# CSS Maurepas

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Confederate states sidewheel steamer

History Confederate States Name Maurepas Namesake Lake Maurepas Owner J. A. Cotton Bayou Sara Mail Company Launched 1858 In service Purchased from civilian service, 1861 Fate Sunk as obstruction, June 17, 1862 General characteristics Type Sidewheel steamer Tonnage 399 Length 180 feet (55 m) Beam 34 feet (10 m) Draft 7 feet (2.1 m) Propulsion Steam Complement 79 Armament 5 or 6 cannons 1x 9-inch Dahlgren gun 24-pounders 32-pounders

**CSS *Maurepas*** was a [sidewheel steamer](/source/Sidewheel_steamer) that briefly served as a [gunboat](/source/Gunboat) in the [Confederate States Navy](/source/Confederate_States_Navy) during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). Built in 1858 in [Indiana](/source/Indiana) as ***Grosse Tete*** (English: "big head"),[1] the vessel was used in commercial trade until 1860 and then delivered mail until 1861, when she was acquired by the Confederate Navy.

After being outfitted with five or six cannons and renamed *Maurepas*, she was sent to the defenses of [Columbus, Kentucky](/source/Columbus%2C_Kentucky), in March 1862, and participated in actions near [Island Number Ten](/source/Island_Number_Ten). After an abortive naval skirmish near [Fort Pillow](/source/Fort_Pillow_State_Historic_Park) in [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee), *Maurepas* and the gunboat [CSS *Pontchartrain*](/source/CSS_Pontchartrain) were sent up the [White River](/source/White_River_(Arkansas%E2%80%93Missouri)) to resist [Union](/source/Union_Navy) advances and aid transport. On June 16, the eve of the [Battle of Saint Charles](/source/Battle_of_St._Charles), *Maurepas* was sunk as an obstruction and her cannons sent ashore.

## Service history

### Construction and civilian usage

A [sidewheel steamer](/source/Sidewheel_steamer), the vessel was constructed at [New Albany, Indiana](/source/New_Albany%2C_Indiana), in 1858, under the name *Grosse Tete*, having been ordered by one J. A. Cotton of [New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana).[2] She was 180 feet (55 m) long, had a [beam](/source/Beam_(ship)) of 34 feet (10 m), measured 399 [tons](/source/Tonnage), and had a [draft](/source/Draft_(ship)) of 7 feet (2.1 m).[3] It had two sidewheels,[4] a wooden [hull](/source/Hull_(watercraft)), and held a crew of 79.[2] A photograph identified as *Gross Tete* shows a vessel with only one steamboat deck, as opposed to the standard two. The naval historian Donald L. Canney speculates that the steamboat was intended to run on trade routes that included Bayou Gross Tete and [Grosse Tête, Louisiana](/source/Grosse_T%C3%AAte%2C_Louisiana).[1] *Grosse Tete* was used for commercial trade until 1860, when she was purchased by the Bayou Sara Mail Company for mail delivery.[2]

### Confederate States Navy

Map of the Island Number Ten area, showing the Union position across from Tiptonville

After the outbreak of the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), *Grosse Tete* was purchased by the [Confederate States Navy](/source/Confederate_States_Navy) at New Orleans in November 1861 to be used as a [gunboat](/source/Gunboat),[2][3] although her sidewheel propulsion system was considered less useful than if she was a [screw steamer](/source/Screw_steamer). The Confederates rechristened her *Maurepas*, after [Lake Maurepas](/source/Lake_Maurepas), and placed her under the command of [First Lieutenant](/source/First_Lieutenant) Joseph Fry, formerly of the gunboat [CSS *Ivy*](/source/CSS_Ivy).[4] An early report stated the vessel was armed with six cannon, although a later one from February 1862 listed only five.[2] According to naval historian W. Craig Gaines, these pieces were 24-pounders and 32-pounders;[5] she was reported to have had at least one 9-inch [Dahlgren gun](/source/Dahlgren_gun) in April 1862.[6] It is not known if the difference in cannon count between reports represents a piece being removed or if the previous figure of six was an error.[2] Beginning in November 1861, a number of Confederate warships were sent north up the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) to support the defenses at [Columbus, Kentucky](/source/Columbus%2C_Kentucky). *Maurepas* made this journey in March 1862.[7] At Columbus, the vessel was part of a fleet commanded by [Commander](/source/Commander) [George N. Hollins](/source/George_N._Hollins).[8]

Beginning on March 12, *Maurepas* helped defend [Island Number Ten](/source/Island_Number_Ten).[2] [Union Navy](/source/Union_Navy) forces were bombarding the island, and [Brigadier General](/source/Brigadier_General_(United_States)) [John M. Palmer](/source/John_M._Palmer_(politician))'s Union troops had established batteries downriver across the Mississippi from [Tiptonville, Tennessee](/source/Tiptonville%2C_Tennessee), in hopes of cutting off Island Number Ten's supply line. On March 18, Palmer's position opened fire on Confederate transports. In response, Hollins sent *Maurepas* and the gunboats [CSS *Pontchartrain*](/source/CSS_Pontchartrain), [CSS *McRae*](/source/CSS_McRae), and [CSS *General Polk*](/source/CSS_General_Polk), downriver to shell Palmer's position. Return fire from the Union position struck the Confederate ships. *General Polk* was hit by cannon fire, started taking on water, and had to go downriver and out of the fight. *Maurepas* was struck eight or nine times by cannon fire and 30 or 40 times by small arms fire and suffered damage, with internal damage to cabins, her decks covered with splinters, and a [ship's boat](/source/Ship's_boat) knocked away. Eventually, Palmer's men fell back, and Hollins's ships withdrew from the area. However, the Union troops reoccupied the position, and Hollins took his ships downriver to avoid fire from the batteries. Any ships heading upstream to Island Number Ten came under fire from Palmer's position.[9]

On the night of April 4/5, the [ironclad](/source/Ironclad) [USS *Carondelet*](/source/USS_Carondelet_(1861)) ran past the Confederate defenses of Island Number Ten to [New Madrid, Missouri](/source/New_Madrid%2C_Missouri), which was under Union control. A second Union ironclad, [USS *Pittsburgh*](/source/USS_Pittsburgh_(1861)), completed the run early on the morning of April 7, and most of the Confederates withdrew from Island Number Ten during the night of April 7/8, as it was no longer feasible to hold the island. However, Union forces cut the Confederates off from their escape route at Tiptonville, and the garrison of the island was captured. Hollins's ships were prevented from going to their support by the two Union ironclads.[10] The Confederate ships then withdrew to [Fort Pillow](/source/Fort_Pillow_State_Historic_Park) in [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee). On April 9, Hollins was informed that New Orleans was threatened, so he traveled downriver with *Ivy* and the gunboat [CSS *Jackson*](/source/CSS_Jackson). In Hollins's absence, the ships were temporarily commanded by First Lieutenant Thomas Huger, with Commander Robert Pinckney expected to arrive shortly to take command. Huger learned that Union ships were nearby and on the morning of April 12, sent his ships upriver for a surprise attack. Union scouts picked up the movement, and the ironclad [USS *Benton*](/source/USS_Benton) fired on Huger's fleet. *Maurepas* responded with a shot from a 9-inch [Dahlgren gun](/source/Dahlgren_gun), to no effect. After navigating a bend in the river, the Confederate ships realized they were facing a large and prepared Union fleet and fell back to Fort Pillow. The Union ships pursued to a range close enough for them to bombard the fort. Pinckney soon arrived to take command, and sent *Maurepas* and *Pontchartrain* to operate on the [White River](/source/White_River_(Arkansas)) to resist Union advances and serve as transports.[11]

On June 2, *Maurepas* was at the junction of the White River and the [Black River](/source/Black_River_(Arkansas)).[2] On June 13, a Union Navy flotilla left [Memphis, Tennessee](/source/Memphis%2C_Tennessee), to travel up the White with the intention of resupplying Union land forces further north in Arkansas.[12] Composed of two [ironclads](/source/Ironclad) and two [timberclads](/source/Timberclad), the Union fleet moved upriver. Two guns from *Pontchartrain* were taken ashore near [St. Charles](/source/St._Charles%2C_Arkansas), with sailors and a portion of the [29th Arkansas Infantry Regiment](/source/29th_Arkansas_Infantry_Regiment) manning the fortifications.[13][14] The Union ships approached St. Charles on June 16, but did not attack that day. As planned obstructions in the river were not complete, *Maurepas* and two civilian steamboats were sunk in the river as a blockage,[15] but not before three[16] or four guns from the ship were removed.[14] It had been thought that *Maurepas* would be outmatched against the Union ironclads.[17] The next day, in the [Battle of Saint Charles](/source/Battle_of_St._Charles), the Union forces brushed aside the Confederate defenses, although a cannon shot struck the ironclad [USS *Mound City*](/source/USS_Mound_City), puncturing the ship's [steam drum](/source/Steam_drum) and scalding most of those on board. The Union supply mission eventually failed due to low water levels, and the infantry force had to march overland to a point from which they could be resupplied.[18] For years after the battle, the wreck of *Maurepas* could be seen at low water, but is no longer visible.[17]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECanney2015158_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECanney2015158_1-1) [Canney 2015](#CITEREFCanney2015), p. 158.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-encylo_of_arkansas_2-7) Bender, Robert Patrick (October 14, 2021). ["CSS *Maurepas*"](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/css-maurepas-7730/). *Encyclopedia of Arkansas*. Retrieved 17 October 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DANFS_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DANFS_3-1) ["Maurepas"](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/confederate_ships/maurepas.html). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 11 October 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain202068_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain202068_4-1) [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), p. 68.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGaines200810_5-0)** [Gaines 2008](#CITEREFGaines2008), p. 10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020121_6-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), p. 121.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain202074–76_7-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), pp. 74–76.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain202096_8-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), p. 96.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020111–112_9-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), pp. 111–112.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020115–117_10-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), pp. 115–117.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020120–122_11-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), pp. 120–122.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChrist2012407_12-0)** [Christ 2012](#CITEREFChrist2012), p. 407.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020180–181_13-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), pp. 180–181.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-honnoll_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-honnoll_14-1) Honnoll, W. Danny (May 29, 2018). ["Engagement at St. Charles"](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/engagement-at-st-charles-532/). *Encyclopedia of Arkansas*. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBearss1962313–314,_318_15-0)** [Bearss 1962](#CITEREFBearss1962), pp. 313–314, 318.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChatelain2020181_16-0)** [Chatelain 2020](#CITEREFChatelain2020), p. 181.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kirk_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kirk_17-1) Kirk, Dianna (September 10, 1974). ["St. Charles Battle Site"](https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/ar0030-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9379542c_0) (PDF). Arkansas Heritage. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199838_18-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), p. 38.

## Sources

- [Bearss, Edwin C.](/source/Ed_Bearss) (1962). "The White River Expedition June 10–July 15, 1862". *[Arkansas Historical Quarterly](/source/Arkansas_Historical_Quarterly)*. **21** (4): 305–362. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/40035686](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F40035686). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [40035686](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40035686).

- Canney, Donald L. (2015). *The Confederate Steam Navy 1861–1865*. Atglen, Pennsylvania: [Schiffer](/source/Schiffer_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7643-4824-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7643-4824-2).

- Chatelain, Neil P. (2020). *Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861–1865*. El Dorado Hills, California: Savas Beatie. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-61121-510-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-61121-510-6).

- Christ, Mark K. (2012). ""The Awful Scenes That Met My Eyes": Union and Confederate Accounts of the Battle of St. Charles, June 17, 1862". *[Arkansas Historical Quarterly](/source/Arkansas_Historical_Quarterly)*. **71** (4): 407–423. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [23390055](https://www.jstor.org/stable/23390055).

- Gaines, W. Craig (2008). *Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks*. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: [Louisiana State University Press](/source/Louisiana_State_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8071-3274-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8071-3274-6).

- Kennedy, Frances H., ed. (1998). [*The Civil War Battlefield Guide*](https://archive.org/details/Kennedy_Frances_-_Civil_War_Battlefield_Guide/mode/2up) (2nd ed.). Boston/New York: [Houghton Mifflin](/source/Houghton_Mifflin). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-395-74012-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-395-74012-5).

v t e Gunboats of the Confederate States Navy A. B. Seger Anglo-Norman Appomattox Beaufort Black Warrior Bienville Carondelet Chattahoochee Clifton Curlew Drewry Ellis Fanny Forrest Gaines George Page Governor Moore Grand Duke Hampton Isondiga Ivy Jackson Jamestown Lady Davis McRae Macon Maurepas Morgan Oregon Pamlico Patrick Henry Peedee Pontchartrain Queen of the West Sampson Savannah Sea Bird Selma Teaser Tuscarora Water Witch List of ships of the Confederate States Navy

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1862 Shipwrecks 2 Jan: Northern Light 4 Jan: Santi-Pietri 9 Jan: USS Meteor, USS Potomac 20 Jan: USS Margaret Scott 23 Jan: Ocean Chief 24 Jan: USS Peri 25 Jan: USS New England, USS Stephen Young 26 Jan: USS India, USS Timor 7 Feb: CSS Curlew 8 Feb: CSS Sea Bird 10 Feb: CSS Appomattox, CSS Black Warrior, CSS Fanny, CSS Forrest 20 Feb: USS Isaac N. Seymour 25 Feb: USS R. B. Forbes 8 Mar: USS Congress, USS Cumberland 9 Mar: CSS George Page 10 Mar: USS Whitehall March (unknown date): Camilla (or Memphis) 4 Apr: CSS Red Rover 7 Apr: CSS Grampus 8 Apr: CSS New Orleans 14 Apr: Erebus 19 Apr: USS Maria J. Carlton 24 Apr: CSS General Lovell, CSS Governor Moore, CSS Manassas, CSS Stonewall Jackson, Sweepstakes, USS Varuna 25 Apr: CSS Mississippi, CSRC Pickens, Pioneer, Washington, CSS Pamlico 28 Apr: CSS Louisiana, CSS McRae April (unknown date): CSS Jackson, CSS Oregon, CSS Carondelet 10 May: USS Cincinnati, CSS Germantown, USS Mound City, CSS Fulton 11 May: CSS Virginia 15 May: CSS Jamestown May (unknown date): CSS United States 6 Jun: CSS Colonel Lovell, CSS General Beauregard, CSS General Bragg, CSS General M. Jeff Thompson, CSS General Sterling Price, CSS General Sumter, CSS Little Rebel 16 Jun: CSS Maurepas 26 Jun: CSS General Earl Van Dorn, CSS Livingston, CSS General Polk 28 Jun: USS Island Belle 15 Jul: Johanna Wagner, USS Sidney C. Jones 21 Jul: USS Sallie Wood 24 Jul: Lord of the Isles 6 Aug: CSS Arkansas 14-15 Aug: USS Sumter 23 Aug: USS Adirondack 24 Aug: USS Henry Andrew, USS Isaac N. Seymour 10 Sep: USS Tigress 2 Oct: Iona 15 Oct: G. L. Brockenborough 25 Nov: USS Ellis November (unknown date): USS Mingo 12 Dec: USS Cairo 31 Dec: USS Monitor Unknown date: USS Noble Other incidents 11 Jan: HMS St Vincent January (unknown date): Mona's Queen 22 Feb: HMS Defence February: USS Vermont 8 Mar: USS Minnesota 8 May: USS Galena 13 May: Planter 23 Jun: Memphis 7 Aug: USS Oneida 17 Aug: Great Eastern 15 Nov: Admiral Moorsom 22 Nov: USS Bainbridge Unknown date: Young America 1861 1863

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CSS Maurepas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Maurepas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Maurepas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.