What  a shame

Because of its strategic location on the Tennessee River, Johnsonville was selected by the Union authorities as the site of a major supply depot.  Connected by a regular military steamboat service to Paducah and Louisville, Ky.,  Johnsonville became a vital link in the Union supply chain which extended 435 miles from Louisville to northern Georgia .  Johnsonville in late 1864 may have presented a scene such as this.

The "Elfin" (number 54) which saw action at Johnsonville, was a gunboat of the class designated as "tinclads" (due to the lightness of their sheet-iron plating).
A number of these boats, built as conventional river steamers for private commerce, were purchased by the government and converted for service as river gunboats.

A number of privately owned steamboats, such as this side-wheeler, were utilized by the government as military transports during the Civil War.

A number of military transports, like the one shown below were built for the federal government to carry troops & supplies to depots such as Johnsonville.

Here on the hill on November 4, 1864, terrified Union soldiers fought in vain to protect Johnsonville, a crucial Union supply depot.  Across the river, on a site now covered by Kentucky Lake, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest led the attack which was to destroy ,000,000 in Federal supplies and equipment. 
 Johnsonville had been chosen earlier during the was as the terminus of the Union Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. Union supplies brought here by river sere shipped by railroad to Nashville and then south to General Sherman's troops as they swept through Georgia. 
 Although Forrest scord a brilliant victory against the Union army and nave here, he was too late to affect Sherman's progress in Feorgia.  Sherman had cut himself off from his vulnerable supply lines and was living off the land as he made his destructive "march to the sea".
 Had Forrest been directed to destroy the Union supply depot here at Johnsonville earlier, the outcome of the war might possibly have been different. 

My apologies for some of the poor quality of photos of the boats & history but the museum was a victim of the states budget fiasco.  This is a real shame because very important history of the area is being lost without it.  These photos were taken through the window glass covered with spider-webs in dark rooms.  Numerous trees are down throughout the park & the museum building itself is suffering from neglect.  If this bothers you then please write TN Governor Bredesen & local officials & tell them to get it back open.