The US Navy paddle steamer Mississippi is shown in a stormy scene, fighting through the waves, battling a head wind. Seen in starboard stern quarter view, and heeling to port, she is towing from her stern a ship’s cutter loaded with figures. Potentially, they have been rescued from the wrecks visible in the background. A hilly coastline, a town and the masts of several ships can be seen in the far distance.

This lithograph is the first of a set of eight in the National Maritime Museum's Collection.