Okay, finally got a chance to get back to this:

First, Re: the black sailors on the Cairo:

E. Freeman. Eugene H. Freeman

Born in Norwich, Ct. Enl. @ 21, Complexion-Negro,
occupation-sailor. Ht. 5.6". Enlisted at New Bedford 8-31-1861, for 2 years, rating-Seaman.

Muster Records...10-1-1862, vessel Cairo

4-1-63, vessel Conestoga

6-30-1863, vessel Conestoga

9-30-1863, vessel Conestoga

4-1-1865, vessel John P. Jackson

6-30-1865, vessel John P. Jackson

William Robinson Born at Carlisle, Pa. En. @ 24, Complexion-Black, Occupation-boatman. Ht. 5'6" Enlisted at Cairo 2-4-1862, for 1 year, rating-Seaman. Mustered in Oct. 1, 1862, vessel Cairo

John W. Mitchell Born St Johns, New Brunswick. Enl. @ 29, Complexion-Black, occupation-sailor. Ht. 5'6" Enl. @ Boston, 3-11-1862, 3 years. Rating-ordinary seaman.

Muster Rolls: 10-1-1862, vessel Cairo

9-30-1863, vessel Rattler

12-31-1863, vessel Rattler

3-31-1864, vessel Rattler

6-30-1864, vessel Rattler

9-30-1864, vessel Rattler

George Antone Born Cape Verde, enl. @ age 31, complexion-mulatto, occupation-none. Ht. 5'8" Enl. at New Bedford 12-21-1864, for 3 years. Rating-seaman.

(Above from CWSS)

Re: The USS Pittsburg. The Pittsburg was a gunboat, an ironclad. Built by James B. Eads for Federal service at Carondelet, Missouri. (now part of St. Louis.)It was part of "Foote's Flotilla", under Commodore Andrew H. Foote. The Pittsburg (usually spelled Pittsburgh) with the Carondelet destroyed the rebel works at Island no 10, on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, so that Union troops could pass over from New Madrid.

The papers of William R. Hoel, commander of the Pittsburgh, including his diary and correspondence is in the Rare Books and Special Collections section of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, in Cincinnati. Bennie if you would pass this information on to the WSHS, it may be useful to them.

I haven't had time to do any geneo work on these sailors, but Richard Gray doesn't show up on the 1850 census for either Mass. or CT. Haven't had time to check farther than that.

Sharon