Mars, a 329-ton side-wheel river steamer, was built at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856. Employed by the Confederacy as a transport, she was captured at Island Number Ten on 7 April 1862. She thereafter served as a tender to the U.S. Mississippi Squadron before returning to merchant service in 1863. SS Mars struck a snag and sank at Cogswell Landing, Missouri, on 8 July 1865.

This page features our only view of CSS Mars.

Photo #: NH 59024 "View of Steamers Sunk by the Rebels Between Island Number Ten and New Madrid" Line engraving, based on a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862, depicting ships sunk by the Confederates off their fortifications at Island Number 10, circa 7 April 1862. As identified on the engraving, the ships are (from left to right): Champion, Yazoo, Grampus, John Simonds, Red Rover, Prince, Admiral, Ohio Belle, De Soto, Kanawha Valley, Winchester and Mars. Most of these vessels, some of which were not sunk, were later employed by the Union forces.

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