Although ironclads and other gunboats played the most colorful and dramatic roles in the river battles of the Civil War, a variety of non-combatant steamers also served in important supportive roles throughout the war.  Primarily these non-combatants served as transports for supplies and personnel, although some provided specialized support such as floating hospitals.

Transporting Military Supplies on the Rivers of Tennessee

Because Tennessee was blessed with an excellent river transportation system, it was probably inevitable that transport steamers would play important supportive roles for both Federal and Confederate forces.  Although railroads had become serious rivals to river transportation by the 1860s in Tennessee, steamboats continued to find heavy use in those areas adjacent to rivers during the war.  In some cases transport steamers cooperated closely with railroads (for example, at Johnsonville, Tennessee, and Bridgeport,  Alabama), somewhat functionally similar (but on a much smaller scale) to modern intermodal transportation systems.

Probably the most critical wartime role played by transport steamers occurred in late 1863 when the Confederates occupied strategic positions around Chattanooga, nearly reducing the Federals trapped there to starvation.  The famous "Cracker Line" saved the Federals by transporting critically needed supplies from rail connections at Bridgeport (Alabama) to the besieged troops at Chattanooga.  Traveling along this water route was particularly difficult owing to "The Suck," a dangerous navigation hazard.

Because the Upper Tennessee River (above the major blockage at Muscle Shoals, Alabama) was physically isolated from the rest of Tennessee's vast river system, the Federal government constructed (primarily at Chattanooga's shipyard facilities) a fleet of transport vessels for exclusive use on the Upper Tennessee.  The following table provides links to some remarkable images of these transport vessels taken by the Matthew Brady Studio:
 

Transporting Military Personnel on the Rivers of Tennessee

River vessels provided an effective means for transporting numbers of troops over distances, as was demonstrated in the Federal preparations for the battle of Shiloh, in close proximity to the Tennessee River.  Of course, such vessels could only operate in areas served by navigable rivers - in other areas, troops moved by rail where railroads were available, or laboriously by foot, by horse, and by animal-powered vehicles.

In some cases river fleets were assembled to serve specific military units.  Perhaps the best known example is the special fleet of transport steamers that was assigned to the Mississippi Marine Brigade.  The Autocrat served as the flagship of the fleet, which also included the transports B. J. Adams and Diana.  Although much of the Brigade's (sometimes controversial) military action occurred outside of Tennessee, the Mississippi Marine Brigade vessels did operate on the Tennessee River.

Steamboats Serve Medical Needs

The Civil War is well known for the horrendous casualties of its many battles, and the battles that took place in Tennessee were no exception.  Because the need for medical support was so large, every mode of transportation was involved, including steamboats, railroads, and road vehicles.

Hospital steamboats, such as the Red Rover, provided medical facilities on a large scale to help with the many casualties of war.  Unfortunately, the number of casualties sometimes overwhelmed the available medical facilities, and the medical practices of the day were often incapable of dealing with complications such as infections.

  Tennessee Civil War River Steamboats

Last update:  December 6, 2001