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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.
==Description==
As the Civil War began it was realized early-on that control of the Mississippi was vital to winning the war. The chief vessel on the river was the paddle-wheel steamer, which was a large passenger-and freight carrying craft designed with a low-water displacement, ideal for the shallow depths of the river. Eads, a retired engineer who made his fortune salvaging sunken ships, took on the task of building a fleet of seven ships based on a design by Samuel M. Pook. The low, wide casemated design of the vessels led to the derisive name of "Pook's Turtles." All were completed within a span of six months at an average cost of $101,800 each.
Originally intended to be named for Union military leaders, Eads was overruled in that respect by the commander of the Western Flotilla, Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote, who named them after cities and towns along the banks of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Thus, although each vessel was unique in its own regard, they became collectively known as the "City"-class.
All ships of the "City"-class were paddle-wheel steamers (the exception was ''Mound City'', which had a screw propeller); their construction on the ways began as typical riverboats. From the waterline up they were covered with a box-shaped casemate enclosing up to twelve Dahlgren smoothbore guns arranged in broadside fashion, with three poking out of the bow. Above the casemate stood the conning tower in front, a smaller, rounded casemate at the rear to protect the paddle wheels, and in the center were twin stacks, which had painted bands near the top in a color particular to the vessel, so as to be readily identifiable in battle.
====USS ''Carondelet''====
====USS ''Carondelet''====
''Carondelet'', an ironclad river gunboat, was built in 1861 by James B. Eads and Company, St. Louis, Mo., under contract to the War Department; commissioned 15 January at Cairo, Illinois, naval Captain H. Walke in command, and reported to Western Gunboat Flotilla (Army), commanded by naval Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote.
''Carondelet'', an ironclad river gunboat, was built in 1861 by James B. Eads and Company, St. Louis, Mo., under contract to the War Department; commissioned 15 January at Cairo, Illinois, naval Captain H. Walke in command, and reported to Western Gunboat Flotilla (Army), commanded by naval Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote.