Built in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Joseph Brown in 1862 and commissioned in January 1863, the USS Indianola was an ironclad river gunboat propelled by both side wheels and screw propellers.

Indianola enjoyed a brief career with the Union Navy. On the evening of February 24, 1863, while attempting to blockade the Red River, Indianola was engaged by two Confederate vessels that attacked her from each side and rammed the Union ironclad seven times. Almost powerless, Indianola was run aground and surrendered.

Not to be outdone, enterprising Union sailors built a fake “river monitor” warship using an old coal barge and floated it past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg. Fearing that the Indianola would be recaptured, the Confederate salvage crew set off the ship’s magazines, sinking her.

Refloated on January 5, 1865, she was towed to Mound City, Illinois, and sold on January 17, 1865.

Albumen by Unknown Photographer

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 30184-B