PDF Hardluck Ironclad: The Sinking and Salvage of the Cairo by Edwin C. Bearss in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Two Book in OneBy TMDThis book; really two books in one; is the history of the USS Cairo one of seven City Class Ironclad River Gunboats built between August 1861 and Jan 1862 in Illinois and Missouri. It is also an excellent history of the battles of the river fleet up and until the Cairo was sunk by an electric torpedo; now considered an underwater mine. The ship went down in six fathoms of water in the Yazoo River with no loss of life on 12 Dec 1862.The second book takes over at the time of the location of the sunken vessel and it then becomes the story of the discovery; recovery and ultimate the display of the Cairo at the Vicksburg National Military Park. This story is nearly as fascinating as the history of the ship.Dr Bearss leads the reader from the discovery of the sunken ship on 12 Nov 1956 through 29 Apr 1979 when the final decisions regarding the how and where the relic would be displayed. The salvage operation didn’t go smoothly and the sunken wreck was received some damage and artifacts were lost during the recovery operation. The vessel recovery was completed on 22 Dec 1964 102 years after it was sunk.Artifacts recovered during the salvage operation included everything from ordnance to personal items belonging to the crew. Through the recovery of these artifacts; we are allowed to meet and learn about some of the crew members.With the recovery of the ship came care and storage problems. The timbers had to be kept wet to prevent rot and decay. The hulk weathered Hurricane Camille at a shipyard in Pascagoula; MS where it suffered more damage and valuable pieces of the ship were lost.Along the road to the final display; there were battles as to who owned the vessel; and who; where and how it would be displayed. These battles played out in local political arenas and in Washington; DC; however; the wreck had to overcome the Viet Nam war and the Bicentennial of the Revolution before a final resting place was found. Ultimately the National Park Service placed the vessel on permanent display at the Vicksburg National Military Park in 1980 where you can see it today. It took 16 years and several millions of dollars from completion of the salvage operation in to the public display.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Story of USS Cairo - Civil War Union IroncladBy C.Miller188 Pages; plus Detailed Appendix; Notes; and Bibliography detailing the history of the USS Cairo in the Civil War and her six similar city-named sister-ships that fought the inland river patrols during the Civil War. Very well detailed and documented. An excellent source for history buffs and those interested in the unique river operations during that period. A good insight into the trials and tribulations of a nation at war. The book has 34 pages of BW photos; including those of the salvage and raising of the USS Cairo after she had rested unfound on the bottom of the Yazoo River (a Mississippi tributary); for nearly 100 years; and also at her current location in the National Park at Vicksburg; MS with restoration in-progress. The USS Cairo; is the only one of these ironclads that has survived the War; as a testimony to their important role in winning the war for the Union forces.The only thing missing from this record was a better; more complete collection of photos and illustrations detailing the structure and appearance of this ship. This information is provided (without all the historic info specific to the USS Cairo and its resurrection from the deep) in "Union River Ironclad 1861 -1865"; by Angus Konstam * Illustrated by Tony Bryan Union River Ironclad 1861-65 (New Vanguard)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Love the bookBy LeeWe know the author; and my husband was involved in the restoration of the Cairo. Love the book!