Queen of the West Sinks

150 years ago today the Queen of the West was destroyed in an engagement on the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana. The Queen of the West was originally fitted out as a warship by the United States government. After running the Vicksburg she was abandoned by the Federals while assaulting Fort DeRussy, and was captured by the Confederates. She was used as the CSS Queen of the West by the Confederates, and assisted in the capture of the ironclad USS Indianola. However, her career would come to an end on April 14th, when she was attacked by three Union steamers, the USS Arizona, Calhoun, and Estrella. The cotton on board the Confederate steamer caught fire from a long range Union shot, and the ship burned to the water line and sank.

Destruction of the Queen of the West