Ironclads and Indian Mounds: The U.S. Mississippi River Squadron Naval Base at Mound City, Illinois

Summary

From 1862-1865 Mound City, Illinois, on the Ohio River was the home  of the 200 ship strong Union Navy Mississippi River Squadron that broke the southern stranglehold on the Mississippi River. Commanded by Commodore Foote and Admiral Porter, the naval base played a crucial role in constructing and repairing armored ships throughout the war. Base facilites included a shipways, foundry, carpenters shop, storehouses,  and hospital. The only visible remnants of the base today are portions of the wooden "ways" used to launch and repair the vessels of the fleet. In 2013 SIU researchers created a GIS map that revealed the locations of the base structures, a prehistoric Indian mound,  and the probable location of Admiral Porter's burned flagship, the "Black Hawk", for the first time. Subsequent archaeological survey of  these areas  recovered historic artifacts potentially associated with the naval base as well as prehistoric artifacts possibly associated with "Big Mound". 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2015   •
• In Black Water And In Bright Sunshine: Three Decades of Riverine Archaeology In Inland Waterways

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 376