Item No. 8692354

CDV of the stern-wheel tinclad gunboat USS Silver Cloud. Built at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1862, she was converted at Cairo and commissioned on May 4, 1863, and designated gunboat “28.” Assigned to the Mississippi River Squadron, she spent most of the war on routine patrol, interdicting small craft employed by the Confederates to move supplies. Silver Cloud was also employed as a swift transport to land raiding parties. On several occasions she broke up concentrations of enemy troops who had ventured within range of her guns. She conveyed General William T. Sherman and staff from Memphis to Vicksburg in January 1864. In April she was present when Confederate forces captured Fort Pillow, Tennessee, assisted in the evacuation of federal troops, and was again present when the fort was retaken soon thereafter. Silver Cloud was decommissioned in July 1865 and sold at auction that August. In this unattributed CDV view, a number of sailors can be seen congregating at the bow behind a tall pole which could be lowered into the water working as a primitive mine rake. On the forward of the twin funnels is an iron-wheeled boat howitzer. Note the number 28 painted on the sides of the armored wheelhouse. Very good condition with a slightly trimmed edge. Measures about 4” x 2 1/2”.