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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

CSS Pontchartrain

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Side-wheel Steamer
  • Built at New Albany, IN., in 1859 as the side-wheel paddle steamer Lizzie Simmons
  • Launched, date unknown
  • SS Lizzie Simmons ran between New Orleans, LA., and the Ouachita River in 1860, later working on the river between New Orleans and Memphis, TN.
  • Purchased by the Confederates at New Orleans, LA., 12 October 1861, and converted to a ship-of-war
  • Commissioned in March 1862, as CSS Pontchartrain LT. J. W. Dunnington, CSN in command
  • CSS Pontchartrain was assigned to the fleet under Flag Officer G. N. Hollins, CSN, for the defense of the Mississippi River and Louisiana coast
  • Pontchartrain fought at Island No. 10 and New Madrid, MO., during March and April 1862
  • After the evacuation of New Madrid on 7 April she and CSS Maurepas were sent up the White River into Arkansas
  • On 17 June 1862 Pontchartrain cooperated with the army in the battle at St. Charles, AK.
  • During the battle two of her 32-pounder rifled guns were transferred to the fort; LT. Dunnington and his men joined the army in its defense and were among the prisoners taken
  • Final Disposition, Pontchartrain moved farther up the river and remained inactive until the following summer when she was burned to prevent capture, 9 October 1863, at or near Little Rock
    Specifications:
    Displacement 454 t.
    Length 204'
    Beam 36'6"
    Depth of Hull unknown
    Draft 10'
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    seven guns, two were known to be rifled
    Propulsion
    one or two steam engines
    two side-wheels

    290 Foundation
    290 Foundation
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Pontchartrain
    098691601    		 60k Drawing SS Lizzie Simmons, date unknown. Robert Hurst
    Pontchartrain
    098691602    		 7k Schematic drawing of CSS Pontchartrain, date unknown. Robert Hurst
    CSS Pontchartrain
    C.S.S. Pontchartrain, 290 Foundation
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 17 September 2021