Iron Clad "Essex," Baton Rouge, Louisiana

McPherson & Oliver

May 1863 · Albumen silver print from glass negative · Photographs

Armored war vessels made their first appearance during the Civil War and played an increasingly important strategic role for both North and South. When the war began, neither side anticipated how important would be control of the great Western Rivers. The U.S.S. Essex began its life in 1856 in New Albany, Indiana, as the steam ferry New Era. Purchased by the federal government in September 1861, it was soon lengthened, widened, reengineered, and clad with iron, which completely altered its appearance and made it one of the Navy’s most instrumental river gunboats. She appears here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, taking on coal; in the background are sailing vessels in Admiral David Farragut’s fleet.

Artist

McPherson & Oliver

Date

May 1863

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Purchase, Vital Projects Fund Inc. Gift, through Joyce and Robert Menschel, 2019