Benton

Benton, a former center-wheel catamaran snag boat was converted to an ironclad river gunboat by James B. Eads, St. Louis, Mo., in 1861 and commissioned 24 February 1862, Lieutenant J. Bishop in command.

Benton served as flagship of the Mississippi Squadron (1862~S ) . She took part in the capture of Island Number 10 (15 March-7 April 1862), attack on Fort Pillow Tenn. (10 May); Battle of Memphis, Tenn. (6 June), bombardment of Vicksburg, Miss., and escape of CSS Arkansas ( 1~16 June >; Yazoo River Expeditions ( 1~23 August and 2~28 December), during the second of which her commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander W. Gwin was mortally wounded, one man killed, and 10 wounded, running of the Vicksburg batteries (16 April 1863); bombardment of the Grand Gulf, Miss., batteries (29 April) capture of Fort DeRussy, Ark. (9 May), attacks on the Vicksburg batteries (1~22 and 27 May, 3 and 20 June); Red River Expedition (12 March-16 May 1864); and capture of CSS Missouri at Alexandria, Va (3 June 1865). Decommissioned 20 July 1865 at Mound City, Ill., Benton' was sold 29 November 1865.

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