Black Hawk, a side-wheel river steamer, was built in 1848 as
Uncle Sam at
New Albany, Indiana; purchased by the Navy at
Cairo, Illinois, November 24, 1862, as
New Uncle Sam; commissioned December 6, 1862, Lieutenant Commander
K. R. Breese in command; and renamed
Black Hawk December 13, 1862. During most of her service
Black Hawk served as
flagship for Rear Admiral
David Dixon Porter, Captain
Alexander Mosely Pennock and Rear Admiral
Samuel Phillips Lee, successive commanders of the
Mississippi Squadron. She participated in the
Vicksburg campaign that began in December 1862. This included supporting Union forces at the
Battle of Arkansas Post (also known as the Battle of Fort Hindman) on January 11, 1863. She next took part in operations off
Haines Bluff from April 29 to May 2. The Vicksburg campaign culminated in the
Siege of Vicksburg, which
Black Hawk supported; the siege began on May 19 and lasted through July 4. The ship later participated in the
Red River Expedition from March 12 to May 29, 1864. Thereafter she patrolled in the
Mississippi River and its tributaries. On April 22, 1865, she accidentally burned and sank, three miles above Cairo. Her wreck was raised and sold at
St. Louis, Missouri, in April 1867. == References ==