Item No. 7930268

CDV by A. D. Lytle, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of the Union Navy’s ironclad ram Choctaw. The one-off sidewheel steamer was built in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana. Intended to be a merchant vessel, she was sold to the government in 1862 for conversion into a warship. USS Choctaw was commissioned in March 1863. Her new configuration was designed by Commodore William D. Porter. Like the Porter-designed Lafayette, Choctaw was incredibly imposing, but was overweight and far too slow for effective use as a ram. Entering service, she steamed up the Yazoo to engage the Confederate batteries at Haynes' Bluff between April 29 and May 1, 1863, being struck no less than fifty-three times. Choctaw remained on station and contributed to the destruction of the Confederate works and navy yard at Yazoo City later in the month. In June she joined in repelling an attack at Milliken's Bend, rescuing a number of Confederates from the river and taking them prisoner. During the spring of 1864 she was engaged in operations that preceded the capture of Fort DeRussy. Choctaw was decommissioned in July 1865 and sold out of service in March 1866. The CDV has a lot to look at. Aside from the interesting details on the Choctaw, a second warship, appearing to be a stern-wheel timberclad gunboat, is visible to the left, while two men labor on shore in the foreground. On the verso is the imprint of photographer A. D. Lytle. The carte is in very good condition with light toning and some minor surface soiling on the edge of the mount. Measures about 4” x 2 1/2”.