Today's classic warship, USS General Sherman (Tinclad 60)
General Sherman class gunboat
Displacement. 187 t.
Lenght. 168'
Beam. 26'
Draft. 4'6"
Armament. 2 20-pdr; 3 24-pdr.
General Sherman was one of four light wooden gunboats built at Chattanooga, Tenn., for the War Department in 1864. She commissioned at Bridgeport, Ala., 27 July 1864, Acting Master Joseph W. Morehead in command.
General Sherman was assigned to the 11th District, Mississippi Squadron, and became part of Lt. Moreau Forrest's gunboat fleet on the upper Tennessee River. Leaving Bridgeport 22 August, she patrolled with other gunboats between Decatur, Ala., and Mussel Shoals, controlling guerrilla attacks and working to prevent major elements of Confederate General Hood's army from crossing the river into Tennessee. General Sherman continued to patrol until she returned to Bridgeport for repairs 17 December.
Returning to the upper Tennessee River, General Sherman lent vital artillery support to the forces of General Steedman at Decatur, 27 December, shelling Confederate emplacements as Union troops crossed the river. She again patrolled the river, attempting to cut off the withdrawal of Hood's army from Tennessee and convoying Union supply ships, until the war ended. She was returned to the Army Quartermaster Department at Chattanooga, Tenn., 3 June 1865.