Spectacular oil on canvas of the "Queen of the West" side-wheeler, mid 19th century. The painting measures 35"x 45" in its original frame in untouched condition, and signed: D.G. Payson. Private Collection.
Information that we had originally obtained indicated that this giant journeyed on the Columbia and Snake River in the Pacific Northwest. However, our most recent information indicates that the "Queen of the West" was built in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1854. The captain at the time was Capt. J. Phil Wade and the side-wheeler was used in the Cincinnati to New Orleans trade. At the outbreak of the Civil War she was converted into a steam-ram. In 1862 she was quite active in the battle of Memphis, where she rammed and sank the "General Lovell," and when one of her paddlewheels was disabled she was run ashore and there, captured the "General Price" and the entire crew. On February 11, 1863 the "Queen of the West" raided lower Red River capturing "A.W. Baker," "Berwick Bay," "Era No. 5," and one other. On February 19, 1863 "Queen of the West" was run aground and captured to become a Confederate gunboat. During the Battle of Grand Lake, on March 14, 1863, she was struck with a percussion shell, which set afire cotton bales piled aboard for protection. The bales caught fire, the magazines exploded and "Queen of the West" burned, with a loss of 26 hands. More information available.
