Page 586 APPENDIX II ANNEX II RIVER DEFENSE FLEET In 1862 the Confederate War Department purchased 14 vessels and converted them into lightly armed ships to defend the Mississippi River in cooperation with the Confederate Navy. Manned by Army personnel, they were under the overall command of Capt. J. E. Montgomery, CSN, a former river steamboat captain. (For details of their actions, see individual histories supra.) Eight of the 14 ships, 6 of them equipped with rams, operated in the water around Memphis, Tenn., and participated in the battle at that place on 6 June 1862, with the following results: COLONEL LOVELL-Sunk GENERAL BEAUREGARD-Sunk GENERAL BRAGG-Captured and taken into the U.S. Navy as GENERAL BRAGG. GENERAL EARL VAN DORN-The only vessel of the River Defense Fleet that avoided capture or destruction, escaping by means of her superior speed. Destroyed 26 June 1862 to prevent capture. GENERAL M. JEFF THOMPSON-Set on fire during battle; blew up; abandoned. GENERAL STERLING PRICE-Run ashore; abandoned; later taken into the U. S. Navy as GENERAL PRICE. GENERAL SUMTER-Run ashore; abandoned; later taken into the U. S. Navy as SUMTER. LITTLE REBEL-Run ashore and captured; later taken into the U.S. Navy under the same name. The remaining six ships, all of which were converted tug-boats, operated in the lower Mississippi and participated in the defense of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24-28 April 1862. These were: DEFIANCE-Emerged with little damage from the fighting on the 24th but was destroyed by her crew on the 28th. GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE-Abandoned and burned on 24 April 1862. GENERAL LOVELL-Abandoned and burned on 24 April 1862. RESOLUTE-Abandoned and burned on 24 April 1862. STONEWALL JACKSON-Destroyed by Union forces on 24 April 1862. WARRIOR-Destroyed by Union forces on 24 April 1862.