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INDIVIDUAL SHIP

USS Pittsburgh

USS Pittsburgh was one of seven City-class ironclad river gunboats built for the Western Gunboat Flotilla in 1861.

City classUnited States NavyUnited StatesIronclad transitionVerified subject image
USS Pittsburgh, an Eads class ironclad. According to description in Myron Smith, The USS Carondelet: a Civil War ironclad on western waters , taken on the Red River.
USS Pittsburgh, an Eads class ironclad. According to description in Myron Smith, The USS Carondelet: a Civil War ironclad on western waters , taken on the Red River.U.S. Naval archives · Public domainImage source
ClassCity class
NavyUnited States Navy
CountryUnited States
Builder / shipyardJames B. Eads and associated yard, St. Louis, Missouri
Launched1861-10
Recorded statusSold

Overview

USS Pittsburgh was one of seven City-class ironclad river gunboats built for the Western Gunboat Flotilla in 1861.

USS Pittsburgh is associated with United States and United States Navy. It belonged to City class, so the class page provides the shared design history while this page concentrates on the individual ship.

Construction and identity

The available construction record identifies USS Pittsburgh as built by James B. Eads and associated yard, St. Louis, Missouri and launched on 1861-10.

The ship's documented identity includes alternate or later names Pittsburgh and service with United States Navy.

Service history

Pittsburgh fought at Fort Donelson, ran the Island No. 10 batteries, participated in the Vicksburg campaign, and later served in the Red River Expedition.

The ship's configuration should be interpreted through the documented class and the dates attached to this individual vessel; equipment should not be assumed to have remained unchanged throughout service.

Class context: City class

The seven City-class ironclad gunboats were shallow-draft river warships built under U.S. War Department contract by James B. Eads and a partner yard in 1861. Their armored casemates, recessed paddle wheels, and shallow draft were tailored to combat on the Mississippi River system.

As a member of City class, USS Pittsburgh shared the class's documented design framework and intended roles of Riverine combatant and Shore bombardment. Individual refits, transfers, and wartime changes belong to this ship only when separately documented.

Later service and disposition

Sold after decommissioning; later abandoned. The associated date is 1865-11-29.

USS Pittsburgh matters as an individual career within City class, allowing class-wide design history to be separated from this ship's own construction, identities, service, and fate.

This ship is recorded as a member of City class. Shared design history belongs on the class page; this page concentrates on the individual hull where evidence is available.

Sources and further reading

  1. The City Class Ironclads ↗National Park Service · accessed 2026-09-18
  2. Pittsburgh I (Sidewheel Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  3. USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum ↗National Park Service · accessed 2026-09-18
  4. Cairo ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  5. Carondelet I (Ironclad River Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  6. Cincinnati I (Stern-wheel Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  7. Louisville I (Ironclad Centerwheel Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  8. Mound City ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  9. Baron De Kalb (Sternwheel Casemate Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
  10. St. Louis (Sternwheel Casemate Gunboat) ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18
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