This was one really busy ship in 1861. I came across the name again and again in my research.
You have to wonder if Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, around which the ship constantly operated, was named for the ship. How about a fort being named for a ship?
On July 13, 1861, it captured the Hiland and then on the 14th engaged Confederate steamers Arrow and Oregon off Chandeleur Island and forced them to withdraw. On August 7th it captured the Charles Henry. The crew had to be rolling in prize money by now.
In September, the Massachusetts put in for much-needed repairs. After which, it fortified Chandeleur Island and set up a light for navigation.
On September 17th, a landing party from it took possession of Ship island which then became a major base of the blockading fleet and great shelter from storms. Farragut used it as a base for his expedition to capture New Orleans the following year.
In early 1862, it was decommissioned in New York City and outfitted to be a troop and transport ship, but later reverted to gunboat status as part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It captured the Parsis in Wassaw Sound March 12, 1863 and, along with the Commodore Perry, captured the blockade-runner Caledonia May 30, 1864 south of Cape Fear after a two-hour chase.
In August, along with the steamers Gettysburg and Keystone State, captured the blockade-runner Lilian.
In March 1865, it struck a torpedo in Charleston Harbor, but fortunately, it didn't explode.
Decommissioned in New York City in September 1865, it was in the commerce trade until 1872.
Those Sailors Had to Love That Ship With All That Prize Money from the Runners. --Old B-Runner
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