospital room and drowned.” (Patient #510 “James Perkins,” not his true name.)
July 4, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover nearby when Vicksburg fell. “32,000 prisoners taken. Rockets shooting in Evening from Vicksburg,” recorded Wells.
July 14, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover docks at Memphis to deliver wounded and receive additional medical stores. Western Sanitary Commission supplies ship with hospital clothing, storage chests, books and other medical supplies.
Abt. July 28, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives at Jefferson Davis’s plantation and transfers medicines to U.S.S. Carondelet and other gunboats, then continues on to New Orleans, stops at Natchez, Mississippi on return trip.
Abt. August 17, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives in Memphis and remains for three months.
August 23, 1863 James Gray, nurse, “placed in single irons for theft.” Released August 28.
August 29, 1863 John Jackson and Henry Mitchell placed in irons for “exhibition of pugilistic propensities.”
September 1863 Sister John/St. John leaves U.S.S. Red Rover to take charge of Hospital Pinkney’s nursing facilities.
September 25, 1863 “Engineers Long and Goodlow ordered in arrest for dissolute conduct for improper intimacy with two Colored girls employed in Hospital Department of this ship. Georgina and Ellen [Harris and Campbell, both nurses], were put in Brig for immoral conduct by order of the Commanding Officer.”
September 26, 1863 Women released “By order of Surgeon Bixby,” followed by Long and Goodlow who were “ordered to duty.”
November 19, 1863 U.S.S. Red Rover moved to Mound City shipyard for extensive repairs where it remained until the following spring.
December 2, 1863 Wells promoted to acting volunteer lieutenant
April 12, 1864 After loading wounded from U.S.S. Clara Dolson and various stores, U.S.S. Red Rover steamed downriver to aid survivors of Fort Pillow massacre.
April 13, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives at Fort Pillow and lands at 2:20 P.M., found enemy in possession of fort. Leaves Fort Pillow at 3:30 P.M. and heads down river. Takes on 10 white and 3 black soldiers, all with gunshot wounds. One black soldier dies.
April 14, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover delivers wounded soldiers to Overton Army Hospital and sick squadron members to Hospital Pinkney.
April 17-May 12, 1864 Delivers medical supplies to fleet and takes on wounded and sick during the Red River expedition.
May 24, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover en route from Baton Rouge to Red River. “Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William R. Wells, Acting Master H.E. Bartlett and Acting Master T.A. Oliver detached. Acting Ensign Charles King took command.”
May 25, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover heads upriver to deliver medical supplies to Natchez, Vicksburg, White River and Helena.
June 3, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover docks in Memphis.
June 7, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover departs Memphis for Mound City. Laid up in Mound City for a month to complete necessary repairs.
July 6, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover departs Mound City for Memphis to transfer patients to Hospital Pinkney and replenish supplies. Heads to Donaldsonville, Louisiana on routine medical and supply mission.
August 4, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives back in Memphis
August 22, 1864 Nathan Bedford Forrest raids Memphis. U.S.S. Red Rover aids U.S.S. Essex to tow vessel out of harm’s way. Vessel remains near Hospital Pinkney.
October 24, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover begins final medical resupply mission. Stops at Helena, White River, Red River, Yazoo River and New Orleans
November 23, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover returns to Memphis with patients picked up along the way.
December 7, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover heads to Mound City but returns to Memphis to pick up forgotten documents.
December 11, 1864 U.S.S. Red Rover arrives at Mound City where it remains until November 17, 1865, decommissioning when last 11 patients transferred to U.S.S. Grampus.
November 29, 1865 Sold to A.M.Carpenter at Mound City for $4,500.
Between June 1862-March 1865 – 1,697 patients admitted. 343 from northern states, 231 from western states, 332 from southern states, 376 “foreigners” while 415 birthplaces were unrecorded. 1,365 patients discharged. 157 died on board.
Hospital Pinkney was located in the Commercial Hotel on Jefferson Avenue. The official address was 8-11 Jefferson at Front. It was built around 1848 and is one of Memphis’s earliest hotels. It was listed as “Commercial Hotel” in the Memphis City Directory from 1855 to 1882. From 1883-1886 the listing changed to “Priddy House.” In 1889, the listing continued as the “New Commercial Hotel” for two years.
Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York’s Central Park stayed at the Commercial Hotel in 1857 and had a less than desirable experience.
25/11/2012 3:52 pm
*Chronology for USS RED ROVER*
Hi, Jeff,
Got behind the proverbial '8-Ball' with Thanksgiving and then this busy weekend. Will get cracking this week on other possible sources and resources for USS RED ROVER.
The above chronology you posted fascinating, intriguing. I could read between the lines on several entires. You mention this work leading to another 'novel.' With all the rich material why not consider a true history of the hospital vessel telling it like it was with warts and all--no preceived steamboat romance. Truth stranger than fiction. Also intriguing is the role played by the sisters of the Holy Cross. The Sanitary Commission itself hearkens back to the Crimean War when nurses, relief, comfort care first realized here and abroad for suffering soldiers and sailors. Infections from bacteria and viruses relatively unknown then. The 'laundresses' also interesting as all that work then done by hand; usually employing Black, Irish, German women. Until the later advent of washing facilities, primitive devices for laundry, steamboat bed linens, cook house, cabin towels done aboard. Many steamboat companies and owning captains also contracted out laundry to such women ashore in home ports. Even on the best of brag steamboats laundry could be an 'iffy' thing at best as was personal bathing by crew and passengers alike. The perfection of artificial refrigeration and freezing of foods didn't come along until mid to late 1880s. Keep up the good work.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
Topic starter
07/01/2013 7:12 am
Just finished non-fiction
Dale - Good question regarding why do a novel and not a true history of the vessel. The answer is simple - I need to get writing again. I've spent the last six years of my life writing "Muskets and Memories: A Modern Man's Journey through the Civil War" - a major work of non-fiction. It should be released sometime around April. It contains 412 pages of narrative text (written by me, doesn't include front matter or back matter), has 602 footnotes, 286 sources and 1,580 separate index entries. I need a creative break before I tackle another work of non-fiction.
I developed a short story that I titled "Chimneyville" a couple of years ago that was loosely based upon 16 lines of a Civil War letter that I transcribed a few years back. It was part of the Concordia University-St. Paul's English Department writing contest. I "threw" this thing together in 10 hours then took off for Clarksville, Tennessee and turned in my rough draft on the last day available. It took 1st place and the judges later told me that second place wasn't even close. Others have asked me to develop this into a novel, so I dug up a few other true stories from that era and will be incorporating them into the storyline.
Why a novel and not non-fiction? Only because a novel will enable me to give the readers an opportunity to experience certain aspects of the Civil War in a way that a work of non-fiction cannot do. Perhaps, as more information on the vessel is made available to me, I can do a historical monograph at a later date. The nice thing about being an experienced writer is that the research materials can have more than one use.
07/01/2013 11:46 am
*RED ROVER/Fact vs. Fiction*
Hi, Jeffery & Steamboating colleagues:
Glad to read your posting above along with other thread entries found this morning. No idea what the assumed hiatus was here over 'AQ woes' appearing to have disappeared...POOF!...gone.
Sounds like you're really busy with your research/writing. "Muskets and Memories..." should catch the prompt attention of Tom Schiffer [AKA Cap 'n Walnut] as he's quite an expert in firearms, powder etc. I know a little about the Concordia University-St. Paul's English Department. Good luck and keep us posted.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
08/01/2013 4:26 pm
Dale, click on AQ Woes, click on Display Modes (far right on the screen), then click on linear mode. That's how I've been reading it, and there are about 3 pages of postings. Good luck.