 Engagement at Fort Pillow, Mississippi River, Between Federal and Confederate gun-boats, CSS General Earl Van Dorn is included.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Confederate States | |
| Name | General Earl Van Dorn |
| Namesake | Earl Van Dorn |
| Operator | Confederate States Navy |
| Acquired | 1862 |
| Fate | Burned to avoid capture, 26 June 1862 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Side-wheel River Steamer |
| Armament | 2 cannons placed in the bow and in the stern. |
| Service record | |
| Part of: | River Defense Fleet |
| Operations: | |
The CSS General Earl Van Dorn, a side-wheel river steamer, was fitted out in early 1862 at New Orleans, Louisiana as a River Defense Fleet "cottonclad" ram. It was named for Confederate general Earl Van Dorn, born and raised in Mississippi.
In late March, the ship steamed up the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tennessee, where outfitting was completed. In the naval action off Fort Pillow on May 10, the Van Dorn attacked a Union mortar boat with gunfire and rammed the ironclad USS Mound City.
On June 1, the steamer was used to help cover the Confederate evacuation of Fort Pillow. It retreated to Memphis, where, on June 6 it was the only survivor of the River Defense Fleet's final battle. After escaping to Yazoo City, Mississippi, General Earl Van Dorn was burned by its Confederate crew on June 26, 1862, to avoid capture by Federal warships.
