These pictures were taken at the gunboat Cairo at the Vicksburg Battlefield by myself on December 10, 1999. Vicksburg is a great place to visit, for the Battlefield and much much more.
Jay Stribling

The frontal armored shield on the casemate. This is original iron, but most of the backing is not original timber. As a rule, wherever the wood is jagged or broken, that is original.

Looking aft along the starboard side.Note that the armor only covers the midships section. Boat davits, guns and armor are original, all timber shown here is reproduction.

The Cairo from dead ahead at ground level. Much of the hull planking is original. To let you know how dark and dreary this day was, I was shooting 800 speed film outdoors in daylight.

The port side from about 30 feet off the port bow looking aft. The armor was not mounted on the port side so a good interior view can be obtained without entering the ship.

One of the original guns on an original carriage on the port side. Sorry! I forgot to make a note as to which gun and what size.

A view of the front casemate armor end-on looking port to starboard. Some of the original backing timbers can be seen along with much original hull planking. Note that the front armor is two thicknesses of iron bolted together. Looking all the way through the ship, just over the nearest gun, the black mass blocking the light is the additional armor on the quarter, improvised from railroad rails. It was on both sides of the ship but left off the port side now for visibility.

The interior of the ship looking forward. The two 12-year old girls are posed here for scale. The one with her feet on the deck just happens to be my daughter.

Vicksburg Mississippi Home Page
Cairo site at Vicksburg National Battlefield
The Baron De Kalb
Information on Baron de Kalb, another federal Gunboat sunk in 1863 in the Yazoo river.
Grand Gulf Battlefield Park
Another site where federal gunboats duelled with rebel forts.

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