The Short Life of an Ironclad

The new ironclad, U.S.S. Keokuk, departed New York on 11 March, 1863 and steamed south to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for the attack on Charleston, South Carolina. The First Battle of Charleston Harbor began on 7 April. Shortly after 3 p.m., the Union ships came within range of Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter; and the battle began. Southern obstruction and a strong flood tide made the ironclad virtually unmanageable, while accurate fire from the forts played upon them at will. With the Union formation scrambled, Keokuk was compelled to run ahead of crippled USS Nahant to avoid fouling her in the narrow channel. This brought her less than 600 yards (550 m) from Fort Sumter, where she remained for half an hour receiving the undivided attention of the Confederate guns.

Keokuk was struck by about ninety projectiles, many of which hit at or below her waterline. Her experimental armor was completely inadequate to protect her from this onslaught and she was "completely riddled." She was able to withdraw and anchor out of range. The skills of her pilot, Robert Smalls, and her crew kept her afloat through the night. When a breeze came up on the morning of 8 April, Keokuk began taking on more water, filled rapidly, and sank off Morris Island. She had given one month of commissioned service.

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Rendered in DAZ Studio. Keokuk model by Michael Crisafulli. Seascape by Pedatron (Echoes of Andromeda). Postworked in Photoshop.