Essex began life as the steam ferry New Era, originally constructed in 1856.  Purchased by the U.S. Government in September 1861, she was first converted into a woodclad gunboat and  joined an expedition up the Cumberland River.  Shortly thereafter, she was converted into an ironclad by James Eads at St. Louis, and participated in the attack on Fort Henry.

During the action at Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, she was badly damaged.  After extensive repair and modifications, she re-entered active duty in July and subsequently participated in operations in Mississippi and Louisiana.  She continued to serve on the Mississippi river until May 1864, and then moved to Memphis.  She was decommissioned in July 1865.  She regained her original name New Era when sold to a private party in November, but was scrapped in 1870.

Specifications of USS Essex (as ironclad):

Displacement: 640 tons
Length: 159 feet
Beam: 47 feet 6 inches
Draft: 5 feet 10 inches
Armament (January 1862): 1 32-pounder; 3 11-inch Dahlgren smooth bores; 1 10-inch Dahlgren smoothbore; 1 12-pounder howitzer
(varied throughout career)

  Federal Warships

Last update:  December 6, 2001