A warship lost at sea. Does that peak your interest as we stand here near Lockwood Hall? The story of the USS Keokuk, an ironclad screw steamer, is a fascinating tale from the Civil War. It connects directly to Charleston and its harbor.
The USS Keokuk was innovative. It featured two stationary gun towers. Each tower housed an 11-inch Dahlgren shell gun. These guns were advanced for their time.
The Keokuk’s armor was unique. It used a composite of iron bars and oak, covered with iron plates. This design was intended to protect it in battle.
The Keokuk’s commissioned service was unfortunately short. In April 1863, the Keokuk participated in the First Battle of Charleston Harbor. The Union ironclads faced difficulties. They were slow to progress. The Keokuk engaged Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie.
The Keokuk was struck by approximately ninety projectiles. Many hits were at or below the waterline. Commander Rhind reported the ship was riddled. Its armor proved inadequate. Despite the damage, the Keokuk withdrew under its own power. The ship anchored out of range. The Keokuk was kept afloat overnight.
A breeze came up on the morning of April 8. The Keokuk began taking on water and sank off Morris Island. The Keokuk had been in service for only one month. There are no photos of the USS Keokuk.
Confederate forces salvaged the Keokuk’s guns. These Dahlgren cannons were crucial to the Confederacy. They lacked large naval guns. The Confederate forces needed the cannons.
The salvage operation was risky. It was conducted at night. They worked under cloud cover to avoid detection. They worked in waist-high water. The salvage crew used hand saws to remove armor.
The Charleston Mercury reported on the salvage. The Union fleet was unaware until after the guns were ashore.
The Keokuk’s guns served the Confederacy. They were among the heaviest armament in Charleston Harbor. One gun was destroyed during Charleston’s evacuation in 1865. The other Keokuk cannon survives today. It is in Battery Park on Charleston’s waterfront.
The Keokuk is the only ironclad to sink from gunfire. Yet, its entire crew survived. The Keokuk shows the contrasts between the Union and Confederacy. The North could afford the Keokuk. The South risked much to recover its guns.
Today, you can see one of the Keokuk’s Dahlgren cannons. It stands as a reminder of the Civil War. It also symbolizes Charleston’s resilience. It endured throughout that period of conflict. This cannon in Battery Park links us to that salvaged warship. It connects us to the ingenuity and desperation of the Civil War era.