Butch,

There is a book written by a lawyer here in Shreveport, Katherine Brash Jeter, titled "A Man and His Boat: The Civil War Career and Correspondence of Lieutenant Jonathan H. Carter, CSN". It is available through the bookstore at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly USL), at this link: http://www.louisiana.edu/Academic/LiberalArts/CLS/pricelis.html

I highly recommend it. It is an annotated book, using Carter's original letterbook, which he used to transcribe offical letters he sent during his service in Shreveport. After reading it, I'm amazed that it ever got built. A true testament to Carter's dedication.

I am researching the CS Missouri, built here in 1863, and the five subs built by the Singer Submarine Corps, built on the same site (the original block 66 of Shreveport's founding area, where Cross Bayou empties into the Red River) as the Missouri.

During my research, I have located Carter Mitchell, of Columbia, SC, who is the great great granddaughter of Jonathan Carter. In August 2003, I flew to Charleston, to see the Hunley, then drove to Edgefield, SC, 180 miles north of Charleston, to visit Jonathan and Henrietta Carter's gravesite in the Baptist Cemetery there. Carter and her husband drove over from Columbia, and we visited for about an hour. She has provided me with some previously unknown family history on Jonathan. It's turned into quite an adventure for me!

Also, the CS Missouri was never CAPTURED. Shreveport, the capital of the Confederacy in 1863-64, was the last city in the Confederacy to lower it's flag. It was a city that was never conquered, due to the Confederate success and the Union failure during the Red River Campaign. Even though Lee surrendered in April, the war did not end here until June. At that time, Carter released (some say surrendered) the Missouri to Union forces at Alexandria. Carter was the last Confederate Officer to surrender his sword.