USS Choctaw, a paddle steamer that saw action during the Civil War. The sidewheel ironclad Choctaw was a formidable looking vessel. It was one of the few big ironclads that spent any appreciable amount of time at the fort. Choctaw was at the fort for several days toward the end of the Red River Campaign. She was 260 feet long and 45 feet wide, and drew 8 feet of water. She was armed with one 100-pounder, two 30-pounder, and two 12-pounder rifles; and three 9-inch smoothbores. Her armor, in places, consisted of one inch of iron over one inch of India rubber. (The usefulness of the rubber has been debated.)