Iron Clad "Essex," Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Attributed to McPherson & Oliver American

May 1863

Not on view

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.

Artwork Details

Title: Iron Clad "Essex," Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Artist: Attributed to McPherson & Oliver (American, active New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1860s)
Date: May 1863
Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative
Dimensions: Image: 2 1/8 × 3 7/16 in. (5.4 × 8.7 cm)
Sheet: 2 1/8 × 3 7/16 in. (5.4 × 8.7 cm)
Mount: 2 1/2 in. × 4 in. (6.4 × 10.1 cm)
Classification: Photographs
Credit Line: Purchase, Vital Projects Fund Inc. Gift, through Joyce and Robert Menschel, 2019
Object Number: 2019.524
Curatorial Department: Photographs

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