nboats._ | | |
| | |
Cayuga | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant Napoleon B. Harrison.
Itasca | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant C.H.B. Caldwell.
Katahdin | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant George H. Preble.
Kennebec | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant John H. Russell.
Kineo | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant George M. Ransom.
Pinola | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant Pierce Crosby.
Sciota | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant Edward Donaldson.
Winona | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant Edward T. Nichols.
Wissahickon | 507 | 2 | Lieutenant Albert N. Smith.
-----------------------+------+-----+----------------------------------

About ninety per cent. of the batteries of the eight larger vessels
were divided, as is usual, between the two sides of the ship, so that
only one half of the guns could be used at any one time, except in the
rare event of having an enemy on each side; and even then the number
of the crew is based on the expectation of fighting only one
broadside. A few guns, however, varying in number in different ships,
were mounted on pivots so that they could be fought on either side. In
estimating the number of available guns in a fleet of sea-going
steamers of that day, it may be roughly said that sixty per cent.
could be brought into action on one side. In the Mississippi Squadron
sometimes only one-fourth could be used. To professional readers it
may seem unnecessary to enter on such familiar and obvious details;
but a military man, in making his estimate, has fallen into the
curious blunder of making a fleet fire every gun, bow, stern, and both
broadsides, into one fort, a hundred yards square; a feat which only
could be performed by landing a ship in the centre of the works, in
which case it could enjoy an all-round fire. The nine gunboats carried
one heavy and one light gun, both pivots and capable of being fought
on either side. None of this fleet could fire right ahead. All the
vessels were built for ships of war, with the exception of the Varuna,
which was bought from the merchant service.[2]

The mortar-schooners each carried one XIII-inch mortar. Of the six
gunboats attached to this part of the expedition, one, the Owasco, was
of the same class as the Cayuga and others. The Clifton, Jackson, and
Westfield were large side-wheel ferry boats, of the ordinary
double-ended type; carrying, however,