Drawing Ron van Maanen
Built as the New Era in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana. When the Civil War broke she was bought by the Union in September 1861 and rebuilt into a 355-ton so-called timberclad river gunboat. After November 1861 again rebuilt and taken into service as the ironclad USS Essex. After being heavily damaged in the battle at Fort Henry on 6 February 1862 extensive rebuilt with as result a total different appearance caused by being lengthened and widened, fitted out with new armour while the engines were replaced more powerful ones. In November that year was she handed over to the Union army. Decommissioned in July 1865 and sold November of the same year. Her original name was restored and until being broken up in 1870 she was used in civilian service.
With a displacement of 640 tons were her dimensions 250 x 60 x 6. Her speed was maximum 5.5 knots while her crew numbered 134 men. The armour consisted of a casemate a thickness of 1¾” forwards and sides with a thickness of ¾”. The armament consisted of 1-32pdr, 3-11” Dahlgren guns, 1-10” Dahlgren gun and 1-12pdr howitzer.
Description photo Essex loading coal at Baton Rouge, Louisiana in late July 1862 just after arriving in the lower Mississippi. In the background are ships belonging to the fleet of Farragut visible. The photo can be found on next url. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/essex2.htm
