CINCINNATI

 In 1861, there was built a stem-wheel gunboat that served the US (Union) Navy during the American Civil War.  Who knew?  It was a City-Class iron clad river boat.  It was commissioned in January 1862 and decommissioned in August 1865.  It was christened the USS Cincinnati.   

During the Civil War, it completed a successful mission by laying a barrage on a Confederate fort in Arkansas.  During the famous battle at Vicksburg, the Rebels laid a cannon battery in wait for the Cincinnati and she sustained mortal fire.  The captain was able to steam it up river to a safe place to deboard the crew and allow it to sink.  It was later repaired and put back into service patrolling the southeastern river system.