From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy 

Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History 

Division, Washington, D.C.



KENWOOD



StwStr:

t. 232;

dr. 5' 6";

s. 7 k.;

a. 2 32-pdrs., 4 24-pdrs. how.



The first KENWOOD, a stern wheel steamer was launched 3 April 1863, by 

H. A. Jones at Cincinnati, Ohio; purchased for the Navy by Rear Admiral 

D. D. Porter and commissioned at Cairo, Ill., 24 May 1863, Acting Master 

John Swaney in command.



KENWOOD joined the Mississippi squadron, 1 June 1863 and operated on the 

Arkansas River in the vicinity of Fort Pillow. Following brief river 

convoy duty, KENWOOD participated in the joint Army-Navy expedition 

which captured Yazoo City, 13 July 1863. KENWOOD was sent to the Port 

Hudson Division, 19 August 1863 and served as a convoy and patrol 

gunboat at Baton Rouge, La., until 10 February 1865, when she was 

ordered to the 4th River District at Natchez. After helping to 

neutralize Rebel forces west of the Mississippi, KENWOOD was sent 28 May 

1865 to New Orleans as a transport for officers. Following this duty, 

she steamed to Mound City, Ill., and decommissioned 7 August 1865.



KENWOOD was sold at Mound City to W. J. Priest 17 August 1865. After 

merchant service, as CUMBERLAND, she exploded and sank at Shawneetown, 

Ill., 14 August 1869 with the loss of 18 lives.