American ram-gunship USS Vindicator 1863-1865

Purchased in 1863 at New Albany, Indiana to serve in the Northern army was she a year later handed over to the navy, fitted out as a ram at Mound City, Illinois where she was commissioned on 24 May.(1) Around 24 April 1865 decommissioned as she the same year sold on an public auction 29 November at Mound City, Illinois to W.L. Hambleton. She as on 27 February a year later known as New Orleans but her fate after 1869 is unknown.

There is not much known about her just that she had a displacement of 750 tons, a draught of 1,8 metres or 6’ and that armament consisted of 1-100pdr Parrott irfle gun, 2-24pdr howitzers and a heavy 12-pdr gun.

The photo was made in the years 1864-1864 on the Western Rivers when she was tied up to the shore. Source http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-v/vindcatr.htm Photo #: NH 49973.

Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vindicator_(1863)
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-v/vindcatr.htm
http://www.historycentral.com/navy/MISC%202/vindicator.html
http://www.search.com/reference/USS_Vindicator

Note
1. Congressional serial set. 38th Congress 2nd session Senate, ex doc no. 19, page 23 published a list of the ships build, repaired and altered on the western rivers and mentioned a ram Vindicator built at New Albany with as contract builders Hill&Payne, of the 3rd class, armed with 4 guns, a displacement of 750 tons and a draught of 5,5 (light)-6,5 (heavy).