My previous article (re: Vac-U-Cast and Panzerschiffe) will offer an example of the historiographer's preference when elucidating on an historic event. The events and elements in Jack Coombe's, THUNDER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI and R. Thomas Campbell's, SOUTHERN THUNDER will demonstrate the obvious differentiations. Besides the events that involved the cowardice exhibited by the captain of the Union's, Queen of the West (which may have been caused by one of the Queen's heavy guns that had "recoiled off its chassis" [Campbell 54]), during the first engagement with the CSS Arkansas on July 15, 1862, according to Mr. Coombe. the CSS Arkansas became engaged with the USS Lancaster (a screw sloop), the USS Kineo, and the USS Hartford (157), then the Arkansas becoming engaged with the USS Benton and USS Essex (157). During the evening 6n the 22nd of July, an Union assault attempt with the Benton, Louisville, Cincinnati, Essex (ironclads), Queen of the West and Sumter (rams) were deployed against the Arkansas (159-60). According to R. Thomas Campbell in SOUTHERN THUNDER, "Faragut's [?] plan was for the Essex and the Queen of the West to attack and ram the Arkansas. In earlier accounts, Campbell elucidates that the USS Winona, USS Sumter, and the USS Hartford are in action with the Arkansas during darkness (Gift) while it was moored (?] (66-67). The last action with the Arkansas on the Mississippi, therefore, according to Campbell (exclusive of the event north of Baton Rouge) had been with the Essex and the Queen of the West. Accounts and elements in these recollected histories do contrast, so Wargamers are stuck with one account, the other accounts, or a blending of accounts to assemble their scenarios. R. Thomas Campbell. SOUTHERN THUNDER, Exploits of the Confederate States Navy. Burd Street Press, 1996. Jack D. Coombe. THUNDER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI, The River Battles that Split the Confederac [Coincidently, the armament for the Arkansas in Campbell is listed as Bow = 2-8" columbiads, Stem = 2-6" rifles, Port = 1-9" Dahlgrenll-6" riflell-32pdr., Starboard = same as port (47). Coombe list Arkansas armaments as 2-64pdr12-6"rifle12-32pdr. SB (154).] Note: Armaments over time had changed because of better or other weapons available. Some armaments listed are vague and unreliable, such as "2-32pdr. " Without SB or R, for smoothbore and rifle, respectively, the difference isn't confirmed. The best source for ACIN ship statistics is WARSHIPS OF THE CIVIL WAR NAVIES by Paul H. Silverstone, a comprehensive list of both Union and Confederate fleet vessels with many pictures. The Army's Navies Series, with various dictionaries compiled by Gibson & Gibson, list data about different vessels, including transports and their capacities. There is also a list for the Confederate Navy vessels in the CIVIL NA VAL CHRONOLOGY, 1861-1865 by the Naval History Division. Back to Dispatch June 2001 Table of Contents Back to Dispatch List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by HMGS Mid-South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com