Either copied from or engraved for Harper's Weekly, February 7, 1863, with the same title. U.S.S Indianola, an ironclad river monitor propelled by both side wheels and screw propellers, was commissioned in September 1862. This drawing was made during her brief stint on the Mississippi. On February 16, 1863, lookouts in Indianola spotted Confederate steamer C.S.S Webb abreast Ellis Cliffs. Webb turned about and dashed downstream and out of sight around a bend in the river. The next afternoon Indianola proceeded to the mouth of the Red River, where she maintained a blockade until, on the evening of February 24 the Confederate ram Webb and Queen of the West overtook Indianola and attacked from each side, ramming her seven times before the ironclad, 'in an almost powerless condition,' ran her bow on the west bank of the river and surrendered. About the Artist: Henry Mehles was 34 years old when he mustered into the Union Army, for a three-year term, as a 1st Sergent. He later achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in Company B, 1st Regiment, New York Volunteer Engineers.
