The Tinclads
In the fall and winter of 1862, approximately 20 vessels of a new type were added to the river fleet the so-called tinclads. These were small river steamers, usually stern-wheelers, purchased in the cities along the river, sometimes by the War Department and sometimes by the Navy. They were armored with 1 2 to 3 4 of an inch of iron, with extra protection around the boilers, and they often carried an armored pilothouse. The sides were pierced to accommodate from 4 to 6 guns, usually 24-pound...
The Mississippi River Ironclads
The Monitor and its sisters belong to the main current of naval development. Even if they had never fired a shot in anger, they still would occupy a significant place in the history of ships. This is not the case with the ironclad gunboats built for the Mississippi Flotilla. On the whole, these ships were rather badly designed some were hardly designed at all. They came into being almost effortlessly, or so it seemed, and exactly when they were needed. With the war won, they were quickly...