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| Class:

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| "City" (also refered to as ''Cairo''-class)

| "City" (also referred to as ''Cairo''-class)

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| Ordered:

| Ordered:

| Four 42-pound rifles; three 8" smoothbores; six 32-pound smoothbores

| Four 42-pound rifles; three 8" smoothbores; six 32-pound smoothbores

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The so-called '''"City"-class gunboat''' was several ironclad warships contructed between August 1861 and January 1862 by private contractor James B. Eads for use on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.  The first armored warships to see action during the [[American Civil War]], they would play an integeral role in the Western Theater of operations.

The so-called '''"City"-class gunboat''' was several ironclad warships constructed between August 1861 and January 1862 by private contractor James B. Eads for use on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.  The first armored warships to see action during the [[American Civil War]], they would play an integral role in the Western Theater of operations.

==Description==

==Description==

Between January and October 1862 ''Carondelet'' operated almost constantly on river patrol and in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in February; the passing of Island No. 10 and the attack on and spiking of the shore batteries below New Madrid, Missouri in April; the lengthy series of operations against Plum Point Bend, Fort Pillow, and Memphis from April through June, and the engagement with CSS ''Arkansas'' on 15 July, during which ''Carondelet'' was heavily damaged and suffered 35 casualties.

Between January and October 1862 ''Carondelet'' operated almost constantly on river patrol and in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in February; the passing of Island No. 10 and the attack on and spiking of the shore batteries below New Madrid, Missouri in April; the lengthy series of operations against Plum Point Bend, Fort Pillow, and Memphis from April through June, and the engagement with CSS ''Arkansas'' on 15 July, during which ''Carondelet'' was heavily damaged and suffered 35 casualties.

Transferred to Navy Department control with the other ships of her flotilla on 1 October 1862, ''Carondelet'' continued the rapid pace of her operations, taking part in the unsuccessful Steele's Bayou Expedition in March 1863. One of those to pass the Vicksburg and Warrenton batteries in April 1863, ''Carondelet'' took part on 29 Aprilin the five and one-half hour engagement with the batteries at Grand Gulf. She remained on duty off Vicksburg, hurling fire at the city in its long seige from May to July. Without her and her sisters and other naval forces, the great operations on the rivers would not have been possible and northern victory might not have been won. From 7 March to 15 May 1864, she sailed with the Red River Expedition, and during operations in support of Army movements ashore, took part in the Bell's Mill engagement of December 1864. For the remainder of the war, ''Carondelet'' patrolled in the Cumberland River. She was decommissioned at Mound City, Illinois, 20 June 1865, and sold there 29 November 1865.

Transferred to Navy Department control with the other ships of her flotilla on 1 October 1862, ''Carondelet'' continued the rapid pace of her operations, taking part in the unsuccessful Steele's Bayou Expedition in March 1863. One of those to pass the Vicksburg and Warrenton batteries in April 1863, ''Carondelet'' took part on 29 Aprilin the five and one-half hour engagement with the batteries at Grand Gulf. She remained on duty off Vicksburg, hurling fire at the city in its long siege from May to July. Without her and her sisters and other naval forces, the great operations on the rivers would not have been possible and northern victory might not have been won. From 7 March to 15 May 1864, she sailed with the Red River Expedition, and during operations in support of Army movements ashore, took part in the Bell's Mill engagement of December 1864. For the remainder of the war, ''Carondelet'' patrolled in the Cumberland River. She was decommissioned at Mound City, Illinois, 20 June 1865, and sold there 29 November 1865.

====USS ''St. Louis'' / ''Baron De Kalb''====

====USS ''St. Louis'' / ''Baron De Kalb''====

''St. Louis'', a stern wheel casemate gunboat was built by Eads in Carondelet, Missouri for the War Department, and launched on 12 October 1861 and joined the Western Gunboat Fleet.

''St. Louis'', a stern wheel casemate gunboat was built by Eads in Carondelet, Missouri for the War Department, and launched on 12 October 1861 and joined the Western Gunboat Fleet.

During 1862 ''St. Louis'', under the command of Lieutenant L. Paulding, was attached to Rear Admiral Foote's squadron and participated in the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (6 February 1862). She served as flagship for the suqadron when it assisted the Union Army at the capture of Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River (14-16 February 1862). Between April and June 1862, she operated against Fort Pillow, Tennessee. ''St. Louis'' was renamed ''Baron De Kalb'' 8 September 1862, and in October 1862 she was transferred to the Navy Department. During 21-28 December she took part in the Yazoo Expediton and participated in the action at Drumgould's Bluff (28 December).

During 1862 ''St. Louis'', under the command of Lieutenant L. Paulding, was attached to Rear Admiral Foote's squadron and participated in the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River (6 February 1862). She served as flagship for the squadron when it assisted the Union Army at the capture of Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River (14-16 February 1862). Between April and June 1862, she operated against Fort Pillow, Tennessee. ''St. Louis'' was renamed ''Baron De Kalb'' 8 September 1862, and in October 1862 she was transferred to the Navy Department. During 21-28 December she took part in the Yazoo Expediton and participated in the action at Drumgould's Bluff (28 December).

During 1863 ''Baron De Kalb'' took part in the capture of Arkansas Post (10-11 January); expedition up the White River (12-14 January); Yazoo Pass Expedition (20 February-5 April); action at Fort Pemberton (11-13 March); action at Haines' Bluff (29 April-2 May, 18 May); action at Yazoo City, Mississippi. (20-23 May); and the Yazoo River Expedition (24-31 May). On 13 July 1963 ''Baron De Kalb'' was sunk by a torpedo in the Yazoo River, one mile below Yazoo City.

During 1863 ''Baron De Kalb'' took part in the capture of Arkansas Post (10-11 January); expedition up the White River (12-14 January); Yazoo Pass Expedition (20 February-5 April); action at Fort Pemberton (11-13 March); action at Haines' Bluff (29 April-2 May, 18 May); action at Yazoo City, Mississippi. (20-23 May); and the Yazoo River Expedition (24-31 May). On 13 July 1963 ''Baron De Kalb'' was sunk by a torpedo in the Yazoo River, one mile below Yazoo City.

After attacking Warrenton, Mississippi, 10 May and destroying a battery, she guarded the river from Grand Gulf depot to Hard Times. She returned to Vicksburg 18 June for a 3‑day expedition to Cole’s Creek, destroying six or seven small boats. After shelling the batteries at Vicksburg 3 July, she steamed to Lake Providence, Ga., 7 August when she fired on and dispersed Confederate cavalry, thereafter guarding this part of the river.

After attacking Warrenton, Mississippi, 10 May and destroying a battery, she guarded the river from Grand Gulf depot to Hard Times. She returned to Vicksburg 18 June for a 3‑day expedition to Cole’s Creek, destroying six or seven small boats. After shelling the batteries at Vicksburg 3 July, she steamed to Lake Providence, Ga., 7 August when she fired on and dispersed Confederate cavalry, thereafter guarding this part of the river.

Off Davis plantation in January 1864, she endeavored to raise ''Indianola'', sunk in Red River in 1862. Seizing tug ''Rawlins'' off Natchez 2 March, ''Mound City'' joined 17 other ships and Sherman’s troops in the Red River Expedition 16 March through 22 May in an effort to enter Texas via Alexandria, Loiusiana, to counter the threat from Maximilian. Shallow water proved an obstacle as ''Mound City'' and ''Carondelet'' grounded near the wing dams across Red River 10 May. Hauled across the upper falls above the obstructions by throngs of straining soldiers, the ships were able to get free. ''Mound City'' spent the remainder of the year guarding ''Indianola''.

Off Davis plantation in January 1864, she endeavored to raise ''Indianola'', sunk in Red River in 1862. Seizing tug ''Rawlins'' off Natchez 2 March, ''Mound City'' joined 17 other ships and Sherman’s troops in the Red River Expedition 16 March through 22 May in an effort to enter Texas via Alexandria, Louisiana, to counter the threat from Maximilian. Shallow water proved an obstacle as ''Mound City'' and ''Carondelet'' grounded near the wing dams across Red River 10 May. Hauled across the upper falls above the obstructions by throngs of straining soldiers, the ships were able to get free. ''Mound City'' spent the remainder of the year guarding ''Indianola''.

She joined the expedition to Black River in May 1865, turning back from Baldwin’s Perry on learning of an imminent attack. After the end of the conflict, she returned to Mound City for dismantling but was sold there at public auction to Frank Bennet 9 November 1865.

She joined the expedition to Black River in May 1865, turning back from Baldwin’s Perry on learning of an imminent attack. After the end of the conflict, she returned to Mound City for dismantling but was sold there at public auction to Frank Bennet 9 November 1865.

She joined ''Baron De Kalb'', ''Cincinnati'', ''Lexington'', ''Signal'', ''New Era'', ''Romeo'', ''Rattler'', and ''Glide'' later in the month on an expedition up the White River in support of General Sherman’s army. ''Louisville'' captured the steamer ''Evansville'' near Island No. 36 on 1 November.

She joined ''Baron De Kalb'', ''Cincinnati'', ''Lexington'', ''Signal'', ''New Era'', ''Romeo'', ''Rattler'', and ''Glide'' later in the month on an expedition up the White River in support of General Sherman’s army. ''Louisville'' captured the steamer ''Evansville'' near Island No. 36 on 1 November.

''Louisville'' aided in the capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, 4 to 11 January 1863, and formed part of the expedition through Steele’s Bayou, 14 to 28 January. She was ordered to the Yazoo River the 31st and moved to stop Confederates felling trees across the bayou on 21 March. She then turned her attention to the batteries on the river, running past those at Vicksburg on 16 April, and engaging the lower ones on the 29th. She joined ''Pittsburg'', ''Mound City'', and ''Carondolet'' on that date, silencing the guns of the fort on Grand Gulf and helping to establish the siege which forced Vicksburg’s surrender 4 July 1863.

''Louisville'' aided in the capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, 4 to 11 January 1863, and formed part of the expedition through Steele’s Bayou, 14 to 28 January. She was ordered to the Yazoo River the 31st and moved to stop Confederates felling trees across the bayou on 21 March. She then turned her attention to the batteries on the river, running past those at Vicksburg on 16 April, and engaging the lower ones on the 29th. She joined ''Pittsburgh'', ''Mound City'', and ''Carondolet'' on that date, silencing the guns of the fort on Grand Gulf and helping to establish the siege which forced Vicksburg’s surrender 4 July 1863.

From 12 March to 22 May 1864, ''Louisville'' joined in the expedition up the Red River, La. On 2 June she engaged Confederate batteries 7 miles below Columbia, Ark., silencing the guns. She landed Union troops at Sunnyside 6 June and anchored off Shipwith’s Landing the 20th, to learn that Confederates were traveling upriver with a heavy force, and had crossed Cypress Creek and Bartholomew’s Bayou 20 June with cavalry, infantry, and artillery. On learning that Parson’s brigade was 10 miles back of Gaines’ Landing, providing reinforcements, ''Louisville'' departed immediately for that point, and helped break up the Confederate attack.

From 12 March to 22 May 1864, ''Louisville'' joined in the expedition up the Red River, La. On 2 June she engaged Confederate batteries 7 miles below Columbia, Ark., silencing the guns. She landed Union troops at Sunnyside 6 June and anchored off Shipwith’s Landing the 20th, to learn that Confederates were traveling upriver with a heavy force, and had crossed Cypress Creek and Bartholomew’s Bayou 20 June with cavalry, infantry, and artillery. On learning that Parson’s brigade was 10 miles back of Gaines’ Landing, providing reinforcements, ''Louisville'' departed immediately for that point, and helped break up the Confederate attack.