Eastport (Packet/Gunboat, 1852-1864)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sidewheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet/Gunboat
• BUILT: 1852 at New Albany, Indiana
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Destroyed with explosives in the Red River on April 27, 1864
• OWNERS: Florence and New Orleans Packet Company; Confederates; U.S.
• RIVERS: Tennessee River; Red River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 1677; Originally a packet, she operated between the Tennessee River and New Orleans. On a trip to Nashville on February 10, 1861, she had to lower her stacks to go under the suspension bridge. When the Civil War broke out, she was up the Tennessee River near Florence, Alabama and the Confederates were converting her to a gunboat. She was captured by the U.S. and taken to Mound City, Illinois where the conversion was completed. She became part of Admiral Porter's expedition up the Red River. She sank, was raised, and sank again. She was then stripped and destroyed with explosives, in 1864. A diary kept by Captain William R. Hoel tells about the Red River expedition and the fate of the Eastport