Identified Sheet-iron Scoop for the Civil War vessel “USS Osage” (SOLD)

This is a very interesting Civil War Naval piece being offered, it is what is referred to as a Sheet-iron Scoop. It is made of wood and tin and measures 6” x 9” x 3” with a wooden handle extending 4”. Stamped into the wood is “OSAGE 63” – the number “3” was mistakenly stamped upside down – the marking was for the ship and date it was built - 1863.

The USS Osage was a single-turret river monitor that saw heavy action on the Mississippi and Red Rivers during the Civil War. After completion in mid-1863 by Edward Hartt, the ship patrolled the Mississippi River against Confederate raids and ambushes as part of Rear Admiral David Porter's Mississippi Squadron. Osage participated in the Red River Campaign in March–May 1864, during which she supported the capture of Fort DeRussy in March and participated in the Battle of Blair's Landing in April.

This scoop would be used for coal and ash handling.  Monitors and steam-powered gunboats burned massive amounts of coal to power their engines. Scoops of this construction were frequently used in the fire rooms to shovel coal into the boilers or to clear out clinkers and ashes.

It was found in an abandoned 19^th century warehouse along the Mississippi River in St. Louis. It is in pretty good condition and still solid. This is the first time I have had or seen a Civil War Naval artifact such as this – possibly a one-of-a-kind piece, and rare.